When it comes to fast food dipping sauces, customers are loyal. Such devotion can lead them to protest if their favorite sauce gets removed or altered. When Chick-fil-A modified its BBQ sauce in 2016, the uproar from customers was palpable. After more than 2,000 people signed a petition, the company brought back the original recipe. Amidst the never-ending flavor war, we compiled a list of the best Chick-fil-A sauces to dip your nuggets into next.
Chick-fil-A offers eight dipping sauces to compliment your meal. Four of the most popular are available in bottles at local grocery stores. Curious how the company came up with its signature sauce? According to the website, in 1980, an employee accidentally mixed barbecue sauce and honey mustard, creating the beloved condiment, and as they say, the rest is history.
Which dipping sauce you choose may depend on your mood or what you are ordering that day. On the other hand, some people stick to their favorite time and time again. Among the best Chick-fil-A sauces, the classic Chick-fil-A Sauce stands out with its sweet and tangy flavor, perfect for dipping nuggets or drizzling on sandwiches. Additionally, the zesty Polynesian Sauce and the creamy Honey Mustard are fan favorites, offering a delightful range of flavors to enhance the Chick-fil-A experience.
Since everyone has different tastes, there is constant debate over which Chick-fil-A sauce is top tier. StudyFinds did the research, crunched the numbers, and came up with a list of the top five best Chick-fil-A sauces, ranked in order, according to taste tests. Love the list or hate it? Let us know in the comments below.
The List: Best Chick-fil-A Sauces, According to Taste Testers
1. Chick-fil-A
It’s no surprise the fast food chain‘s signature sauce tops our list! It’s a fan favorite and Mashed says it has the “most widespread following.” It’s so popular that “multiple copycat Chick-fil-A Sauce recipes have circulated the internet for years, and the 8-ounce bottled version is a popular request at restaurants.”
“This sauce is creamy and sweet but also smoky with a bit of vinegar tang,” according to Shopfood. “It’s unconventional yet tasty, and it goes great with chicken nuggets and waffle fries.”
Wide Open Country also chose to go with the classic for number one! “A mixture of honey mustard, barbecue sauce, and ranch, this dipping sauce is everything you’ve ever wanted from a chicken dipping sauce.”
2. Polynesian
If you like sweet and savory, this is the sauce for you. Brit + Co writes, “It holds a generous amount of sticky sweetness, and the thicker texture also appeals to my dipping rituals in indescribable ways.”
“The chain’s Polynesian Sauce contains a balance of sugar, vinegar, and spices for a simple but unique take on this condiment,” explains Mashed. “Due to its sweet, straightforward flavor, it’s likely to be a favorite for children. Customers also appreciated that the bottled version tasted exactly like the sauce served in Chick-fil-A restaurants.”
“The Polynesian sauce is one of Chick-fil-A’s most popular dipping sauces,” adds Shopfood. “Although it’s similar to other sweet and sour sauces, the Polynesian sauce has a richness reminiscent of molasses.”
3. Barbecue
Eat This, Not That was surprised how good this sauce is. “It’s not too sweet, a little tangy, and it has good spreadability should you want to add it to a CFA sandwich. It was good with both the nuggets and fries.”
“You can’t go wrong in pairing chicken with barbeque, and Chick-fil-A made sure that their barbeque sauce was up to par,” writes Shopfood. “Seasoned with spices, onion, and garlic, this sauce has a rich and bold flavor that pairs great with chicken nuggets, chicken burgers, and anything else you want to dip into it.”
Insiders like that this sauce “packs a punch, and avoids some other sauce’s mistakes of being too thin or too goopy. If you’re craving BBQ, it hits the spot, and the chain would be worse without it. ”
4. Sweet & Spicy Sriracha
For those who love to put Sriracha on everything, this sauce is called “well-balanced with plenty of heat” by Mashed. “Reviewers on Amazon sing this sauce’s praises, calling it addictive and unique. Reviews on Influenster are equally positive, with multiple users calling this their favorite condiment.”
“Now this is what I’m talking about,” says a writer from Wide Open Country. “I’ve always been wary of anything spicy (I’m such a wimp when it comes to spice) but I was pleasantly surprised at how mild and flavorful this sauce was. This sweet & spicy sriracha is the perfect compliment to the chicken.”
According to Shopfood, “It has heat and a tasty sweetness, which are perfectly offset by a rice vinegar tang.”
5. Honey Mustard
“I would literally eat the honey mustard sauce with a spoon,” exclaims Insider Senior Correspondent Kate Taylor. “My notes on this sauce just say ‘YUM GREAT.'”
Shopfood is “all about” Chick-fil-A’s Honey Mustard Sauce. “It has a forward flavor with a perfect balance of vinegar, spices, and sweet honey.”
Wide Open Country like the “bold taste of the mustard” that shines through.
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Sources:
- Mashed
- Brit + Co
- Shop Food
- allrecipes
- Restaurant Links
- Wide Open Country
- Business Insider
- Eat This, Not That!
Note: This article was not paid for nor sponsored. StudyFinds is not connected to nor partnered with any of the brands mentioned and receives no compensation for its recommendations.