Like most Southerners, Southern Living editors can’t help but be fans of Chick-fil-A. Many of us consider the Georgia-based company to be our favorite fast-food chain. Some of us admit to visiting at least once (and sometimes multiple times) a week. We’re caught up on our Chick-fil-A lore (like why the ‘A’ is capitalized), and we have countdowns to the releases of our favorite seasonal milkshakes. And like all true fans, we have our opinions about the best things to order. Not all menu items are created equal, and we’re not afraid to separate the real winners from the rest of the lot. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert, and anything in between, we’ve got recommendations for what to order, plus a few off-menu hacks to elevate your dining experience. Here are 15 things Southern Living editors always order at Chick-fil-A.
A Doctored-Up Southwest Chicken Salad
Senior editor Ivy Odom is a big fan of Chick-fil-A, but she also isn’t afraid to let the beloved brand know when one of their latest releases misses the mark. One menu item she does stand behind? The Southwest Chicken Salad. Only Odom doesn’t just order it as it comes. Instead, she swaps the chicken it comes with for fried nuggets and trades the creamy salsa dressing for avocado lime ranch.
Spicy Chicken Sandwich with Cheese
Several staffers (and their spouses) are partial to a Spicy Chicken Sandwich instead of the classic. Some even like to add a slice of American or pepper jack to complement the peppery bite.
Polynesian Sauce
I thought Chick-fil-A sauce would be the far-and-away winner when it came to favorite sauces, but my co-workers surprised me big time by singing the praises of Chick-fil-A’s Polynesian sauce instead. Says digital editor Mary Shannon Hodes, “I usually go classic with a sandwich meal, but I basically want it to be drowning in Polynesian sauce.”
Sunjoy Combinations Galore
We all know Chick-fil-A has standard fountain drinks, but most of our editors opt for their specialty beverage options of sweet tea, unsweet tea, lemonade, and diet lemonade—and every possible combination of the four. From a Sunjoy (Chick-fil-A’s trademarked name for an Arnold Palmer) to classic half-and-half tea to a giant diet lemonade, we love it all.
Frosted Coffee
Another favorite beverage order is their Frosted Coffee, which combines Thrive Farmers cold-brewed coffee with vanilla soft-serve. Senior homes editor Betsy Cribb Watson says the caffeinated treat is a “hell of an afternoon pick me up.”
Deluxe Sandwiches
Our editors like both the grilled and classic version of Chick-fil-A’s Deluxe Sandwich, which comes with lettuce, tomato, and cheese in addition to the standard bun and pickles. Odom recommends swapping the multigrain bun for a regular buttered bun if you order the grilled version, while Watson always orders her classic minus the tomato as not to make the sandwich soggy.
Classic Chicken Nuggets
You can’t mess with perfection. “Call me boring, but it’s an 8-count nugget and large fry with all the Chick-fil-A sauce, every time,” says associate homes editor Cameron Beall. Other editors like to toss their nuggets in buffalo sauce, and associate editorial food director Kimberly Holland has her very own recipe for utilizing the nuggets. “Chicken nuggets + mac and cheese + a drizzle of buffalo sauce. Do it. Don’t ask questions. Thank me later,” she says.
Mac And Cheese
One of the most popular responses for side dishes (outside of fries), our editors fully approve of Chick-fil-A’s Mac and Cheese, and not just to accompany an in-restaurant meal. Odom recommends ordering an extra side to add to a loaded barbecue baked potato at home.
Chicken Biscuit
Probably my most-ordered item on Chick-fil-A’s entire menu, nothing hits quite like a classic Chicken Biscuit when the craving strikes. Chicken-n-Minis are all well and good, but they pale in comparison to the lusciousness of a warm buttermilk biscuit.
Hash Brown Scramble Burrito
For on-the-go mornings, senior news editor Rebecca Baer is partial to Chick-fil-A’s version of a breakfast burrito, which comes loaded with crispy hash browns, scrambled eggs, Monterey jack and Cheddar cheese, and your choice of meat. She opts for classic version that comes with pieces of nuggets.
Grilled Nuggets
Sometimes healthy dining decisions do win out. For Baer that means ordering the Grilled Nuggets, which she says are “actually delicious,” instead of the standard fried version. “But I order a side of Mac and Cheese … for balance,” she adds.
Fries
Fries were the number one response for favorite sides at Chick-fil-A. We just can’t resist the fun waffle cut or the generous sprinkle of sea salt.
Chocolate Chunk Cookie
Desserts weren’t super high on most editors’ order lists, but for those like assistant editor Symiah Dorsey looking for something sweet, the Chocolate Chunk Cookie is the go-to.
Icedream Cone
There’s something extra nostalgic about savoring soft serve in the summer, and Chick-fil-A’s Icedream Cone always comes through when I’m feeling sentimental. I usually ask for a cup on the side, so I can redistribute some of the towering vanilla cone before it inevitably turns into a sticky, melting mess.
Hash Browns
Some mornings call for a complete meal, and when I’m looking for a little something extra to accompany my standard biscuit order, a side of crispy hash brown medallions is just the ticket.