How Chick-Fil-A's Chicken Nuggets Ended Up On The Menu
If there's one food you'll find on practically every fast food menu, it's chicken nuggets. These tasty chunks of chicken are adored by all age groups and can be seasoned in a number of ways. Plus, there are plenty of delicious sauces to pair them with, like ranch, honey mustard, and, what many would say is the king of all sauces — Chick-fil-A sauce!
Chick-fil-A is loved all across the U.S., with Insider stating that its the third largest chain in the country, tripling its annual sales over the past decade. From its popular Waffle Potato Fries to its famous Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich, there's an item on the menu sure to satisfy any craving.
However, one of the most surprising most-ordered items on Chick-fil-A's menu isn't their sandwich, but their chicken nuggets! According to Chick-fil-A, their nuggets made it on the top five favorite menu items across all regions in the U.S.
So, what's the big deal with these nuggets? And how exactly did they end up on a menu famous for sandwiches and french fries? And more importantly, how do they compare in taste to other fast-food chicken nuggets?
Customers requested chicken nuggets
Chick-fil-A hasn't always been the restaurant we know today with the glowing red logo. In fact, it all started as a humble diner called the Dwarf Grill in Hapeville, Georgia, where owner S. Truett Cathy sold his one-of-a-kind chicken sandwich. In 1946 Truett created the famous sandwich by simply pressure-cooking a boneless chicken breast that was breaded and seasoned. To top it off, it was served on a toasted, buttered bun with two pickles, which they still make the same way to this very day (per Chick-fil-A).
Next came their famous Chick-fil-A Sauce, which they claim started as a "happy accident." In the early 1980s, an employee accidentally mixed barbeque and homemade honey mustard sauces creating the delicious condiment we all love. However, it didn't make its way to the menu until 2006 (per Chick-fil-A).
But where do the chicken nuggets come into play? In 1982, chicken nuggets were added to the menu upon requests from customers. Chick-fil-A's blog, The Chicken Wire, states that customers were asking employees to cut their breaded chicken into bite-sized pieces so they could be eaten by hand or served at parties.
This inspired the company to introduce a six-piece chicken nugget option to the menu, which you can still find today. Not long after that, they introduced flavor-boosting sauces to the menu, like its famous Polynesian sauce, honey mustard, and barbeque.
How do Chick-fil-A's chicken nuggets compare to others?
There's nothing quite like dipping a juicy chicken nugget into Chick-fil-A's liquid gold, but the question remains: How do they compare to other fast food chicken nuggets like the Chicken McNugget or KFC's Popcorn Nuggets?
In a 2022 opinion piece by The Thrillist, the best fast-food chicken nuggets in America were ranked and judged for their juiciness, creativity, and overall flavor. You might be shocked to learn that Chick-fil-A's grilled nuggets were a flop, ranking the worst out of the bunch. So, while they're a great option for a gluten-free nugget, their taste didn't make the cut.
On the other hand, Chick-fil-A's regular breaded nuggets ranked number three, with the judges stating that each bite was perfectly juicy and crisp without being greasy. However, because the breading was uneven, this nugget got dinged. Coming in second was Popeye's chicken nuggets, and number one was Arby's.
Third is nothing to cry about. And at the end of the day, one thing Chick-fil-A has that Popeye's and Arby's doesn't is the iconic Chick-fil-A sauce, which may make them the winner for your next chicken dinner.