Vegan Chick-fil-A Sauce

Whip up this vegan copycat Chick-fil-A sauce at home. It's super easy and super easy to make vegan. Use it for dipping, slathering on sandwiches, or even as a salad dressing.

Ah, the legendary Chick-fil-A sauce – it's like the culinary equivalent of a siren's call, leading the masses to sit at a drive-thru forever as if the secret recipe will make everything taste better... ehem...for those who don't know, well, it does. Unfortunately, it's not vegan.

Around here, we're not exactly the drive-thru type, even with the growing availability of plant-based options. However, when that "fast food" craving does strike - and it does with three kiddos - our vegan take on the classic Chick-fil-A sauce is great to make at home. With just a few vegan substitutions, we've created a copycat sauce that's not only incredibly tasty but also satisfies our fast-food urges any day of the week - yes, even on Sundays.

If you like copycat recipes, check out Vegan Taco Bell Jalapeno Sauce, Vegan Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie (BJ's Copycat), and Vegan Tunacado Sandwich. And for more dips and sauces, check out Vegan Game Day Dips and Sauces.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

• It's tangy, sweet, and smoky, just like the original, but made entirely plant-based!
• Easy to whip up.
• It uses simple ingredients.
• Works great as a dip or spread for everything from fries to sandwiches.

Ingredients

Here's a look at what you'll be using. Technically, this sauce misses the criteria for our popular 5 in 5 sauces (five ingredients in five minutes) - it's more like 8 in 5, slightly more crowded but equally swift. See the recipe card for quantities.

• Vegan Mayonnaise: I've never met a vegan mayo I didn't like and there are so many in the market now that are comparable in price with regular mayo. Pick your favorite.
• BBQ sauce: I use Kansas City style - a tomato-based sauce that carries a sweet yet tangy flavor and a subtle smokiness - perfect for this sauce.
• Maple Syrup: Substitute with agave.
• Yellow Mustard and Dijon Mustard - I like the tang of the Dijon, but if you don't have any, the sauce will still come out darn close to the original.
• Garlic Powder and Smoked Paprika are optional.

How To Make A Vegan Chick-fil-A Sauce

Like many of our other sauces and dressings, this Chick-fil-A sauce recipe is the epitome of simplicity - just dump and mix! All you'll need is a bowl, whisk, and a handful of measuring cups to whip up this deliciously easy sauce.

Step 1: Combine all the ingredients in a medium bowl.

Step 2: Mix until smooth. That's it! You may want to refrigerate for 30 minutes to incorporate the flavors well.

Top Tips

• To achieve a flavor that's as close to the real deal as possible, stick to classic BBQ sauce and mustard. Avoid reaching for the spicy barbecue or spicy brown mustard varieties if you're aiming for that authentic taste.
• Chilling the sauce causes it to thicken a bit. If it’s on the runny side, a couple more tablespoons of mayo will do the trick without affecting the flavor balance.
• The choice of BBQ sauce can affect sweetness, so you might need to dial back the maple syrup to two tablespoons, instead of three.

Serving Suggestions

No need for a special section on how to enjoy vegan Chick-fil-A sauce—I’m sure you’ve got it covered. But just in case you're looking beyond the usual fries or vegan nuggets and crave some inspiration from a couple of my recipes, here are a few more suggestions:

• Vegan Chicken Sandwiches: Of course, a crispy vegan chicken patty, nestled between soft buns with pickles and lettuce is a classic for a reason!
• Potato Wedges Dip: Use it as a dipping sauce for oven-baked or air-fried potato wedges or Delicious Air-Fryer Fries.
• Salad Dressing: Drizzle it over a mixed green salad or a hearty vegan Cobb salad for a creamy, tangy twist.
• Roasted Chickpeas: Toss some roasted chickpeas in the sauce for a flavorful snack that’s crunchy and satisfying.
• Veggie Burger Topping: Elevate your burger by spreading some of this sauce on the buns. Try it on these black bean burgers.
• Sweet Potato Fries Dip: Sweet potato fries + this sauce = a match made in dipping heaven.

Chick-fil-A Sauce FAQS

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