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 one of our secret weapons. 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.
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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.
Ingredient Notes
- 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.
- 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 & 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.
- Lemon
- Garlic Powder (optional)
- Smoked Paprika (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.
But even without the paprika and garlic, this sauce is delicious. They're in the mix because they're players in the classic recipe, and they add a kick I love in this vegan version. But hey, it's still scrumptious if you skip them!
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!
- Grilled Veggie Wraps: Brush this sauce inside a wrap filled with grilled vegetables like zucchini, bell peppers, and mushrooms.
- Potato Wedges Dip: Use it as a dipping sauce for oven-baked or air-fried potato wedges.
- 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.
How To Store This Sauce
Store this Chick-Fil-A sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator. This little gem will keep its flavor for up to two weeks, ready for your snacks and meals whenever the craving hits. Just give it a good stir before use.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Always double-check the ingredients in the BBQ sauce and mustard to be sure.
More Delicious Vegan Sauces And Dressings
What did you think?
Got a minute? Dive into the comments and rate this recipe to let me know how it turned out for you. Was it a hit? Any twists you added? I want to know if my directions were any good or if you plan to make it. Follow me on Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube for inspiration.
PrintRecipe
Vegan "Chick-fil-A" Sauce
Whip up this vegan copycat Chick-fil-A sauce at home. It's super easy and even easier to make vegan. Use it for dipping, slathering on sandwiches, or even as a salad dressing.
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 1 cup 1x
Ingredients
- ½ cup vegan mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons BBQ sauce (I use Kansas City style)
- 2-3 tablespoons maple syrup*
- 2 tablespoons yellow mustard
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- juice of half a lemon
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder (optional)
- a pinch of smoked paprika (optional)
Instructions
- Whisk: In a medium mixing bowl, whisk all the ingredients together.
- Chill: Let your sauce chill in the fridge for 30 minutes for the best flavor.
- Serve: Serve with your favorite vegan nuggets, fries, or whatever deserves a dunk in this golden glory.
Notes
To achieve a flavor that's as close to the real deal as possible, stick to classic BBQ sauce and mustards. 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 still on the runny side, a couple more tablespoons of mayo will do the trick.
*The choice of BBQ sauce can affect sweetness, so you might need to dial back the maple syrup to two tablespoons instead of three if your sauce is super sweet.
Nutritional information is only an estimate.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: sauce
- Method: mixing
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 tablespooons
- Calories: 81
- Sugar: 6.5 g
- Sodium: 209.2 mg
- Fat: 5 g
- Carbohydrates: 8.1 g
- Protein: 1.2 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
Madison says
Love this! It really tastes super close to the traditional.
Regi Pearce says
It really does, right?! It's my new favorite. It's in the fridge all time. Thanks for the comment.
Alan says
OMG, now I'm putting this on everything 😉