This smokey Copycat Chick-fil-A Sauce is ideal for dipping chicken tenders or nuggets and can be served as fry sauce, too.
Easy Copycat Chick-fil-A Sauce Recipe
When it comes to fast food, Chick-fil-A ranks at the top of the list for my kids. I dare say it ranks up there for kids of all ages. While we all know that the chicken is delicious, but so are the variety of sauces they offer. Half of the fun each time we stop in for a quick bite to eat, is picking out which sauces to dip our chicken into for the best flavor explosion. I might add that it's closely followed by barbecue, honey mustard and Polynesian. One of my sons loves this sauce so much on a recent visit he said, "I wish we could have this at home." Well, that's all it took. Surely, I could come up with a very close homemade Chick-fil-A sauce for us to enjoy. So after quite a bit of experimenting I came up with this, and made my sons very very happy chicken nugget eating campers.
How to Make the Best Copycat Chick-fil-A Sauce Recipe
- Ingredients you'll need to make homemade Copycat Chick-fil-A sauce at home: You'll need real mayonnaise, hickory flavored barbecue sauce, honey, yellow mustard, Dijon mustard, fresh lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, onion powder, garlic powder or granulated garlic, plain table salt and liquid smoke.
- Kitchen gadgets you'll need: A mixing bowl, measuring cups and spoons and a whisk.
- How long should I chill the sauce before serving? As with any homemade sauce, this chick-fil-a sauce needs time to allow the flavors to come together. I highly recommend making it at least 8 hours in advance.
- How do you store Chick-fil-A sauce? I store it in a mason jar in my fridge and tend to make it in batches small enough to avoid having tons left over for a long period of time. To date, this has not been an issue it's usually polished off with ease. It will keep in a tightly sealed container for up to 7 days.
- What's the best barbecue sauce to use? Since the amount of smokiness can vary according to which brand of barbecue sauce you use, choose one that has a robust hickory flavor. It doesn't have to be expensive, Sweet Baby Ray's or a similar brand will do,
- A drop or two of liquid smoke can also give it a smoky flavor punch if you have some on hand.
- Other ways to use Chick-fil-A sauce: We use this sauce on burgers, grilled chicken, steak, shrimp and for dipping french fries, onion rings, fresh vegetable and more. You can thin it out a little more and use it as a salad dressing, too.
- Store homemade Chick-fil-a Sauce chilled in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
More Southern Style Sauces and Condiments to Make
We're all about the dipping sauces at our house and have a plethora of choices at any meal. More homemade sauces you may also like to try:
- My Avocado lime Ranch Dressing is made better using fresh ingredients.
- Special Burger Sauce can be used as a fry sauce, too.
- My recipe for Homemade Honey Mustard is full flavored.
- Comeback Sauce is a hot favorite all throughout the South.
- Easy Homemade Pizza Sauce is just what you need for make your own pizza night at home.
- Copycat Polynesian Sauce from Eating on a Dime.
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Helpful Kitchen Items:
Copycat Chick-fil-A Sauce
Ingredients
- ⅔ cup real mayonnaise
- 3 tablespoon hickory brown sugar barbecue sauce
- 3 tablespoon honey
- 2 tablespoon yellow mustard
- 4 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 2 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
- 2 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- 1-2 drops liquid smoke [optional]
Instructions
- Place all of the ingredients into a bowl and whisk until fully combined. Chill for 8 hours or overnight in a tightly sealed container.
- May be stored tightly sealed in a mason jar in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
Notes
Nutrition
Becky
This is absolutely delicious! I made it to go with homemade baked French fries and we couldn't stop eating them slathered with this sauce. I made it only four hours ahead and it was fine but I must say, it's even better after twelve hours in the refrigerator.
Melissa
I'm so happy you all loved this, thanks!
William J Stefens
thanks for the reply. Currently letting it sit in the fridge to set.If still overpowering what would you recommend to offset the strong garlic flavor?
Melissa
Hi William,it may be just a matter of letting the flavors come together. While roasted garlic has a more intense flavor, if you enjoy it, the sauce should still be tasty. I suppose you could try a tad bit more mayonnaise or bbq, or both, to increase the volume and thus balancing it out. I would give it time to mellow first.
William J Stefens
Thanks for the reassurance. As you said with time the ingredients blended together more, mellowing out the strong roasted garlic flavor. Interestingly, it has been such a while since having to the actual sauce, I have almost forgotten what it tastes like. But, no matter as even if it isn't an exact match, it is close enough in it's great flavor that it holds it's own more than well enough. Again, great job with this recipe!!
Melissa
I'm so happy it worked out for you, thanks!
William J Stefens
Just tasted a batch and overall taste really tastes as close as the real thing. I definitely will make again. Though for my case, next time will cut down on the garlic as it overpowered the other flavors a bit. Note, used McCormick roasted garlic which is stronger than regular powdered garlic as that is all I have. Bottom line. Definitely a winner. Also need to wait after it chills to see if the flavors have blended together more as I expect they will.
Melissa
The garlic should mellow the longer it sits.
Kathy
The sauce recipes are great, but I've fallen in love with Chick-fil-a's honey mustard sauce. Please come up with a copycat recipe for this delicious sauce...no other that I've had compares to it,
Julie Regan
YES!
Melissa
I'll add that to my "to do" list.
Cheryl
Melissa cracked the recipe!! It is soooo good!!
Melissa
Thank you!