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A healthy Chick-Fil-A sauce that tastes like the real deal, but uses blended cashews instead of mayo. It’s the perfect sweet and savory sauce for dipping. Gluten-free, dairy-free and can easily be made vegan.
I’m pretty sure I’ve shared this before, but I didn’t grow up eating super healthy. I actually lost weight in college, which inspired my whole health and wellness journey and ultimately led to creating Eating Bird Food. But as a child I ate my mom’s cooking, which involved lots of Southern staples and packaged food.
I was also hooked on fast food and my favorite restaurant was Chick-Fil-A. My go-to order was a large pack of nuggets, waffle fries and of course, the Chick-Fil-A sauce. I loved the sweet and savory flavor and would basically drown my whole meal in the sauce.
The closest Chick-Fil-A to where I grew up (Orange, Virginia) was in Fredericksburg, VA and as it turns out that’s where Chick-Fil-A sauce was invented. Before it was packaged up and distributed throughout all the Chick-Fil-A locations, the Fredericksburg location was the only Chick-Fil-A where you could get the “special sauce” and it was in a pump container near the ketchup rather than in little packets.
Honestly, before becoming pregnant this year I hadn’t eaten at a Chick-Fil-A since college, but throughout this pregnancy I’ve had some interesting cravings, one of those being Chick-Fil-A. With this I was reminded of how much I used to love Chick-Fil-A sauce and decided it was time to make a homemade, healthy Chick-Fil-A sauce with no mayo and no weird preservatives.
To get started with making the copycat sauce recipe, I looked up the ingredients and got to work testing the recipe. It took quite a few attempts, but at this point I think I’ve created a sauce that tastes pretty darn similar to the real deal. I’ve had some friends/family do a side-by-side blind taste-test to confirm that it does indeed taste like the packaged sauce and several people have said they like it better because it doesn’t have the “artificial taste” you get from the packaged, preserved sauce. Woot woot!
Now that I’ve nailed the homemade version and know how simple the recipe is, I may or may not be making this on the regular! Here are the ingredients we’re using:
So far I’ve been using this sauce as a dip for homemade chicken nuggets (recipe coming soon) and frozen waffle fries, but it can be used as a dip, sauce or even a salad dressing!
If you try this healthy Chick-Fil-A sauce, please be sure to leave a comment and star rating below letting me know how it turned out. Your feedback is so helpful for the EBF team and other EBF readers.
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We live 100 miles from the nearest Chick-Fil-A, but it’s our go-to fast food stop when we’re close, (and mostly for the Sauce)! This is delightful! I added a little extra turmeric and paprika for our tastes. My 8 year old just asked if she could have a bowl of it for a snack and I can’t keep her out of it. Hubby thought it was delicious too! I don’t think it’s going to last long in our house-hopefully at least to dinner, haha!
Ah yay!! So glad everyone has enjoyed this version of the sauce, Arian! Thanks so much for trying it and coming back to leave a review. I really appreciate it!
Any suggestions on a substitute for the cashews? Perhaps avocado oil mayo or something
tastes pretty similar just not sure how its “healthier” only reason its 75 calories is because you halved the serving size of what they give you in a chickfila dipping sauce package. which is actually only 140 kcal vs yours which would be 150 if you ate the same size as chickfila serves. this is simply a homemade version
Can’t wait to make this. This is definitely a healthy version. No corn syrup, added cane sugan, Caramel color, natural falvors and artificial smoke or unnecessary added preservatives. Excited to make your BBQ sauce too. Thanks for sharing
I’ve labeled it as healthier because of the ingredients used. It’s also dairy-free and vegan. Healthy doesn’t have to mean lower in calories. 🙂
Tastes like the real thing!! Now I don’t have to go to chick fil a! Went perfect with some tofu nuggets.
Ahh yay!! I’m so glad you loved this sauce, Cass. Thanks for trying it and for coming back to leave a comment + star rating. I really appreciate it!
This tastes so so good! I am obsessed with Chik Fil A sauce but always feels so guilty indulging. This tastes the exact same if not better
Ahh yay!! That makes me so happy to hear, Laura! So glad you enjoyed this sauce. 🙂 Thanks for trying it and for coming back to leave a comment and star rating. I really appreciate it.