Chick-fil-A, the popular fast food chicken chain, is known for its juicy and delicious chicken sandwiches and nuggets Many customers rave about the great taste of Chick-fil-A’s chicken and it is a big reason why the chain is so popular However, in recent years there have been rumors circulating that Chick-fil-A has changed how they prepare and cook their famous chicken. So did Chick-fil-A really change their recipe or cooking process for their chicken?
Chick-fil-A’s New Chicken Cooking Process
In mid-2016, Chick-fil-A did in fact roll out some changes to how they handle and cook their chicken The change came after about 2 years of testing in select locations. The new process involves marinating the chicken in advance, whereas before the chicken was marinated right before cooking The marinade contains ingredients like chicken stock, garlic, lemon juice, and spices.
After marinating, the chicken is then hand-breaded and pressure cooked in refined peanut oil. The company states the pressure cooking allows the chicken to cook faster and more evenly. The new process is also more efficient for the kitchen staff.
They used to bread the chicken by hand and cook it in old-fashioned pressure fryers in restaurants. The new method lets the chicken be only partly cooked before it is sent to restaurants, where it only needs to be pressure cooked again to finish.
Why Did Chick-fil-A Change Their Process?
According to Chick-fil-A, the change in process was done to enhance food safety. By marinating the chicken at central kitchens, they have more control over the process and can ensure food safety procedures are properly followed. The company also cites the more even and faster cooking from the pressure cooking method as reasons for the change.
The new method also works faster and better, so restaurants don’t have to spend as much time making the chicken from scratch. These kitchens cook the chicken ahead of time so that the restaurants don’t have to spend as much time cooking it. This allows them to serve customers faster during busy times.
Customer Responses to the New Chicken
Despite changes to the cooking process, Chick-fil-A maintains that they did not change the actual chicken recipe. The ingredients and seasoning used are meant to be the same as before. However, some customers have complained that the texture and taste of the chicken is different since the change.
On social media and forums, some people have said the chicken is more soggy or mushy than before. Others report the breading falls off easier and the flavor is lacking. Not everyone notices a change though, so opinions are mixed on whether the new process altered the taste and quality.
Instead of using fresh chicken that has never been frozen, they now use partially frozen chicken that has already been cooked. This is likely to have an effect on the texture and flavor. Chick-fil-A says their recipe is the same, but some customers can tell the difference because of how the food tastes.
Chick-fil-A Stands By The Changes
Chick-fil-A stands by the new way of cooking and says it had to be done to make the food safer and more efficient without changing the taste. They do admit, though, that the new cooking methods may cause some small changes in the texture.
Since rolling out the process change in 2016, Chick-fil-A has not made any additional major tweaks or reverts back to their original fresh chicken cooking process. The pressure cooking of par-marinated and breaded chicken is here to stay.
While the debate continues on whether the change improved or worsened the chicken, Chick-fil-A remains as popular as ever. Their chicken sandwiches and nuggets still have droves of loyal fans across the country. But there is no denying their process change in 2016 altered the end product to some degree, even if the company claims recipes remain the same. The proof is in the customer responses over the years.
Real food, rigorous standards
In our kitchens, we focus on freshly prepared food crafted with quality ingredients. We serve chicken made from breast meat, breaded by hand in-restaurant. Fresh produce is delivered to our kitchens several times a week. Salads are prepared throughout the day. Our regular Chick-fil-A® Lemonade is prepared daily with lemon juice, pure cane sugar and water.
Selective about the chicken we serve
Serving quality food has always been our priority. We only serve real chicken breast meat with no fillers, steroids, or artificial preservatives because chicken is the main thing we serve. Our chicken contains no added hormones (like all chicken in the United States) and is raised with No Antibiotics Important to Human Medicine (NAIHM). For more information, please click here. Additionally, we source our chicken from farms in the U. S. in accordance with our Animal Wellbeing Standards.
In 2016, Chick-fil-A communicated we would source only 100 percent cage-free eggs by 2026. Right now, it’s not clear if we’ll be able to keep this promise by the due date because of changes in the industry and the big effect the bird flu has had on our business over the past few months and is still having. We will continue to serve cage-free eggs where required to meet state specific legislation in the U. S. , while ensuring eggs across all our Restaurants continue to be sourced from trusted suppliers who meet our strict quality standards. Learn more about our Animal Wellbeing Standards here.
Whether its offering more wholesome options, or simply removing unnecessary ingredients, we believe in better-for-you fast food. Were working toward a menu that achieves these goals and enhances your experience, while never sacrificing delicious taste.
Eating well on the go can be a challenge. That’s why we work hard to provide a range of choices, from our traditional dishes made with high-quality ingredients to healthy options like the Grilled Chicken Sandwich and Kale Crunch Side.
Chick-fil-A sources real boneless breast of chicken with no added hormones, fillers or steroids, so its natural flavor shines. Were committed to serving chicken raised with No Antibiotics Important to Human Medicine (NAIHM).
Thrive Farmers®, a specialty-grade coffee company, supplies our coffee for our restaurants in Canada and U.S. Chick-fil-A Puerto Ricos coffee is sourced locally from Puerto Rico Coffee Roasters.
Chick-fil-A announces changes to its chicken. Here’s why and when
FAQ
Did Chick-fil-A change their chicken?
Yes, Chick-fil-A has changed the way it sources its chicken. In the spring of 2024, Chick-fil-A transitioned from using chicken raised with “No Antibiotics Ever” (NAE) to chicken raised with “No Antibiotics Important to Human Medicine” (NAIHM).
Why does Chick-fil-A chicken taste different?
Chick-fil-A chicken may taste different to some customers because of a new policy change about antibiotic use in their chicken and possible differences in how it is prepared. A Reddit thread discussed the switch from “No Antibiotics Ever” to “No Antibiotics Important to Human Medicine” (NAIHM).
Did Chick-fil-A change formula?
The popular fast-food restaurant explained that it made some changes to the waffle fries recipe. To keep the fries crispier longer, CFA started using a new coating that includes pea starch.
When did they change Chick-fil-A to Chick-fil-A?
The company has always been officially named “Chick-fil-A,” with the “Chick” part always spelled with a “c. ” The “Chic-fil-A” spelling is a common misconception. It’s possible the spelling “Chic-fil-A” might be a result of the Mandela effect, a phenomenon where a large group of people believe something to be true when it is not.