A decade is a long time to dunk nuggets in the same lineup, but the Chick-fil-A new sauce is finally breaking the streak, and it’s bringing the heat. Spicy Chick-fil-A Sauce hits restaurants nationwide on Nov. 16, the company told Fox News Digital, and it’s the chain’s first permanent addition in 10 years.
Ten years is a long wait for a dipping cup. The last permanent newcomer was Sweet & Spicy Sriracha, which arrived in March 2016. So when the Atlanta-based chain says it’s turning up the heat on its signature sauce, people notice.
What is in the new Chick-fil-A sauce?
Chick-fil-A describes the new sauce as a blend of the classic’s mustard notes and smoky tang. It also adds spicy peppers and a hint of sweetness. In other words, it’s the sauce you already dunk everything in, with a kick added.
It will come in standard dipping cups and 8-ounce bottles. That means you can take the heat home (and maybe stop hoarding extra sauce packets in the glove box).
Here’s the thing: if you’re loyal to the sauce cup, this is the first fresh permanent option in a decade, and now it fits in your fridge door.
“We know our guests love bold, spicy flavors, and in our year of newstalgia, we’re turning up the heat on a classic.”
That’s Allison Duncan, the company’s director of menu and packaging. She also called it “our first new permanent sauce in 10 years.” The word “permanent” matters here. Chick-fil-A has run limited-time items since 2016, but nothing that stuck around.
Why Chick-fil-A waited a decade for a spicy sauce
The original Chick-fil-A Sauce went nationwide in 2006, and it has been the chain’s biggest sauce star ever since. Messing with a cult favorite is risky. Over the past year, though, Chick-fil-A’s research found guests kept asking for a spicy version. So the company finally listened.
The chain also recently tested spicy chicken strips at two Georgia locations. Fans had been speculating about a Chick-fil-A spicy sauce well before the announcement. Sometimes the internet guesses right. If you want to know what else goes into the chain’s food, see what’s really in your Chick-fil-A order.
Fans doubt the new Chick-fil-A dipping sauce will be spicy
Not everyone is cheering. Some fans doubt that “spicy” will really mean spicy. One Reddit user put it this way: “A big pet peeve of mine is so many food items that say ‘spicy’ but aren’t. I’m skeptical of this sauce too.”
That’s one commenter, so take it as mood rather than data. Still, it’s a fair worry. Chick-fil-A hasn’t said how hot the sauce actually is, and heat is the one thing a press statement can’t prove.
Chick-fil-A is also no stranger to giving fans a reason to show up. It’s already rewarding students with free nuggets for good grades.
What we still don’t know about the new Chick-fil-A sauce
A few details are still missing. The company hasn’t announced pricing for the bottles, and there’s no word on whether they’ll show up in grocery stores. Nutrition numbers for the new Chick-fil-A sauce haven’t been released either. For reference, the regular sauce runs 140 calories per 28-gram serving, according to Yahoo Lifestyle.
Chicken rivals are making moves too. KFC just unveiled a global makeover.
We’ll know soon enough. Mark Nov. 16 on the calendar and grab a few nuggets. Then only one question really matters: is it spicy, or just spicy-ish?
