Chick-fil-A Has a Secret Menu and We’re Obsessed

Chick-fil-A has a secret, and it’s my pleasure to share: the chain has a whole host of secret menu items! Some are so good they’ve arguably become even more popular than the regular menu items, according to Hack the Menu. There’s no “official” secret menu, but it seems the less complicated a special item is, the more likely employees will make it for you.

Here are some of the Chick-fil-A secret menu items that have people buzzing:

Buffalo Chicken Sandwich

This is simply the Spicy Chicken Sandwich plus the signature Zesty Buffalo Sauce. You end up with a crispy buffalo chicken sandwich that’s loaded with dill pickles chips, and it’s delish!

Spicy Char

The Spicy Char, which is a grilled version of the Spicy Chicken Sandwich, is one of the most famous of Chick-fil-A’s secret menu items. In fact, this one is most likely available just by asking for it by its full name: the Spicy Char-Grilled Chicken Patty. (Not available at your local Chick-fil-A? You can make spicy char-broiled chicken at home with this Spicy Barbecue Chicken recipe.)

Fried Chicken Club

So the Spicy Char is the grilled version of a fried sandwich, and the Fried Chicken Club is the fried version of a grilled sandwich. It’s a tasty twist on the classic Grilled Chicken Club Sandwich. If it’s not available by name, ask for fried chicken instead of the grilled patty in your usual Club sandwich.

Chicken, Egg & Cheese Biscuit

The regular menu includes a Chicken, Egg & Cheese Bagel, but you can also ask for it on a biscuit to make a buttery Chicken, Egg & Cheese Biscuit.

Psst…. Biscuits calling your name? Don’t miss our most flaky biscuit recipes.

Spicy Chicken, Egg & Cheese Bagel

If your local Chick-fil-A has Spicy Chicken during the breakfast shift, you’ll be in luck! This sandwich is well-known enough that you can ask for it by name.

(Chick-fil-A isn’t the only chain with a secret menu. Here’s what to order at Taco Bell, Burger King and other restaurants.)

Chicken on Anything at Breakfast

We’ve heard from Chick-fil-A employees and former employees that because chicken is on the chain’s breakfast menu, you can customize pretty much any breakfast sandwich by adding chicken. For any locations that (secretly) have Spicy Chicken during the breakfast shift, make that a Spicy Chicken plus the Bacon, Egg & Cheese Biscuit!

Bacon on Anything at Breakfast

You also can customize pretty much any Chick-fil-A breakfast sandwich by adding bacon. Hello, Hash Brown Scramble Burrito with Bacon!

Seeing a trend? You can pretty much ask for anything that’s on the menu to be added to anything else, and if it’s not too complicated, and your server’s not too busy, there’s a good chance you’ll get exactly what you want. Woo!

Grilled Cheese

For a no-meat meal, the bun from any sandwich can be toasted with sliced cheese. Think you might want pickle chips, lettuce and tomato, too? Order a Chick-fil-A Deluxe, hold the chicken.

Try These Chick-fil-A Copycat Recipes

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Inspired By: Grilled Chicken Club

I threw these ingredients together on a whim and the sandwich turned out so well, I surprised myself! If you're in a rush, microwave the bacon. Just cover it with paper towel to keep it from splattering too much. —Dana York, Kennewick, Washington

Get Our Recipe: Loaded Grilled Chicken Sandwich

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Inspired By: Chick-fil-A Cobb Salad

This "skinny" version of Cobb salad has all the taste and creaminess with half the fat and calories. You can skip the coleslaw mix and do all lettuce, but I like the crunch you get with cabbage. —Taylor Kiser, Brandon, Florida

Get Our Recipe: Skinny Cobb Salad

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Inspired By: Chick-fil-A Nuggets

My 3-year-old is going through a stage where he'll eat only chicken nuggets and French fries. I like to make these golden nuggets for him so I know what he's eating. They're so good, we like them, too! —Amanda Livesay, Mobile, Alabama

Get Our Recipe: Parmesan Chicken Nuggets

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Inspired By: Chick-Fil-A Sauce

This fast, easy mustard with rice vinegar and honey has more flavor than any other honey mustard dressing I've ever tried. —Sharon Rehm, New Blaine, Arkansas

Get Our Recipe: Quick & Easy Honey Mustard

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Inspired By: Fresh Brewed Sweet Tea

A pinch of baking soda eliminates bitterness in this smooth and easy-to-sip tea and it has just the right amount of sugar so it's not overly sweet. —kelseylouise, Taste of Home Community Member

Get Our Recipe: Smooth Sweet Tea

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Inspired By: Chick-Fil-A Butter Biscuit

The recipe for these four-ingredient biscuits has been handed down for many generations. —Fran Thompson, Tarboro, North Carolina

Get Our Recipe: Southern Buttermilk Biscuits

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Inspired By: Chicken Noodle Soup Side

When I was sick, my mom would make me this heartwarming chicken noodle soup. It was soothing when I had a cold, but this soup is a bowlful of comfort on any chilly day. —Anthony Graham, Ottawa, lllinois

Get Our Recipe: Cold-Day Chicken Noodle Soup

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Inspired By: Grilled Chicken Cool Wrap

This portable recipe is perfect for outdoor dining in the summertime. We like the fun, fresh spin on regular coleslaw using pineapple and toasted almonds. —Barb Agnew, Mahnomen, Minnesota

Get Our Recipe: Coleslaw Chicken Wraps

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Inspired By: Bacon, Egg & Cheese Muffin

If you're looking for a grab-and-go sandwich, this is high in protein, low in fat and fills you up. Plus, it's only about 200 calories! —Brenda Otto, Reedsburg, Wisconsin

Get Our Recipe: Microwave Egg Sandwich

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Inspired By: Garlic and Herb Ranch Sauce

Ranch dressing got its start on a real dude ranch in California. Punch up the Western original with green salsa, green chilies, jalapenos and cilantro for more color and spice. Serve the dip along with your favorite wings to feed a crowd. —Lindsay Duke, Goodrich, Texas

Get Our Recipe: Jalapeno Ranch Dip

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Inspired By: Chick-n-Strips

I recently made this recipe of Mom's for my in-laws and they told me it was the "best fried chicken ever." Slicing the chicken breasts into strips cuts down on cooking time and ensures every piece is crunchy and evenly coated. Serve the homemade chicken tenders with your favorite dipping sauce. —Genny Monchamp, Redding, California

Get Our Recipe: Fried Chicken Strips

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Inspired By: Fresh-Squeezed Lemonade

A friend suggested I add a sprig of rosemary to lemonade. The herb makes the drink taste fresh and light, and it's a pretty garnish. —Dixie Graham, Rancho Cucamonga, California

Get Our Recipe: Rosemary Lemonade

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Inspired By: Waffle Potato Fries

Make any dinner fun with my Loaded Waffle Fries, topped with a savory blend of cheese, scallions and bacon. I copied this family-favorite recipe from a local restaurant, and it's great with hot dogs, burgers or by itself. —Jeffrey Viccone, Decatur, Illinois

Get Our Recipe: Loaded Waffle Fries

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Inspired By: Greek Yogurt Parfaits

The best time for this dessert is mid-summer, when the blueberries are thick in our northern woods. Red raspberries can be added to the mixed berries, too, to brighten up the patriotic colors.—Anne Theriault, Wellesley, Massachusetts

Get Our Recipe: Star-Spangled Parfaits

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Inspired By: Strawberry Milkshake

Cool off with a thick and rich treat that will remind you of a malt shoppe! Nothing can beat this strawberry shake recipe. —Kathryn Conrad, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Get Our Recipe: Thick Strawberry Shakes

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Inspired By: Chick-fil-A Asian Salad

I love their crunchy, citrusy salad so much that once I made my husband drive an hour to the nearest Applebee's restaurant just so I could eat it! It was time to come up with my own version. I'm completely happy with the results—and my husband is, too! Find more of my recipes at my blog, mandysrecipeboxblog.com. —Mandy Bird, Holbrook, Idaho

Get Our Recipe: Crunchy Asian Chicken Salad

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Inspired By: 4 Chick-n-Minis

My 11-year-old son, Jake, invented these sliders at dinner one night when he plunked his chicken on a biscuit. The rest of us tried it his way, and now we have them a lot. —Jodie Kolsan, Palm Coast, Florida

Get Our Recipe: Mini Chicken & Biscuit Sandwiches

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Inspired By: Frosted Coffee

The winter holidays are my favorite time of year, and this spiced pumpkin drink is one reason I love the season so much. If you don't have a coffee maker, it's OK to use instant coffee—just make it stronger. —Kathie Perez, East Peoria, Illinois

Get Our Recipe: Spiced Pumpkin Coffee Shakes    

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Inspired By: Barbeque Sauce

I've never cared that much for store bought barbecue sauce. I just like to make things myself from scratch including this spicy, deep red-brown sauce. You'll find it clings well when you slather it on grilled meat. —Helena Georgette Mann, Sacramento, California

Get Our Recipe: Sweet & Spicy Barbecue Sauce

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Inspired By: Hash Brown Scramble Burrito

I discovered breakfast burritos at a workshop of holiday breakfasts offered at our church. It was a big hit! It works really well when you're cooking for a crowd. I like to serve salsa or hot sauce with them. —Catherine Allan, Twin Falls, Idaho

Get Our Recipe: Breakfast Burritos  

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Inspired By: Chick-fil-A Grilled Market Salad

My family is always happy to see this fruit and veggie salad on the table. If strawberries aren’t available, substitute mandarin oranges and dried cranberries. —Irene Keller, Kalamazoo, Michigan

Get Our Recipe: Strawberry Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing  

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Inspired By: Hash Browns

Ever since we met, my husband has made me hash browns with bacon, pepper jack and sour cream. We share it when we have guests, too. —Annie Ciszak Pazar, Anchorage, Alaska

Get Our Recipe: Stuffed Hash Browns

Strawberry Lemonade

This may be most well-known and most widely available secret menu item. In fact, you may be able to ask for it by name. If your server doesn’t know what exactly you’re talking about, simply explain you want a lemonade with a scoop of the topping they use for strawberry milkshakes.

Here’s a Strawberry Lemonade Smoothie you can make at home, too.

Root Beer Float

Another of the more well-known and widely available secret menu items, the Root Beer Float is simply a serving of vanilla ice cream added to your cup of root beer. How about some Root Beer Float-inspired cookies to go with that?

Chocolate Cookies & Cream Milkshake

So easy–ask for a couple of pumps of chocolate syrup with your Cookies & Cream milkshake.

Have you heard about the secret Chick-fil-A restaurant with a Hawaiian theme? Here’s everything you need to know before you go.

Get more chicken.

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Chicken with Pineapple

I'm always on the lookout for low-fat recipes that are scrumptious, too, like this one. Quick-cooking chicken breasts get wonderful, sweet flavor from pineapple, honey and teriyaki sauce. —Jenny Reece, Lowry, Minnesota

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Country Chicken with Gravy

Here's a lightened-up take on classic southern comfort food. This chicken gravy recipe has been a hit at our house since the first time we tried it! —Ruth Helmuth, Abbeville, South Carolina

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Easy Buffalo Chicken Lettuce Wraps

One time when making sloppy joes, I wanted mine spicy, so I doused it in hot sauce. After that, my mind went wild and I made it Buffalo-chicken style with ground chicken, diced celery and blue cheese crumbles. I've been making it this way ever since. —Jennifer Nielson, Spanish Fork, Utah

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Cashew Chicken with Ginger

There are lots of recipes for cashew chicken, but my family thinks this one stands alone. We love the flavor from the fresh ginger and the crunch of the cashews. Another plus is it's easy to prepare. —Oma Rollison, El Cajon, California

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Feta Chicken Burgers

My friends always request these tasty chicken burgers on the grill. I sometimes add olives to punch up the flavor! Try them with the mayo topping. —Angela Robinson, Findlay, Ohio

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Tex-Mex Chicken Strips

I was looking for a way to amp up the flavor of regular chicken strips so I crushed up some leftover corn chips to create a crispy, flavorful coating. —Cynthia Gerken, Naples, Florida

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Mango Salsa Chicken with Veggie Hash

This hash has the fresh flavors of spring. Using precooked grilled chicken strips makes it come together quickly. And the veggies make the dish so pretty! —Lori Mclain, Denton, Texas

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Crispy Asian Chicken Salad

Asian flavor, crunchy almonds and crispy breaded chicken make this hearty salad something special. —Beth Dauenhauer, Pueblo, Colorado

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Champion Chicken Puffs

My guests peeled rubber getting to the table to munch on Champion Chicken Puffs. These tender bites are made with hassle-free refrigerated crescent rolls and a flavorful chicken and cream-cheese filling. —Amber Kimmich, Powhatan, Virginia

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Apple Chicken Quesadillas

My sister came up with an easy recipe that can be served as a main course or an appetizer. People are surprised by the combination of chicken, apples, tomatoes and corn inside the crispy tortillas, but they love it. —Stacia Slagle of Maysville, Missouri

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Light Chicken and Broccoli Bake

Cheesy chicken and broccoli bakes are the ultimate comfort food, but I wanted to give the classic casserole a healthier spin. Mine cuts down on fat and calories, but keeps the same cozy flavor. —Jenny Dubinsky, Inwood, West Virginia

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Barbecue Chicken Tostadas

Lots of my recipes start out as fun ways to use leftovers—like this one! My kids love tostadas, so this day-after-cookout dinner was a big hit. —Lauren Wyler, Dripping Springs, Texas

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Chicken Alfredo with Grilled Apples

If you've never grilled apples before, here's your excuse to start. I created this Alfredo-style chicken for a party. By the number of recipe requests, I knew it was a hit. —Richard Robinson, Park Forest, Illinois

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Seasoned Chicken Strips

These strips are designed for kids, but tasty enough for company. The tender strips are moist and juicy and would also be great on a salad. —Becky Oliver, Fairplay, Colorado

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Cheesy Bow Tie Chicken

Here's a super-simple dish that tastes like it's straight from a nice Italian restaurant. Spinach-artichoke dip is usually available in supermarket delis. It comes frozen, too. Just make sure to thaw it according to the package directions before dinnertime. —Sally Sibthorpe, Shelby Township, Michigan

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Smothered Chicken Breasts

After trying a similar chicken dish in a restaurant, I decided to re-create it at home. Topped with bacon, caramelized onions and shredded cheese, this savory dish comes together in no time, and uses ingredients that I usually have on hand. And since it cooks in one skillet, it’s a cinch to clean up! —Brenda Carpenter, Warrensburg, Missouri

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Chicken and Dumplings

Perfect for chilly winter nights, this main course is speedy, low in fat and a delicious one-dish meal. —Nancy Tuck, Elk Falls, Kansas

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Chicken Quesadillas

This chicken quesadilla recipe has an impressive look and taste with little preparation. The leftover chicken gets Mexican flair from cumin in this fun main dish. —Linda Wetzel, Woodland Park, Colorado

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Spinach and Mushroom Smothered Chicken

Chicken breasts stay nice and moist tucked under a blanket of melted cheese. It's extra special to serve but is not tricky to make. —Katrina Wagner, Grain Valley, Missouri

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Cashew Chicken with Noodles

I tried this recipe for chicken with cashew nuts when making freezer meals with some friends. I was smitten! It's quick, easy and so delicious! —Anita Beachy, Bealeton, Virginia

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Chicken Enchiladas for Four

These chicken enchiladas put a little zip into any menu. The rolled tortillas are filled with a hearty mixture of cheese, chicken and green chiles and then topped with a creamy sauce and more cheese. I sometimes use leftover turkey instead of chicken. —Karen Bourne, Magrath, Alberta

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Crispy Fried Chicken

If you've wanted to learn how to make crispy fried chicken, this is the recipe for you. Always a picnic favorite, this deep fried chicken recipe is delicious either hot or cold. Kids call it my Kentucky Fried Chicken! —Jeanne Schnitzler, Lima, Montana

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Chicken Cordon Bleu Pizza

This recipe combines my two favorite foods—pizza and chicken cordon bleu. I've made this for my family and the teachers at my school. Now my teachers ask me to make it for them for lunch! —Justin Rippel, Colgate, Wisconsin

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Salsa Verde Chicken Casserole

This is a rich and surprisingly tasty rendition of all the Tex-Mex dishes molded into one packed, beautiful casserole. Best of all, it’s ready in only half an hour! —Janet McCormick, Proctorville, Ohio

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Parmesan Chicken Nuggets

My 3-year-old is going through a stage where he'll eat only chicken nuggets and French fries. I like to make these golden nuggets for him so I know what he's eating. They're so good, we like them, too! —Amanda Livesay, Mobile, Alabama

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Homemade Chicken Potpie

Why look for potpie in the frozen food aisle when this easy homemade chicken potpie tastes much better? Under its golden-brown crust, you'll find the ultimate comfort food for kids and adults. —Amy Briggs, Gove, Kansas

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Cheesy Chicken Subs

I've been part of the Food Services staff at Appalachian State University for 33 years. One summer we created this flavorful sandwich that combines seasoned grilled chicken, Swiss cheese and sauteed mushrooms and onions. Thousands of students have enjoyed this wonderful sub since then. —Jane Hollar, Vilas, North Carolina

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Chicken Artichoke Skillet

My fast chicken entree featuring artichokes and olives has real Greek flair. Seasoned with lemon juice and oregano, the stovetop chicken turns out moist and tender. —Carol Latimore, Arvada, Colorado

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Chicken Pizza

My fun twist on typical pizza is an excellent way to use up leftover pesto. And since it’s loaded with protein-rich chicken and black beans, it’s hearty enough to satisfy everyone! —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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Easy Chicken Piccata

Easy chicken recipes are my go-to dinner choice. My chicken piccata pasta dish is ready to serve in a half hour. It takes just a few minutes in the oven to bake to tender perfection. —Hannah Williams, Malibu, California

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