Taryn Pire
·4 min read
Chick-fil-A is famous for its fried chicken and waffle fries. You used to indulge to your heart’s content, ordering all the nuggets you could handle and a peach milkshake. But now that you’re on the vegan diet, your usual order is off the table. Luckily, there are still a few menu items you could help yourself to without breaking your plant-based meal plan. If you’re wondering how to order vegan at Chick-fil-A, we’ve got you covered. Read on for seven menu items to sink your teeth into at the fast food chain.
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A Quick Refresher on The Vegan Diet
Veganism calls for abstaining from the consumption of animal products. Of course, that means no meat, poultry or seafood, but it also includes foods that come from animals, like dairy, eggs and even honey for strict vegans. Instead, vegans rely on plant-based foods—like vegetables, fruits, nuts, grains and legumes—for nutrition, ideally focusing on fiber- and protein-rich plant-based foods to make their diet as sustainable and satiating as possible.
Read on for seven menu items vegans can order at Chick-fil-A.
1. Chick-fil-A Waffle Potato Fries
Chick-fil-A
Nutrition Information (small): 320 calories, 19g fat, 35g carbs, 4g protein, 0g sugar
Make It Vegan: no modifications necessary
Vegans, rejoice: The chain’s beloved waffle fries are on your meal plan. Cooked in canola oil and sprinkled with sea salt, these irresistible gems are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Ask for a vegan-friendly dipping sauce (read on for the full list) or classic ketchup on the side. (The Waffle Potato Chips are vegan-friendly too, in case those are more your speed.)
2. Kale Crunch Side Salad
Chick-fil-A
Nutrition Information: 170 calories, 12g fat, 13g carbs, 4g protein, 8g sugar
Make It Vegan: no modifications necessary
Curly kale, green cabbage, roasted almonds and apple cider-Dijon mustard vinaigrette make a nutritious alternative to fries. It’s vegan as is but know that the Kale Crunch’s dressing is different from the packets of Zesty Apple Cider Vinaigrette—the latter includes honey, so it isn’t vegan-friendly.
3. Side Salad
Nutrition Information (modifications not accounted for): 470 calories, 42g fat, 14g carbs, 6g protein, 5g sugar
Make It Vegan: no cheese, substitute Avocado Lime Ranch dressing
This mix of greens, grape tomatoes, charred tomato and crispy red bell peppers is a plant-based option we can get behind. The salad comes with a blend of Monterey Jack and cheddar cheeses and a packet of Avocado Lime Ranch dressing. Since both include dairy, you’ll have to skip them to make this side vegan. (We’re partial to the Chili Lime Vinaigrette as an alternative.)
4. Spicy Southwest Salad
Chick-fil-A
Nutrition Information (without chicken): 590 calories, 47g fat, 27g carbs, 14g protein, 7g sugar
Make It Vegan: no chicken, no cheese, substitute Creamy Salsa dressing
You’ll need to make a few mindful tweaks to this salad for it to become vegan-friendly, but it’s possible. Just nix the chicken, cheese and skip the Creamy Salsa dressing (which contains egg yolk) in favor of a plant-based dressing. You’ll be left with mixed greens, grape tomatoes, roasted corn, black beans, poblano chiles, red bell peppers, seasoned tortilla strips and chili lime pepitas.
5. Market Salad
Chick-fil-A
Nutrition Information (without chicken): 440 calories, 29g fat, 40g carbs, 7g protein, 26g sugar
Make It Vegan: no chicken, no cheese, no granola, substitute Zesty Apple Cider Vinaigrette
Skip the meat and dairy to turn this fruit-forward salad into a vegan meal. A mix of greens, red and green apples, strawberries, blueberries and roasted almonds will keep you satisfied. Just be sure to nix the chicken, cheese and the honey-based dressing and granola.
6. Chick-fil-A Lemonade (Regular or Diet)
Chick-fil-A
Nutrition Information (medium, sweetened): 220 calories, 0g fat, 58g carbs, 0g protein, 55g sugar
Make It Vegan: no modifications necessary
Water, lemon juice and sugar are the only ingredients in this summer sipper. Vegans who consume non-organic sugar can indulge all they’d like. (Some strict plant-based eaters avoid non-organic white sugar because it’s often bleached using animal bone char, a black, porous material made from charred animal bones, usually cattle.)
7. Freshly Brewed Iced Tea (Sweetened or Unsweetened)
Chick-fil-A
Nutrition Information (medium, sweetened): 120 calories, 0g fat, 31g carbs, 0g protein, 31g sugar
Make It Vegan: no modifications necessary
All it takes to make this thirst quencher is water and tea leaves, plus sugar if you get it sweetened. As long as you consume non-organic sugar, either version of the iced tea is on your diet. If you don’t, go for the unsweetened. (The same goes for all seasonal white peach drinks and Sunjoy, aka tea-lemonade, combinations.)
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Taryn Pireis PureWow’s associate food editor. A former bartender and barista, she’s been writing about all things delicious since 2016, developing recipes, reviewing restaurants and investigating food trends at Food52, New Jersey Family Magazine and Taste Talks. When she isn’t testing TikTok’s latest viral recipe, she’s having popcorn for dinner and posting about it on Instagram@cookingwithpire.
