Chick-fil-A‘s Sweet and Smoky Honey Roasted BBQ Sauce
As a chicken restaurant pioneer for over 75 years, Chick-fil-A cares deeply about getting their signature sauces right. And their Honey Roasted BBQ sauce is a prime example – expertly crafted to complement lean and tender grilled chicken. With a blend of smoky, sweet, and tangy flavors, this sauce deserves its cult following.
A Signature Sauce Born for Chicken
Chick-fil-A debuted their Honey Roasted BBQ Sauce in 2012 to pair specifically with their chargrilled chicken sandwiches and wraps. After years perfecting their original chicken sandwich sauce, Chick-fil-A saw room on the menu for a sauce tailored to grilled chicken profiles.
The sauce features depth from smoky barbecue notes, balanced by a pleasant sweetness from honey and touch of tanginess. The texture strikes an ideal balance – thick enough to cling nicely to chicken but smooth enough for even coating and dipping.
While the full recipe remains proprietary, observable ingredients likely include:
- Sweet barbecue sauce
- Honey
- Yellow mustard
- Onion powder
- Garlic powder
- White pepper
These flavor components combine to make this honey BBQ sauce unlike any other – perfect for chicken from an iconic American restaurant brand.
Saucy By the Numbers: Popularity and Nutrition
The Honey Roasted BBQ Sauce rapidly rose to prominence after its debut. As of 2023, it‘s the second-best selling signature sauce at Chick-fil-A after the original sauce. And for good reason – it adds real flavor appeal to an already crave-worthy lineup of grilled chicken sandwiches and wraps.
In fact, grilled chicken accounts for over 20% of Chick-fil-A‘s yearly sandwich sales – generating over $1 billion annually. The mouthwatering pairing with Honey Roasted BBQ sauce drives a hefty portion of these juicy, chargrilled chicken sales.
When it comes to nutrition, the Honey Roasted BBQ sauce holds an advantage over other Chick-fil-A sauces:
| Sauce | Calories | Fat | Sodium | Sugars |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honey Roasted BBQ | 60 cal | 5 g | 75 mg | 2 g |
| Chick-fil-A Sauce | 140 cal | 5 g | 470 mg | 2 g |
| Zesty Buffalo | 90 cal | 0 g | 770 mg | 2 g |
| Barbeque | 80 cal | 0 g | 480 mg | 12 g |
So you can feel better about generously saucing your chicken or waffle fries with the sweet honey barbecue!
Perfect Pairings Beyond Chicken
Don‘t let the name fool you – while intended for chicken, the Honey Roasted BBQ Sauce excels when paired with other Chick-fil-A menu items:
Waffle Fries: The crispy, deep-fried potatoes beautifully balance out the sauce‘s sweet and tang. This combination is the second-most popular item pairing sold at Chick-fil-A restaurants.
Nuggets: Honey flavors naturally highlight the yummy attributes of chicken. Dip spicy nuggets into the sauce for flavor fusion.
Fried Chicken Sandwich: Though originally meant for grilled chicken, the zippy sauce also pairs well with the fried chicken breast sandwich.
Kale Crunch Side Salad: Drizzle the sauce over the salad for a flavor – and nutrition – boost. The sweet and smoky notes intermingle delightfully with the lemon vinaigrette dressing.
Milkshakes: Blend the sauce into sweet and salty dessert shakes for an extra flavor dimension. It plays nicely with flavors like chocolate, salted caramel or cookies and cream.
So don‘t hesitate to get creative and dip into this sweet smoky barbecue beyond the grilled chicken sandwiches!
Availability: Get It While You Can
Chick-fil-A proudly stands behind all menu items and avoids offering any for resale. So unfortunately you won‘t find bottles of their Honey Roasted BBQ Sauce on supermarket shelves.
The good news is that every Chick-fil-A location gladly provides complementary sauces upon request. The Honey Roasted BBQ Sauce comes in 0.5 oz portion control packets – the perfect size to generously dress two chicken sandwiches or about half an order of waffle fries.
If enjoying this signature sauce at home, carefully refrigerate unused packets for later. Keep the sauce stored properly and gently reheat to serving temperature; don‘t let it boil or risk breaking down that carefully-crafted flavor. For best quality, use up open packets within one week.
So next time you visit a Chick-fil-A restaurant, be sure to ask for extra packets of the Honey Roasted BBQ Sauce to enhance your grilled chicken…or waffle fries! This sweet and tangy condiment was thoughtfully crafted as the ideal accent to certain menu items, but also stands deliciously on its own.
