by Elizabeth Tyree
Fri, August 16th 2019 at 10:58 AM
Hugh Fleming created Chick-fil-A sauce in the early 1980s for his Chick-fil-A store in Spotsylvania (Photo credit: Chick-fil-A)
SPOTSYLVANIA, Va. (WSET) -- It's one of the most popular sauces at the country's favorite fast food chain.
But did you know that Chick-fil-A sauce was created in Virginia?
Hugh Fleming created it in the early 1980s for his Chick-fil-A store in Spotsylvania.
The Free Lance-Star reported that Fleming never named the sauce and patrons referred to it as "that special sauce" or "Mr. Fleming's Sauce".
"We’re very proud and grateful for Chick-fil-A for naming the sauce after his concoction," Todd Fleming, Hugh’s son and owner of the Chick-fil-A in Central Park, told the newspaper.
Fleming gave the recipe to Chick-fil-A when he retired 11 years ago.
The chain said that customers would ask for the sauce at every restaurant across the country.
And, the sauce was created by accident.
Fleming said he created the first batch in 1983 because customers wanted a sauce for their nuggets. He tweaked a honey mustard salad dressing recipe and accidentally mixed in barbecue.
Today, the sauce is the most popular at Chick-fil-A.
In 2017 alone, the chain said locations ordered more than 500 million packets of the sauce.
FAQs
Amazingly, Chick-fil-A's famous sauce was created by accident. It was the brainchild of Hugh Fleming, who owned a Virginia Chick-fil-A location. Fleming created a special honey mustard for his customers to pair with their chicken, but he mistakenly added barbecue sauce. When he tasted the combination, he was sold.
Where was the Chick-fil-A sauce created? ›
It wasn't until Chick-fil-A operator Hugh Fleming introduced his personal honey mustard recipe into the Virginia location he ran that customers could dip their food. One day, an employee accidentally mixed barbecue sauce into the honey mustard—and it became the special sauce we all know today.
What is Chick-fil-A Polynesian sauce made of? ›
Polynesian Sauce
Sugar, soybean oil, water, corn syrup, corn-cider vinegar, distilled vinegar, tomato paste, salt, paprika, mustard seed, modified cornstarch, beet juice, onion*, garlic*, xanthan gum, propylene glycol alginate, natural flavor *dehydrated.
What is the most popular Chick-fil-A order? ›
When it comes to Chick-fil-A, their waffle fries cannot be beat. The crispy potato treats have been the fast-food chain's most popular menu item for years—and for good reason! That deep-fried side is downright delicious.
What is the most popular Chick Fil as? ›
Some fans swear by the spicy chicken sandwich, while others argue that the regular chicken sandwich is iconic for good reason. The chain releases its most popular entrée item ordered each year, and in 2023, the classic chicken sandwich took the top spot for the second year running.
What is the classic Chick Fil A sauce? ›
What Is Chick-Fil-A Sauce Made Out Of? The sauce sold in stores is a combination of their honey mustard, barbecue, and ranch sauces, but you can recreate it to perfection with just five ingredients. Barbecue sauce. Classic tomato-based barbecue sauce gives it that signature smokiness.
When did Chick-fil-A come to Virginia? ›
Chick-fil-A opened Virginia's first location in Portsmouth in 1974.
What state was Chick-fil-A made in? ›
Chick-fil-A, Inc. May 23, 1946 in Hapeville, Georgia, U.S.
What was originally made at Chick-fil-A? ›
Truett Cathy founded and opened the first Chick-fil-A® restaurant in 1967 in Atlanta's Greenbriar Mall, one of the first indoor malls in the southeast. At the time, the original Chick-fil-A® Chicken Sandwich was sold for 59 cents and Team Members wore ascots, candy-striped aprons and “soda jerk” hats and ties.
Is Mcdonalds healthier than Chick-fil-A? ›
Is Chick-Fil-A healthier than McDonald's? Since “healthy” is a subjective term, picking the healthiest option can be tough. But, in general, since Chick-Fil-A focuses on chicken, which is lower in calories, fat, and cholesterol than beef, we'll give the “healthier” title to Chick-Fil-A over McDonald's.
Some ranches can last for up to a year unopened outside of the refrigerator—but sauce packets don't have the benefit of being stored in a bottle. With Chick-fil-A's situation, three months is a good rule of thumb to use. Longer than that and the taste of your sauces will begin to turn.
Did Chick-fil-A change their Polynesian sauce? ›
"Please discard any Polynesian Sauce dipping cups that you may have taken home between February 14-27, 2024," the message stated. Chick-fil-A said it was first notified of the issue from a supplier, which "unintentionally added a different sauce that includes wheat and soy allergens and other ingredients."
What is the most sold item at Chick-fil-A? ›
Yes, the waffle fry is the top-selling item at Chick-fil-A.
Who owns Chick-fil-A? ›
Chick-fil-A, Inc. is a family-owned business, founded by S. Truett Cathy. Today, Truett's children—Dan T. Cathy, Donald (Bubba) M.
Why is Chick-fil-A Polynesian sauce so good? ›
Polynesian Sauce
It's pretty viscous, and just slightly thicker than the Buffalo sauce. The taste: Sweet and a bit fruity, this sauce was another happy surprise. It has a bit of tanginess that really balances it out and makes for a really fun bite.
Is Chick-fil-A sauce and honey roasted BBQ the same? ›
It looks the same and uses a lot of the same ingredients, but it isn't! The regular Chick-Fil-A sauce lacks the beautiful smoky flavor that this one does. This BBQ sauce also features honey front and center (since it is honey-roasted, after all). It's a bit sweeter!
Is Polynesian sauce good with fries? ›
Polynesian Sauce is one of our favorite dipping sauces for chicken. It is so full of flavor and the perfect to dip our fries and chicken nuggets in it.
