A chicken sandwich has been a go-to meal for most people who are always on the road. It’s always easy to grab one while at work, especially when you’re in a hurry.
For Chick-Fil-A, the chicken sandwich is a specialty that goes with other condiments. Unfortunately, vegans can’t have the restaurant’s original chicken sandwich as it contains real chicken.
We’re still lucky, though. Chick-Fil-A has a few vegan options, whether for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
Chick-Fil-A, one of the largest American fast food chains, has served comfort foods for decades. Because of the growing vegan demands, the restaurant has added several plant-based options. There is also a selection for those who are following the Keto diet.
Let’s learn more about Chick-Fil-A and see what vegan options we can have from the restaurant.
Chick-Fil-A, “We Didn’t Invent the Chicken, Just the Chicken Sandwich“
Businessman and philanthropist S. Truett Cathy opened Chick-Fil-A in 1946 in Hapeville, Georgia, focusing on chicken sandwich production.
When he discovered a pressure-fryer in 1961 that could make a chicken sandwich way faster than it does, he officially registered the name Chick-Fil-A.
Several journalists criticized the restaurant’s slogan, “We Didn’t Invent the Chicken, Just the Chicken Sandwich,” citing untrue claims about inventing the chicken sandwich.
Chick-Fil-A went trans-fat-free in 2008. They also started serving chicken raised without antibiotics in 2019, following the Food and Drug Administration’s mandate.
Unlike other restaurants that would expand their menu, Chick-Fil-A focuses on selling chicken sandwiches and a small menu to customers.
The letter A in their name means that they serve chicken in “Grade A,” which is top quality. Chick-Fil-A also emphasizes customer service that has topped the chat for decades despite operating only 6 days a week.
Cathy follows the Christian doctrine of first-day Sabbatarianism.
His religious beliefs as a devout Southern Baptist have also been applied to the restaurant’s operation. Chick-Fil-A and all its franchises are closed on Sundays, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
Cathy also said working on Sundays would beat him, as did the employees. So it’s best to close on Sundays to rest to prepare for the next day.
The restaurant also serves fish sandwiches during the liturgical season to honor the Friday Fast, which abstains believers from eating meat.
Chick-Fil-A operates in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico, with former stores in South Africa and the United Kingdom.
Chick-Fil-A Same-Sex Marriage Controversy
Chick-Fil-A has been under fire due to its opposition to same-sex marriage.
The company donated more than $5 million to organizations that are also against same-sex marriage, although many other public entities expressed disapproval of Chick-Fil-A’s stance.
Its attempts to pursue its locations in the United Kingdom failed due to protests and controversy over the company’s anti-LGBTQ+ issues.
Some public entities have also tried to ban Chick-Fil-A from expanding in other locations in the U.S.
However, the company has recently loosened its disapproval of same-sex marriage and has halted donating to charity groups that are also anti-LGBTQ+.
Chick-Fil-A Vegan Options
As lucky as the non-vegan eaters, Chick-Fil-A has several vegan options that you can have for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Check these vegan options, so you know what to get as soon as you set foot in one of Chick-Fil-A’s locations.
- Breakfast and Vegan Sides
- Hash Browns
- Fruit Cup
- English Muffin
- Kale Crunch SIde
- Waffle Potato Chips
- Buddy Fruits Apple Sauce
- Lunch and Dinner
- Spicy Southwest Salad
- Order this without cheese and chicken
- Have it with Chili Lime Vinaigrette instead of their Creamy Salad Dressing
- Market Salad
- Ask for one without chicken and blue cheese
- Try it with Light Balsamic Vinaigrette
- Grilled Cool Wrap
- Order it without chicken and cheese
- Have it with either Light Italian Dressing, Light Balsamic Vinaigrette, or Polynesian Sauce
- Waffle Potato Fries
- Spicy Southwest Salad
- Sauces and Dressings
- Light Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing
- Light Italian Dressing
- Polynesian Sauce
- Chili Lime Vinaigrette Dressing
- Ketchup
- BBQ Sauce
- Mustard
- Beverages
- Dr Pepper
- Lemonade
- Iced Tea
- Iced Coffee
- Coffee
- Apple Juice
- Orange Juice
- Coca-Cola
- Bottle Water
You can have these vegan-friendly options from most Chick-Fil-A locations. Just ask the crew how you want it prepared.
Also, it’s worth noting that Chick-Fil-A prepares food in one kitchen, so there might be cross-contamination between vegan and non-vegan dishes.
Best 10 Food Chains Serving Vegan Chicken Sandwich
Luckily, there have been many food chains, especially vegan restaurants, that offer a vegan-friendly version of chicken sandwiches. Rejoice! We’re no longer alone in this world!
Check these food chains out when you’re in the neighborhood.
- Atlas Monroe. Locations include San Francisco, San Diego, Nashville, Dallas, Cincinnati, and Canada, among others.
- Veggie Grill. They have locations in Northern and Southern California, Portland, New York, and more.
- Slutty Vegan in Atlanta, GA
- Green New American Vegetarian in Phoenix, AZ
- Lettuce Feast in Los Angeles, CA
- Souley Vegan in Oakland and Los Angeles, CA
- Veltree in Charlotte, NC
- Honeybee Burger in Los Angeles, CA
- Wolfie’s in Los Angeles, CA
- Modern Love in Omaha, NE
There are still a lot of fast food chains that serve vegan-friendly chicken sandwiches that are not on the list. Don’t be afraid to try what they offer as long as they’re plant-based and healthy!
Vegan vs. Non-Vegan Chicken Sandwich
Because a vegan chicken sandwich is all plant-based, it’s clear that it’s healthier than its non-vegan counterpart.
For what it’s worth, let’s check the nutritional details of the chicken sandwich and its vegan counterpart.
| 1 Chicken Sandwich | 1 Vegan Chicken Sandwich |
|---|---|
| Calories: 515 | Calories: 326 |
| Total Fat: 29 g | Total Fat: 8 g |
| Cholesterol: 60.1 mg | Cholesterol: 0 g |
| Sodium: 957.3 mg | Sodium: 588 mg |
| Total Carbs: 39 g | Total Carbs: 45 g |
| Protein: 24 g | Protein: 19 g |
If you notice, the chicken sandwich is extremely high in sodium compared to its vegan version. The idea of almost 1,000 mg of sodium in just one chicken sandwich is quite alarming.
What if you eat more than one chicken sandwich a day? That’s way too high, right?
The Dietary Guidelines recommend limiting your sodium intake to 2,300 mg daily or even less, which is enough for your body to mobilize. Excessive sodium intake can lead to kidney issues, strokes, heart diseases, and more.
In addition, you should also keep watch on your calorie intake. As you can see above, the calories that one chicken sandwich gives are also higher than its vegan counterpart.
Health experts recommend limiting your calorie intake to 2,400 daily for most healthy adults. Otherwise, those extra calories will be stored in your body, eventually turning fat.
Doctors and health experts have warned that extra calories can lead to weight gain, obesity, hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, certain types of cancer, and even gallstones.
And this is why it’s always safe to burn those calories to keep things healthy. Of course, eating in moderation can do wonders!
Best Vegan Chicken Brands
Being vegan doesn’t mean you can’t have a chicken sandwich. You can, for sure, as long as it’s vegan-friendly.
But how does it work?
Well, it’s good news that there have been a lot of food manufacturers that have responded to the growing demands of vegans to create plant-based meat. It’s also called Fake Meat, but whatever that is, everything must be plant-based.
If you love cooking, or you simply want to make your own vegan chicken sandwich, check the list below because there’s a wide selection of vegan-friendly chicken brands you can choose from.
- Impossible Foods
- Vegan Fried Chick*n
- Gardein
- Alpha Foods
- Whole Foods 365
- Meatless Farm
- Jack & Annie’s
- Hungry Planet
- Trader Joe’s
- Tofurky
- Beyond Meat
There are a lot of vegan chicken brands out there that you can buy from your local grocer or supermarket. Those work well with your sandwich, especially when you wanna try it at home.
There are many recipes to follow to make your own vegan chicken sandwich as a healthier version of Chick-Fil-A.
The Bottom Line
Chick-Fil-A specializes in chicken sandwiches but also offers a few vegan options such as their Cool Wraps, Market Salad, Hash Browns, Fruit Cups, and more.
You can also enjoy their vegan sides and dressings to pair with your vegan good at Chick-Fil-A. Also, there are many choices for your drinks since most of their available beverages are vegan-friendly.
Other than that, you can make your own vegan version of a chicken sandwich. There are many vegan meat brands to choose from, or you can even make one.
Sauce Stache has a dedicated channel showing recipes for his fake meat creations, including the vegan chicken that he calls Chickfu Tofu Chickun. I have a write-up about this guy in this article if you can check it out.
Nonetheless, it’s important that you’re choosing the path to veganism not only for a healthier lifestyle but also to leave a little impact on the environment. And, of course, we all love our animal friends, right?