The Chick-Fil-A Chicken Recipe We Know And Love Today Took A Shocking Number Of Years To Create

Greatness rarely happens overnight, and in the case of a beloved Chick-fil-A sandwich recipe, that is certainly the case. Developing a recipe from scratch often takes a certain level of commitment, and thanks to Chick-fil-A founder S. Truett Cathy, we get to reap the rewards of his dedicated labor and persistence. It took four years for Cathy to perfect Chick-fil-A's chicken sandwich, and hundreds of recipes were tested in the process. The founder finally settled on a recipe after customers told him not to change it again, and so he listened. Finally, in 1964, the results were released into the hands of the public, and the same recipe has remained unchanged for over five decades.

Not only does a unique cooking method make Chick-fil-A's chicken sandwich so delicious, but careful assembly of ingredients creates a bomb sandwich. The A in Chick-fil-A is meant to represent Grade A or top-quality chicken. Fittingly, 100% all-natural chicken breast is hand-breaded before being placed into toasted buns and topped with pickle chips. The cucumber slices themselves are soaked for several days before being used to crown these satisfying sandwiches. All those years of effort were truly worth it.

The chicken sandwich that was found on the original 1946 Chick-fil-A menu is still pressure-cooked in 100% refined peanut oil, a move that makes the recipe tricky to duplicate. The pressure cooker also means that the chicken cooks faster while keeping a moist and tender bite. While Cathy tried a variety of seasonings, he ultimately opted for peanut oil so as not to overshadow the chicken flavor in the sandwich. The exact recipe for the sandwich is protected in a safe in the Chick-fil-A's headquarters in Atlanta. This sandwich proves that old can certainly be gold. Though the sandwich may sound basic, it's a recipe that has withstood the test of time, and customers love its simplicity, too.

You don't need heaps of condiments to dress up this marvel, but netizens have shared their own customizations online. Some customers recommend adding Chick-fil-A sauce or colby jack cheese to the order, while others ask for a sandwich sans pickles with American cheese and BBQ sauce. "Honey mustard on the normal chicken sandwich," encouraged one Redditor. "It's life-changing." Those who like pickles ask for extra, and one fan of the sandwich customizes orders with pepper jack and garlic ranch for dipping. Since sauces are free, try different sauces with the sandwich to find the one that delights your palate and don't be afraid to spruce up your order with bacon.