5 Ordering Tips To Get The Best Culver's Chicken Sandwich

While Culver's, the Wisconsin-born fast-food chain, is known for its Butterburgers and cheese curds, there are other top-notch menu items worth trying at this popular chain. Take, for example, the Crispy Chicken Sandwich, complete with a buttery Kaiser roll, a crispy fried chicken filet, lettuce, tomato, pickles, and mayo. It's a simple yet scrumptious fast-food classic that even comes in a spicy version. But if you're hoping to upgrade it even more, we have some suggestions for you.

From asking for it "extra crispy" to adding a slice of cheese and switching up the bread and condiments, here are five ordering tips to get the best Culver's chicken sandwich, according to our trusty reviewers and customer commentary from across the web. Most of these hacks are pretty easy to achieve, since Culver's is a made-to-order eatery and the ingredients mentioned are used for other popular menu items. So, while all of Culver's chicken items are delicious on their own, you're guaranteed a tasty meal with these customizations.

If you like your fried chicken extra crunchy, make this Culver's request for crispier chicken and sides. In fact, one Redditor said that you can order anything extra crispy or well done. Apparently to achieve this extra crunch, food is left in the fryer for an extra 45 seconds past normal cook time, so the breading on the chicken will develop little bits of crunch on the edges. The texture will pair amazingly with the soft, fluffy Kaiser bun that Culver's uses for its burgers and chicken sandwiches.

Just note that if you try this tip, you might have to wait a little longer for your meal. And because all Culver's items are cooked to order, it might not be feasible during a busy lunch or dinner rush. So unless you want to hold up the drive-thru line, you might want to reserve this hack for slower hours or when ordering inside the restaurant.

A standard crispy or spicy chicken sandwich does not come with cheese, but adding a slice is a must-try. You can add the customization when you order online or on the app, and you can ask for it at the drive-thru for an extra $0.40, depending on location. You can choose from American, cheddar, or Swiss cheese, all of which melt perfectly over the chicken filet and make for a cheesy, hearty sandwich.

Want to take the cheesiness up a notch? In addition to the cheese slice, order a side of Wisconsin Cheddar Cheese Sauce and use it as a dipping sauce for your sandwich. Bonus: You can dip your fries or curds in it, too. The rich, velvety sauce is an extra $0.99, but you can request it in a soup container, aka the trick to fans scoring massive portions of this Culver's favorite.

All of Culver's chicken sandwiches automatically come with mayonnaise, but if you're not a fan, you can swap it out for other condiments. Simply ask for "no mayo" and then order it with ketchup or mustard instead. Or you can grab some buffalo sauce or ranch for a refreshing sidekick. You can even order one of Culver's signature sauces on the side and then slather it on the bun yourself. 

When it comes to special sauces, Redditors suggest the Culver's honey mustard, Signature Sauce, made with buttermilk and parmesan cheese, or Boom Boom Sauce, a spicy mix of chile peppers, dijon mustard, and garlic. But there are condiments beyond sauce that you can add. For instance, Culver's offers creamy horseradish packets that may give it a tangy, acidic bite. Or you can request jalapeño slices if you prefer things on the spicier side.

We've highlighted this Culver's ordering hack for Butterburgers, but we think it also works brilliantly for the chicken sandwiches, too. Instead of getting the Kaiser roll, ask staff to swap it for slices of sourdough bread. This bread is already on hand for the chain's popular Sourdough Melt, plus if you ask for it to be lightly toasted or grilled, it'll give the sandwich's exterior a nice crisp texture, too. It's also buttered — who can resist that?

As far as flavor goes, the notoriously sour tang of this bread will give the sandwich a little more oomph. Plus, we think it tastes out-of-this-world delicious when it's dunked in cheese sauce or has melty cheese slices on it. So, try out both ordering hacks at the same time when you hit up Culver's with some serious cravings. We promise it won't disappoint. The best part? Swapping the bread is either free or only about $1 extra, depending on location.

Did you know that Culver's offers grilled onions? You'd likely associate this tasty add-on with In-N-Out or another fancy burger joint, but if you look close enough at the menu, you'll see it. Grilled onions are offered as an option on the Deluxe Butterburger and the Grilled Reuben Melt, and they're super easy to prep. Staff just grill them up alongside other items to bring out their smoky, slightly sweet flavor. Redditors have even mentioned that you can request your onions "well done" if you like them a little more charred.

All in all, grilled onions add complexity to this classic Culver's menu item, and when paired with Boom Boom or Signature sauce, it almost tastes like an In-N-Out dupe, but with chicken. The onion flavor will also play off of the spices in the chicken breading, which is a Southern-style mix of onion, garlic, and black pepper. It doesn't even cost extra to make this distinction in your order.