9 Chick-Fil-A Sides, Ranked Worst To Best

Is there any fast food chain quite like Chick-fil-A? If the mile-long lines at my local Chick-fil-A drive-thru are anything to go by, it's clear the chain's fried chicken sandwiches have a hold over customers across the country. But what about Chick-fil-A's sides? 

Whether you're someone who puts a lot of thought into your side dish of choice, or you automatically choose waffle fries every time, there's probably at least one Chick-fil-A side dish you've never eaten (looking at you, Fruit Cup). I tried them all, so you'll know which ones to add to your order next time you visit.

I purchased all nine of the following side dishes from my local Chick-fil-A and tried them one after the other while they were still as hot (or cold) as possible. My full methodology is available at the end of this article. 

Chick-fil-A's Mac & Cheese is baked in-house and has a solid flavor with pleasant notes of aged cheese and a crunchy top that adds a nice touch. However, the Mac & Cheese could use a little more seasoning to add richness and complexity. It also isn't very creamy or gooey. While each noodle is nicely coated with sauce, the dish lacks the melty, cheesy texture you get from a classic mac and cheese sauce. I've heard some people say that Chick-fil-A's Mac & Cheese must be eaten piping hot, in-store only, to get the full, creamy experience. But I'd argue that if all of Chick-fil-A's other sides can hold up on the car ride home, why not this one? Even when warm or reheated, it just doesn't seem to hit the textural notes that make baked mac and cheese so comforting.

If you're craving a cup of sharp mac and cheese and don't mind a thicker texture, then Chick-fil-A's version will be satisfying enough. But I'd still recommend one of the brand's other sides first. (That's especially true if you're heading to the drive-thru.)

The philosophical question I never expected to run into: How is one supposed to compare a fruit cup to, say, a side salad or bag of chips? There's nothing particularly special about Chick-fil-A's Fruit Cup, but there's absolutely nothing wrong with it, either. My cup came with green and red apples, strawberries, blueberries, and pieces of canned mandarin. Each fruit was cut into equal, bite-sized pieces, which made for a pleasant play on fruit salad. I found every piece in my order to be ripe and juicy, with no blemishes or imperfections. I especially loved the mandarin slices — they added a lot of sweetness and juiciness to the mix and were a fun contrast to the tart green apple cubes.

Chick-fil-A's Fruit Cup is not quite as involved as its other side dishes. It doesn't come with any dressings or toppings, and it doesn't really need them. It's simple, and while the fruit mix is fairly basic, I think it has a good variety of flavors — all of which would likely complement most of Chick-fil-A's main menu offerings. But I don't think it's fair to rank a fruit cup above most of Chick-fil-A's other menu options either, especially since most of them are more unique to the chain. 

Chick-fil-A's Chicken Noodle Soup is exactly what you'd expect it to be — warm, comforting, and well-seasoned. It has a well-balanced mix of add-ins (like carrots and celery), chicken pieces, and noodles. The soup tastes like flavorful chicken broth, and while it tastes more like a canned or store-bought chicken noodle soup than a homemade batch, that's not entirely a bad thing. It does seem a bit thicker than your average bowl of chicken noodle soup, though. I didn't mind, as it made the bowl taste richer overall, but not everyone is a fan of the texture. 

I think the Chicken Noodle Soup is a fun side to order during cold weather, and it's a nice alternative if you're tired of side salads or fries. If you can set the textural differences aside, you'll probably enjoy it. But I also think the menu has more unique options. While it may not take the top spot in this tasting, Chick-fil-A's Chicken Noodle Soup ranked highest in our tasting of eight different fast-food soups. 

Chick-fil-A's Berry Parfait has a pleasantly sweet yogurt base with a little bit of tang. It's topped with blueberries and sliced strawberries, both very ripe; the strawberries, in particular, taste sweeter and juicier with Chick-fil-A's yogurt. The granola topping is a nice touch, but it doesn't add much flavor and is mostly there for extra crunch. 

I thoroughly enjoyed Chick-fil-A's Berry Parfait, and I think it's especially delicious alongside one of the chain's breakfast items, such as its Hash Brown Scramble Bowl or Chicken & Waffles Breakfast Sandwich (part of Chick-fil-A's new fall menu). If you'd prefer this side even sweeter, you can substitute the granola topping with cookie crumbles, though I'd argue the vanilla-flavored yogurt is already sweet enough. It's also very easy to replicate at home, unlike some of the other options on this list, so I don't think it quite deserves to make the top half of this ranking. But if you're looking for an on-the-go breakfast side, the Vanilla Yogurt is a solid choice. 

Chick-fil-A's bagged chips are a fun addition to the side menu. If you're looking for a side that's transportable and long-lasting, maybe for a road trip or packed lunch, they'll definitely last longer than Chick-fil-A's waffle fries. In terms of flavor, the Original Chips taste like a classic potato chip and are evenly salted. What I love most is their shape; they're modeled after Chick-fil-A's waffle fries, but with smaller holes. This makes for a slightly puffier play on a traditional potato chip, with lots of extra ridges for seasoning to stick to.  

These Original chips could use a little extra salt, but that's more up to personal preference than anything. Regardless, their simple flavor also makes them great for dipping in one of Chick-fil-A's side sauces. Now, I'd never recommend the brand's bagged chips before its actual waffle fries — but let's be honest, that's actually a compliment. 

The creation of Chick-fil-A sauce may have been an accident, but the chain's Chick-fil-A Sauce Chips definitely aren't. They're identical in shape and texture to its Original Chips; the main difference, of course, is that the Sauce Chips come thoroughly coated in a seasoning that emulates Chick-fil-A's signature sauce (which is easy to make at home, by the way). I think this elevates the original chip even further — after all, if you're grabbing a bag of chips as an on-the-go side, you won't have to worry about packing a separate dipping sauce. 

As with the Original chip, each chip is very well-seasoned. The seasoning is tangy and a little sweet — it almost has a hint of creaminess, much like the original sauce itself. They still might not live up to the original Chick-fil-A Waffle Fries with the chain's signature sauce, but they're the closest to the real thing you can get.

Chick-fil-A's Kale Crunch is a side I'll definitely order again — I absolutely finished the whole container after this ranking. Made with crunchy kale, fresh green cabbage, and roasted almonds, the salad lives up to its name in terms of crunch. The vinaigrette is made with apple cider vinegar, olive oil, and mustard seed, so it's nice and acidic, similar to the flavor profile of coleslaw, but light and fresh instead of creamy.

Overall, the salad is a fairly simple dish with a few star ingredients, so I was surprised by how amazing it tastes. I can imagine it pairing well with Chick-fil-A's fried chicken as a tangy, refreshing counterbalance. I appreciated that each ingredient provides a different kind of crunch. The cabbage is a bit softer, the roasted almonds are ultra-crunchy, and the kale is fresh with a little chew, so it's never texturally overwhelming. The only thing to note about the Kale Crunch side is that it smells absolutely terrible when you first open the container — so take a bite before you judge.

It probably doesn't come as much of a surprise to see Chick-fil-A's Waffle Potato Fries land in my top three picks (they also made it all the way to number eight in our ranking of fast food french fries). Can you really blame me? Chick-fil-A executes them beautifully. Each fry is ultra-crispy, with a creamy interior and a waffle shape that's perfect for dipping. Even without sauce, they're delicious; the fries are seasoned with salt and served piping hot. Their thick waffle shape also means that they hold up well on the car ride home and never seem to get soft or soggy.

I have no complaints about Chick-fil-A's Waffle Fries. There's no denying they're the one menu item on this list that pairs with every main meal Chick-fil-A offers, whether we're talking breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Some diners may prefer straight, curly, or waffle cuts, but when it comes to well-seasoned, crispy fries, I'd argue the shape doesn't matter much.

On paper, the Side Salad looks fairly simple. It's made with a spring salad mix, whole grape tomatoes, shredded cheddar cheese, crispy red peppers, and a creamy avocado lime ranch sauce. You can swap out the dressing for a few different options, but I'm ranking it based on the one recommended dressing: ranch. In fact, it's the avocado ranch dressing that carries the entire salad; it's creamy, bright, and rich, with notes of buttery avocado and tangy lime juice. The dressing is more than generous enough to slather the entire salad, and when you pair it with the crunchy red pepper bits and creamy shredded cheese, you get the (arguably) best side in Chick-fil-A history. Outside of the chain's breakfast menu, I can't think of a single Chick-fil-A sandwich or meal that wouldn't benefit from a creamy and zesty side salad. 

Some people online say the Side Salad can be a little hit-or-miss in terms of its ingredients, which is fair. However, I felt I got a salad with a good balance of tomatoes, cheese, peppers, and dressing. Its unique flavor and blend of ingredients made me feel it deserved the top spot — but you're welcome to argue with me the next time you see me in the Chick-fil-A drive-thru.

I ordered all of Chick-fil-A's original menu items from a nearby location and brought them home to taste. I left off the Buddy Fruits Apple Sauce side, which is a grab-and-go grocery product rather than a Chick-fil-A exclusive item. I tried each side dish in a random order, one after the other, in order to compile my ranking. Because each side is entirely different, I ranked them based on several factors. These included flavor, texture, whether they met expectations based on the dish's type or name, and whether they would pair well with Chick-fil-A main menu items. Because of items like the Fruit Cup, I also ranked these sides by how unique they are and whether they're worth ordering specifically at Chick-fil-A. 

I paid full menu price for all of these items. They were each made at the same Chick-fil-A location and prepared fresh after ordering. After that, they just had to survive a 10-minute ride back home. No employees knew this order was being ranked — even if they thought that an order with only nine different sides was a bit odd.