Chick-fil-A announced Thursday it will begin testing its first plant-forward entrée, the Chick-fil-A Cauliflower Sandwich, at restaurants in three markets.
While the sandwich is not considered vegetarian (egg and milk product is included in the preparation process), it is made with a tender filet cut from a whole, real cauliflower and embraces the plant-forward style that places vegetables at the center of the entrée. The preparation is similar to the original Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich—it is marinated, breaded with a signature seasoning, pressure-cooked, and served on a toasted buttery bun with two dill pickle chips.
Starting Monday, February 13, Chick-fil-A will test the cauliflower sandwich in these three markets: Denver, Charleston, South Carolina, and North Carolina’s Greensboro-Triad region.
“Cauliflower is the hero of our new sandwich, and it was inspired by our original Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich,” says Leslie Neslage, director of menu and packaging at Chick-fil-A. “Guests told us they wanted to add more vegetables into their diets, and they wanted a plant-forward entrée that tasted uniquely Chick-fil-A. Our new sandwich is made with the highest quality ingredients and whole vegetables, and we hope it offers customers another reason to dine at Chick-fil-A.”
Chick-fil-A is the latest of several big-time fast-food chains experimenting with plant-based products. Last year, McDonald’s piloted the McPlant in about 600 restaurants, although the response was reportedly underwhelming. KFC rolled out plant-based chicken nationwide for a limited time at the start of 2022, while Burger King launched its Impossible Whopper nationwide in August 2019.
The Chick-fil-A Cauliflower Sandwich was created, developed, and tested in-house by Chick-fil-A chefs who worked diligently for nearly four years finding the right ingredients and perfecting the recipe for the new sandwich.
“We explored every corner of the plant-based space in search of the perfect centerpiece for our plant-forward entrée,” says Stuart Tracy, culinary developer of the Chick-fil-A Cauliflower Sandwich. “Time and time again, we kept returning to cauliflower as the base of our sandwich. After a significant amount of development, we knew we had a one-of-a-kind entrée; one that puts a delicious spin on what we’re known for—great tasting food with ingredients you can trust.”
Customers in the three test markets can check the Chick-fil-A App or contact their local Chick-fil-A restaurant to find out if their restaurant will participate in the test.
