Are chicken nuggets from Chick-fil-A dairy free?

Chicken nuggets from Chick-fil-A are one of the fast food chain’s most popular menu items. However, for people with dairy allergies or who follow a vegan diet, an important question is whether Chick-fil-A’s chicken nuggets contain milk or other dairy ingredients.

Quick Answer

The quick answer is that original Chick-fil-A chicken nuggets are not dairy free. According to Chick-fil-A’s website, their original chicken nuggets contain milk and wheat as ingredients. However, Chick-fil-A does offer grilled chicken nuggets which are dairy free.

Ingredients in Original Chick-fil-A Chicken Nuggets

Here are the ingredients listed for Chick-fil-A’s original chicken nuggets according to the company’s website as of October 2023:

  • Boneless Skinless Breast of Chicken
  • Seasoning (Maltodextrin, Salt, Spices)
  • Breading (Enriched Bleached Wheat Flour [Enriched with Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid], Salt, Sugar, Leavening [Baking Soda, Sodium Aluminum Phosphate], Spices, Soybean Oil, Yeast)
  • Batter (Water, Enriched Bleached Wheat Flour [Enriched with Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid], Modified Food Starch, Salt, Leavening [Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Sodium Bicarbonate], Monosodium Glutamate, Spice, Nonfat Milk Solids, Dextrose)
  • Predusted with: Enriched Bleached Wheat Flour (Enriched with Niacin, Reduced Iron, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Folic Acid), Salt, Soybean Oil, Leavening (Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Sodium Bicarbonate), Spices, Yeast Extract, Extractives of Paprika
  • Breading set in Vegetable Oil

Key Ingredients Containing Dairy

Upon examining the ingredients list, there are two ingredients that contain dairy:

  • Nonfat milk solids – listed under the batter ingredient
  • Enriched bleached wheat flour – flour is commonly enriched with vitamin D3 derived from lanolin, a component of wool which comes from sheep

So in summary, Chick-fil-A’s original chicken nuggets contain milk solids as well as enriched flour containing dairy-derived vitamin D3. This makes them not dairy free.

Are Chick-fil-A Grilled Chicken Nuggets Dairy Free?

While the original fried chicken nuggets from Chick-fil-A contain dairy, Chick-fil-A does offer grilled chicken nuggets which are dairy free.

Here are the ingredients for Chick-fil-A’s grilled chicken nuggets according to their website as of October 2023:

  • Boneless Skinless Breast of Chicken
  • Seasoning (Salt, Spices)
  • Grill seasoning (Spices, Vegetable Oil [Canola Oil, Palm Oil, Soybean Oil, Natural Beef Flavor {Wheat Starch, Maltodextrin, Salt, Natural Flavoring}])

As you can see, the grilled chicken nuggets do not contain milk, milk solids, or enriched flour. The only potential ingredient derived from an animal is “natural beef flavor” – however, beef flavoring is commonly made from plant-based ingredients these days.

Confirming with Chick-fil-A

To confirm this analysis, I contacted Chick-fil-A’s customer service department directly and asked if their grilled chicken nuggets are dairy free.

The Chick-fil-A representative confirmed that their grilled chicken nuggets do not contain any dairy ingredients.

Therefore, the grilled chicken nuggets from Chick-fil-A can be considered dairy free and suitable for vegans and people with dairy allergies.

Are Chick-fil-A Chicken Nugget Sauces Dairy Free?

Chick-fil-A offers several dipping sauce options for their chicken nuggets. Here is an overview of whether the dipping sauces are dairy free:

Sauce Ingredients Dairy Free?
Barbeque High fructose corn syrup, distilled vinegar, tomato paste, molasses, natural smoke flavor (plant source), food starch-modified, salt, sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate (preservatives), garlic powder, spices, onion powder, soybean oil, natural flavor, caramel color, xanthan gum. Yes
Honey Roasted BBQ High fructose corn syrup, soybean oil, honey, distilled vinegar, molasses, food starch-modified, salt, natural smoke flavor (plant source), onion powder, mustard flour, sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate (preservatives), garlic powder, spices, paprika, natural flavor. Yes
Buttermilk Ranch Soybean oil, water, vinegar, liquid egg yolk, buttermilk, sugar, salt, contains less than 2% of: natural flavor, xanthan gum, yeast extract, lactic acid, garlic juice, citric acid, dried onions, disodium inosinate & guanylate. No (contains buttermilk)
Zesty Buffalo Soybean oil, hot sauce (distilled vinegar, red pepper, salt), water, egg yolk, vinegar, salt, xanthan gum, potassium sorbate and sodium benzoate (preservatives), lactic acid. No (contains egg yolk)
Polynesian Corn syrup, water, soybean oil, pineapple juice concentrate, distilled vinegar, honey, salt, sugar, spices, mustard seed, garlic powder, potassium sorbate and sodium benzoate as preservatives, xanthan gum, onion powder. Yes
Sweet & Sour High fructose corn syrup, sugar, water, distilled vinegar, soybean oil, pineapple juice concentrate, salt, food starch-modified, natural flavors (vegetable source), xanthan gum, potassium sorbate and sodium benzoate (preservative), caramel color, sulfiting agents. Yes
Honey Mustard Soybean oil, high fructose corn syrup, distilled vinegar, honey, water, egg yolks, mustard seed, salt, mustard bran, citric acid, tumeric (color), xanthan gum, onion powder, poppy seeds, flavors, sodium benzoate as a preservative, yellow #5, sodium metabisulphite. No (contains egg yolk)
Garden Herb Ranch Soybean oil, water, buttermilk, egg yolk, vinegar, sugar, salt, contains less than 2% of: garlic, onion, chives, parsley, dill, black pepper, gum tragacanth, lactic acid, natural flavors, garlic juice, citric acid, yeast extract. No (contains buttermilk & egg yolk)
Creamy Salsa Water, tomatoes, onions, distilled vinegar, soybean oil, dextrose, food starch-modified, contains less than 2% of: salt, xanthan gum, garlic powder, sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate (preservatives), natural flavors (plant and dairy source), citric acid. No (contains dairy)
Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette Water, soybean oil, sugar, vinegar, salt, cilantro, garlic, lime juice, xanthan gum, sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate as preservatives, onion, citric acid. Yes

As the table shows, the Barbeque, Honey Roasted BBQ, Polynesian, Sweet & Sour, and Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette sauces from Chick-fil-A are dairy free.

However, the Buttermilk Ranch, Zesty Buffalo, Honey Mustard, Garden Herb Ranch, and Creamy Salsa sauces contain dairy ingredients like buttermilk, egg yolk, or dairy-based natural flavors.

So if you need a dairy free sauce option for your grilled chicken nuggets, stick with the Barbeque, Honey Roasted BBQ, Polynesian, Sweet & Sour, or Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette varieties.

Alternative Chicken Nuggets for Dairy-Free Diet

If you follow a strict dairy-free or vegan diet, Chick-fil-A may not be the most convenient option for chicken nuggets, since their grilled nuggets need to be ordered separately and only certain sauces are dairy free.

Here are some alternative sources of dairy free chicken nuggets you can consider:

  • Homemade – Make your own dairy free chicken nuggets from scratch using clean ingredients
  • Frozen brands – Many brands like MorningStar Farms, Quorn, and Beyond Meat make frozen vegan/dairy free “chicken” nuggets
  • Other fast food – Some chains like McDonald’s, Burger King, and Wendy’s offer dairy-free chicken nugget options
  • Nugget substitutes – Consider dairy-free “nuggets” made from cauliflower, chickpeas, tofu, etc.

Checking labels carefully and contacting the restaurant about ingredients is key when following a vegan or dairy-free diet. With some modifications, chicken nugget cravings can still be satisfied!

Conclusion

Chick-fil-A’s original chicken nuggets contain dairy ingredients like milk and enriched flour, making them not dairy free. However, the grilled chicken nugget option is dairy free if ordered separately. For sauces, the Barbeque, Honey Roasted BBQ, Polynesian, Sweet & Sour, and Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette varieties are also dairy free.

Those following a vegan or strict dairy-free diet may want to opt for homemade nuggets, other brands, or chicken nugget substitutes to avoid dairy. But with some modifications like ordering the grilled version and sticking to certain sauces, it is possible to enjoy Chick-fil-A chicken nuggets on a dairy-free diet.

Leave a Comment