Chick-fil-A is known for its delicious chicken sandwiches and nuggets. The chicken itself is always juicy and flavorful. This leads many Chick-fil-A fans to wonder – what exactly is that tasty chicken marinated in?
The simple answer is that Chick-fil-A marinates its chicken in a blend of seasonings and pickling solution. According to the company, the chicken is marinated for at least 12 hours before cooking. This helps the seasonings and flavors penetrate deeply into the meat, ensuring moist and flavorful chicken every time.
The Marinade Ingredients
Chick-fil-A is understandably secretive about the exact blend of seasonings used in their marinades. However, some of the known ingredients include:
- Salt
- Sugar
- Spices like garlic and black pepper
- Monosodium glutamate (MSG)
- Powdered citric acid
These basic ingredients help enhance the flavor and tenderness of the chicken. The salt adds seasoning, the sugar balances out the saltiness, the spices provide depth of flavor, and the MSG adds umami or savoriness. The citric acid helps tenderize the meat.
The Pickling Solution
In addition to the blend of seasonings, Chick-fil-A chicken is marinated in a pickling solution. This solution contains ingredients like:
- Distilled vinegar
- Vegetable oil
- Powdered egg whites
- Whole eggs
- Water
The vinegar and oil in the pickling solution help tenderize and moisturize the chicken meat. Meanwhile, the egg whites and whole eggs provide protein that adheres the seasoning particles to the chicken. The water balances out the acidity of the vinegar.
Altogether, this pickling solution allows the seasoning blend to penetrate deeply into the chicken for maximum flavor.
The Marinating Process
Chick-fil-A doesn’t share the full details of their marinating process. However, according to employee interviews and anonymous sources, the process involves:
- Trimming and preparing the raw chicken breasts and nuggets
- Injecting a portion of the pickling solution deep into the chicken pieces using needles
- Massaging the seasoning blend evenly over the exterior of the chicken
- Placing the seasoned chicken in sealed bags or containers with more pickling solution
- Refrigerating for at least 12 hours and up to 3 days
This extended, cold marinating time allows the chicken to soak up maximum flavor. The constant tumbling helps the seasonings penetrate evenly throughout each piece of meat.
Why It Produces Juicy, Flavorful Chicken
There are a few reasons why Chick-fil-A’s unique marinating process results in such tender, delicious chicken:
- Avoiding high heat prevents the chicken breast meat from drying out
- The acidity in the pickling solution tenderizes the proteins in the meat
- The oil helps keep the chicken moist and juicy
- The salt dissolves some of the chicken proteins, making it more tender
- The sugar caramelizes slightly when cooked, enhancing flavor
- Spices come through brightly after extended marinating time
The marinade ingredients essentially do a lot of prep work on the chicken before it even hits the fryer or grill. This allows the meat to cook up incredibly moist, tender, and flavorful every time.
Nutrition Facts of Marinated Chicken
Many people are curious about the nutrition facts of Chick-fil-A’s marinated chicken offerings. Here are the basic nutrition facts for some popular menu items:
Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich
| Serving Size | Calories | Fat | Carbs | Protein |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 sandwich | 440 | 19g | 41g | 28g |
Chick-fil-A Chicken Nuggets
| Serving Size | Calories | Fat | Carbs | Protein |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 pieces | 140 | 8g | 6g | 12g |
Chick-fil-A Grilled Chicken Sandwich
| Serving Size | Calories | Fat | Carbs | Protein |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 sandwich | 300 | 12g | 37g | 28g |
As you can see, the nutrition facts vary somewhat depending on the menu item. But in general, Chick-fil-A’s marinated chicken offers a good amount of protein along with a decent dose of fat and carbs from the breading and bun.
Alternatives to Chick-fil-A Marinade
While Chick-fil-A’s exact marinade is secret, home cooks have come up with similar alternative chicken marinades that also yield tasty, juicy chicken. Some popular options include:
Basic Brine
- 1 quart water
- 1/4 cup salt
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 tablespoon peppercorns
- 1 bay leaf
Combine all ingredients and submerge chicken pieces for 30 minutes up to overnight. The salt and sugar tenderize, while the aromatics infuse flavor.
Buttermilk Marinade
- 2 cups buttermilk
- 1 tablespoon hot sauce
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
Whisk together all ingredients, then marinate chicken for 4-24 hours. The buttermilk tenderizes the meat and the seasonings infuse big flavor.
Yogurt and Spice Marinade
- 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 1 1/2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
Mix together all ingredients and coat chicken pieces thoroughly. Refrigerate for 1-3 hours for flavorful and tender results.
Conclusion
While Chick-fil-A keeps their exact blend of marinade ingredients secret, it’s clear that chicken marinated in a flavorful brine or buttermilk solution results in juicy, tender meat with delicious flavor. Home cooks can approximate the Chick-fil-A flavor with simple brines and marinades using ingredients like salt, sugar, spices, acidic elements like buttermilk or vinegar, and fat like oil or eggs. Marinating chicken for an extended time allows the flavors to soak deeply into the meat before cooking. With a little testing and tweaking, home cooks can achieve Chick-fil-A-style chicken full of flavor.