What Exactly Are Chick-fil-A Fries and How Are They Made?
Chick-fil-A waffle fries are among the most popular items on their menu. Cut into the shape of waffles, these hearty fries pair perfectly with Chick-fil-A’s tender chicken.
Key Takeaways
- Chick-fil-A fries are made from real potatoes grown on a farm along the Columbia River in WA.
- They are cut into the waffle shape, flash-frozen, and sent to restaurants to be deep-fried in canola oil.
- Waffle fries come in three sizes with calories ranging from 320 to 600 and can be ordered in many locations during breakfast.
There’s a lot to love about waffle fries, and this article will tell you all about it. Read on to learn more about Chick-fil-A fries, how they are made, and what makes them so good.
Where Does Chick-fil-A Get Their Potatoes?
The potatoes used to make Chick-fil-A’s waffle fries are grown along the Columbia River in Washington state. They come from a family farm operating for over a century and can be found in Chick-fil-A’s waffle fries and hash browns.
The farm that produces the potatoes for Chick-fil-A is located along the Columbia River Basin.
This fertile area became even more nutrient-rich after the eruption of Mount St. Helens in 1980.
The farm is owned by the Johnson family and has been in the family since 1906.
Nick Johnson is now the fourth generation of the Johnson family potato farmers alongside his father and uncle.
They are proud to produce the potatoes that feed and excite lovers of Chick-fil-A waffle fries across the country.
How Are Chick-fil-A Fries Made?
Chick-fil-A fries are made from real, farm-grown potatoes. After processing, they are cut into the waffle shape and flash-frozen to be sent to Chick-fil-A restaurants across the country. The fries are simply fried in canola oil and sprinkled with sea salt when you place your order.
Waffle fries are made from real Russet potatoes and not much else.
Russet potatoes are robust enough to be cut into the large, circular shape that makes these fries special.
You can even see the proof in the occasional potato skin fry that you may find in your order!
After being harvested, the potatoes are sent to a processing plant, where they are cut, frozen, and packaged to be delivered to restaurants across the country.
When you place your order, Chick-fil-A team members take a portion of the frozen waffle fries, fry them in canola oil and season them with sea salt.
The ingredients in Chick-fil-A waffle fries include the following:
- Potatoes
- Sea Salt
- Canola Oil
- Food preservatives
The fries are treated with preservatives before being frozen to maintain their golden color.
The canola oil is also mixed with Dimethylpolysiloxane to prevent splashing while deep frying.
Chick-fil-A waffle fries are free of all common allergens, including:
- Dairy
- Egg
- Soy
- Wheat
- Tree Nuts
- Fish
Waffle Fries are always cooked separately from chicken or other menu items at Chick-fil-A restaurants, so even vegetarians and vegans can enjoy this tasty side.
Waffles Fries with Chick-fil-A Sauce is our love language 😍
— Chick-fil-A, Inc. (@ChickfilA) August 12, 2021
Why Are Chick-fil-A Fries So Good?
There are multiple reasons why Chick-fil-A fries are so good, including they are made from simple and whole ingredients, they are great for dipping, and hearty and fun to eat.
One of the main reasons Chick-fil-A waffle fries are so good is that they are made with real potatoes.
All potatoes used to make waffle fries are grown on the Johnson family farm in Washington state.
Orders are also cooked fresh as needed at restaurants to taste hot, fresh, and crisp.
Another reason why Chick-fil-A fries are so good is that they’re shaped perfectly for dipping into your favorite sauce.
There are eight different sauces to choose from, and the creamy yet tangy flavor of their signature Chick-fil-A sauce happens to pair perfectly with waffle fries.
The shape of waffle fries also makes them taste so good because they’re simply fun to eat.
Waffle fries made their debut in 1985 and were instantly a crowd favorite because of their uniqueness compared to other French fries on the market.
Even today, the shape of waffle fries continues to be a crowd-pleaser because of the way their crisscrossed shape gives the outside a golden crisp while the inside remains soft and chewy.
How Many Calories Are in Chick-fil-A Fries?
Chick-fil-A waffle fries come in small, medium, or large sizes, and the calories are 320, 420, and 600, respectively. Each order of waffle fries also comes with your choice of dipping sauce.
| Chick-fil-A Waffle Fries | Calories |
| Small | 320 |
| Medium | 420 |
| Large | 600 |
A small-size Chick-fil-A waffle fries have 320 calories and come with your choice of two dipping sauces.
A medium-size waffle fries have 420 calories and come with two dipping sauces.
A large-size Chick-fil-A waffle fries have 600 calories and come with your choice of three dipping sauces.
You will also need to add the calories of dipping sauces to your waffle fries.
The following are the Chick-fil-A dipping sauces and the calories per 1 oz. serving:
- Ketchup (25 calories)
- Chick-fil-A Sauce (140 calories)
- Polynesian Sauce (110 calories)
- Barbecue Sauce (45 calories)
- Honey Mustard Sauce (50 calories)
- Garlic Herb Ranch Sauce (140 calories)
- Zesty Buffalo Sauce (25 calories)
- Sweet and Spicy Sriracha (45 calories)
- Spicy Roasted BBQ Sauce (60 calories)
Other possible additions to waffle fries include salt, pepper, and hot sauce.
You can also request for your fries not to be salted when you place your order.
How Much Do Fries Cost at Chick-fil-A?
Chick-fil-A waffle fries cost an average of $2.09 to $2.75, depending on the size ordered. Waffle fries come in three different sizes and can be ordered as a complimentary side with any meal.
The following chart gives an average cost of Chick-fil-A waffle fries, though the prices vary by location.
The following prices are the average costs from several restaurants across the US.
| Chick-fil-A Waffle Fries | Price |
| Small | $2.09 |
| Medium | $2.35 |
| Large | $2.75 |
A small-size waffle fries cost around $2.09 and come with two complimentary dipping sauces.
Medium and large-size fries cost around $2.35 and $2.75, respectively.
Meals come with one complimentary side of waffle fries or potato chips. Other sides are also available for an additional charge.
In addition, Kid’s meals come with the option of small-size waffle fries and two dipping sauces.
Can You Get Fries at Chick-fil-A in the Morning?
You can often get Chick-fil-A waffle fries in the morning, but that decision is left up to the individual location. Chick-fil-A restaurants are franchise-owned, and each location can decide its hours and what they serve.
Many Chick-fil-A restaurants serve the breakfast menu from 6:30 am to 10:30 am Monday through Saturday.
However, some restaurants may choose not to open until 10:30 am, in which case they only serve their lunch menu.
All Chick-fil-A restaurants are closed on Sundays.
Waffle fries are one of Chick-fil-A’s most popular menu items, so even though they’re not part of the breakfast menu, many restaurants will allow you to order fries in the morning.
The best way to find out is to ask the staff at your local restaurant.
Since they may not have them set up and ready to cook, be sure to allow 5 to 10 extra minutes for your fries to be prepared when ordering before 10:30 am.
What Is the Best Way to Reheat Chick-fil-A Fries?
The best way to reheat Chick-fil-A waffle fries is in an air fryer. Waffle fries can also be reheated in an oven, toaster oven, or microwave.
If you order Chick-fil-A waffle fries and have leftovers, reheating them in the air fryer is the best way to get them back to their original crunchy texture.
An air fryer will re-crisp the fries after they have cooled and gone soggy, and you won’t have to add more oil to them.
Depending on how many leftovers you have, you can reheat your waffle fries in an air fryer for approximately 3 to 6 minutes at 350 degrees.
You can also reheat your waffle fries in an oven or toaster oven.
While an oven will take some time to heat up, a toaster oven can have the same effect with a fraction of the wait.
A toaster may be better if you don’t have too many fries left over.
Both methods will heat and bring the fries back to life, but they won’t have the same crispiness as in an air fryer.
Depending on the size of your leftovers, you can reheat your waffle fries in a conventional or toaster oven for approximately 10 minutes at 400 degrees.
If you just want to eat the fries and do not care about restoring their original quality, microwaving may be the easiest.
Although the fries will remain as soft as they were cold, a microwave will heat your waffle fries the quickest.
Depending on how many leftovers you have and the wattage of your microwave, you can reheat your waffle fries in approximately 20-60 seconds.
Conclusion
Chick-fil-A waffle fries are crispy golden fries made from real potatoes grown in fertile Washington state soil. They can be ordered ala carte, as a side, or along with your choice of entree and a drink.
Waffle fries are made for dipping and come with your favorite Chick-fil-A dipping sauces.
Many Chick-fil-A restaurants will even make them in the morning upon request, and they’re easy to reheat if you want to save some for later.
If you’re looking for more tips about Chick-fil-A, check out these articles below.
Related Articles:
Can You Buy Chick-fil-A Sauces in Bottles? (Yes, Here’s Where)
How to Use the Chick-fil-A App to Get Coupons and Order Online
How Chick-fil-A Delivery Works and How to Order
