The healthiest things to order at Chick-fil-A

You can get a fried chicken sandwich at any of the big fast food chains (McDonald’s, Wendy’s, etc.), but one place is so focused on chicken that it’s even in the name: Chick-fil-A. In addition to chicken sandwiches and tenders, the restaurant is also known for its standout sauces and waffle fries.

While fried chicken and French fries may seem antithetical to weight loss, all food and drinks can be part of an overall healthy pattern of eating with the Weight Watchers® program for weight loss. You can browse menu items in the WW app and view a weight-loss-friendly curated menu in the Discover tab to find some tasty, lower-points offerings from the Points® program at Chick-fil-A for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or a snack. Read on for more lower-points, delicious options at Chick-fil-A.

While Chick-fil-A is of course known for its chicken, the chain also offers healthy breakfast options that don’t include chicken. Try the egg white grill, Greek yogurt parfait, or bacon, egg and cheese muffin, all of which are packed with protein. Or if you do want to go the chicken route, go for the grilled breakfast filet (a ZeroPoints ^® food) or Chick-n-Minis (basically slider-sized fried chicken sandwiches).

No matter what you get as a breakfast main, order a medium-size fruit cup on the side for extra fiber. Starting your day with a breakfast that combines protein and fiber is a particularly impactful way to help you stay full for longer, better holding you over until lunch.

Top Chick-fil-A breakfast orders

• Greek Yogurt Parfait (without granola) 8 points

• Bacon, egg and cheese English muffin 9 points

• Grilled breakfast filet 0 points

• Chick-n-Minis (4 items) 12 points

• Egg White Grill 7 points

• Fruit cup 1 point

For lunch or dinner, the best bet is combining lean protein with a satiety-promoting carb. Good options include the chicken cool wrap, grilled chicken sandwich, and grilled nuggets with a kale crunch salad on the side. If you want a salad as your main, both the market salad with grilled chicken (spicy or regular) and the Southwest salad with grilled chicken are great choices as they pack lean protein, lots of flavor, and a variety of veggies (the market salad also has some fruit and nuts). The Cobb salad with grilled nuggets is great, too, packing extra protein from the egg.

You may notice that these lunch and dinner picks feature grilled chicken, but if your heart is set on the breaded version, go for it — long-term weight loss or maintenance isn’t about constant deprivation, but balance. Just refer to your points budget to determine the portion that works best for you. 

Top Chick-fil-A lunch and dinner orders

• Grilled chicken cool wrap (without dressing) 4 points

• Cobb salad with grilled nuggets (without dressing) 4 points

• Grilled chicken sandwich (without sauce) 7 points

• Market salad with grilled nuggets (spicy or regular, no dressing) 5 points

• Spicy southwest salad with grilled chicken filet (without dressing) 5 points

It’s no surprise that waffle fries are Chick-fil-A’s most-ordered side. Unlike the skinny fries at most fast food restaurants, the shape of the waffle fries can mean you end up eating more, so it’s good to stick with a small size order to be mindful of sodium intake and points values. To add some fiber to your meal, Chick-fil-A’s kale side salad features a healthy green that’s packed with iron, vitamin C, and beta-carotene, and it’s a smart way to add fiber to any order for that ideal protein-and-fiber combo. Other stand-out sides include the grilled filets, which are on both the breakfast and lunch menus and are ZeroPoints foods. Wondering why the fresh fruit cup isn’t a ZeroPoint food? The mandarins have added sugar; when a fruit is packed in syrup or sugar, it is no longer a ZeroPoint food. It’s still a great option at only 1 points value for the medium, 2 points for the large.

Top Chick-fil-A side orders

• Waffle potato fries (small) 10 points

• Side salad (without crispy peppers or dressing) 2 points

• Fruit cup (medium) 1 point

• Chicken noodle soup (1 cup) 4 points

• Grilled breakfast filet 0 points

• Grilled filet 0 points

Condiments and toppings may not seem like they make a difference because you’re using a small amount, but they’re far from the same amount of points — so which ones you pick can make a big difference. For example, the classic Chick-fil-A sauce has twice as many points as many of the other options like BBQ and honey mustard, and six times as many points as the low-impact buffalo sauce.Since our lunch and dinner picks are on the lighter side, feel free to spice them up with an extra sauce, side, or topping to add flavor without the breading or deep-frying that can make a larger dent in your budget.

Top Chick-fil-A sauces

Points value is per container.

• Chick-fil-A sauce 6 points

• BBQ 3 points

• Honey roasted BBQ 2 points

• Honey mustard 3 points

• Sweet and spicy sriracha 3 points

• Zesty Buffalo 1 point

• Cilantro lime 2 points

Top Chick-fil-A toppings

• Lemon Parmesan panko 2 points

• Crispy bell peppers 3 points

• Chili lime pepitas 2 points

Chick-fil-A lemonade can make a big impact on your meal’s points because the drink can contain up to 65 grams of added sugar in one large serving — more than your entire recommended maximum for the day. Instead, pair your order with sparkling water (a.k.a. soda water at the fountain soda machine) or unsweetened iced tea to keep your beverage points-free. That said, if you really want a soda or sweet tea, try the small size, and just stay mindful of other sources of added sugar for the rest of your day.

Top Chick-fil-A drinks

• Soda water 0 points

• Unsweetened iced tea 0 points

Sweets seem to taste extra-delicious after salty foods, so it’s fitting that you probably want to follow up your fries with an Icedream. Order away and just keep it to a small size, whether you get a cone or cup. This treat has the benefit of 4 grams of protein, and it’s made with more milk versus heavy cream, so it’s lower in saturated fat than the same-size serving of regular ice cream.

Top Chick-fil-A dessert orders

• Icedream cup (small) 8 points

• Icedream cone (small) 10 points

Nothing is off-limits at Chick-fil-A, including the iconic breaded chicken sandwich, fries, or an ice cream. But if you’re trying to lose weight, consider pairing your order with a fruit cup or kale salad to make sure you’re getting some fiber to keep you full for longer.