Chick-Fil-A’s Most Underrated Menu Item Is Finally Getting the Attention It Deserves

You can even replicate the ‘fire’ fast food salad at home.

When you think of Chick-fil-A, it's not likely that the first word that comes to mind is “salad.” It’s no secret that fast food salads generally get a bad rap for being sad and wilted. Typically, I don’t disagree.

But, I have stumbled upon an exception. Growing up inescapably close to multiple Chick-fil-A’s, there was a point when I simply could not look at another chicken sandwich. After turning to other menu items, I found a favorite in an unexpected menu option: The Spicy Southwest Salad.

Even now, when my visits to the chain are not as often as they used to be, this salad is one of my go-to choices. Because I load it up with nuggets and sauce, this salad is anything but boring, which is what makes it the best fast food salad you possibly can find. And, I have the Internet to back me up as proof.

Chick-fil-A's Spicy Southwest Salad Is Totally Underrated

The Spicy Southwest Salad is a mix of greens, cherry tomatoes, cheese, corn, and black beans. I dream of the salad’s Avocado Lime Ranch Dressing, but it's the crispy Chili Lime Pepitas that truly put this salad over the top.

If you are skeptical about giving up your Chick-fil-A nuggets, don’t be. You can order the salad with the fried nuggets on top and upgrade your typical nugget meal into an entirely new experience. You also can choose any of the chain’s chicken options to go on top, from their grilled chicken filets to fried chicken tenders. But, as a major fried chicken and salad enthusiast, I like sticking to the regular chicken nuggets.

Overall, this Chick-fil-A salad is the epitome of everything I love about a crispy chicken salad: a heavy amount of ranch dressing, some pieces of crispy chicken, and a bed of fresh lettuce. Just trust me, and you’ll quickly realize I'm right. 

The Internet’s Love for The Spicy Southwest Salad

The salad went viral on social media a couple of weeks ago when TikTok influencer Campbell “Pookie” Puckett shared that she eats it for lunch at least once a week. In addition to Avocado Lime Ranch Dressing, she adds a packet of Zesty Buffalo Sauce and expertly shakes the bowl up to make a perfectly coated salad. She also grabs a half unsweet tea and half lemonade as her drink.

Other users have followed Puckett’s lead in trying the salad, commenting that it is “fire.” Another mentioned that after seeing her order the salad, it's now the only thing they will get from Chick-fil-A.

When I go to Chick-fil-A, the sauces are by far my favorite part, so Puckett's sauce combination on this salad is right up my alley. While Chick-fil-A recommends the salad with their Creamy Salsa dressing on top, I agree with Puckett that Avocado Lime Ranch is the way to go instead.

Many of the over 500 commenters on this video suggested a variety of genius modifications to the salad to make it your own. For example, one user suggested Sweet and Spicy Sriracha instead of the Buffalo Sauce and another mentioned asking for an extra packet of crispy red peppers for more crunch.

I have a feeling any Chick-fil-A condiment would pair well with this salad, and you even could ask for the nuggets on the side to toss in a packet of sauce before putting them on top of the salad. The salad's versatility is what truly makes it special.

How To Make the Chick-Fil-a Spicy Southwest Salad at Home

Maybe it's Sunday when you are reading this, or maybe you are looking for some homemade salad inspo. With a little creativity, this dish can easily be replicated at home. By grabbing some homemade or frozen chicken nuggets and tossing together our version of a Southwest Chicken Salad, you have this underrated Chick-fil-A menu item together in no time.

This salad truly is a gem on the Chick-fil-A lineup, and I’m happy to see its copycats and customizations pop up on social media. Whether you make it at home or grab it to-go from Chick-fil-A, I have a feeling my enthusiasm for this dish won't steer you wrong.

Read the original article on All Recipes.