Few People Realize Chick-Fil-A’s Special Dipping Sauce Was Invented Right Here In Virginia
Chick-fil-A is undoubtedly one of the most popular fast-food restaurants in the world. Yet few people realize a key part of the chain’s menu — the special dipping sauce — was born right here in Virginia. That’s right, folks, the world has Virginia to thank for the iconic Chick-fil-A special sauce. Here’s more behind the happy accident that created this delicious condiment.
If you're a frequent visitor of Chick-fil-A, you know that the special dipping sauce makes the meal. In fact, according to the chain's website, 2014 saw 285,895,456 servings of this sauce served.
And it's all thanks to Virginia! It was the early '80s, and a restaurant manager in Fredericksburg got creative. Customers were asking for a special dipping sauce for the chicken and, at the time, there was none to offer.
Note the sign that proves the sauce was invented right here in Virginia, at the Spotsylvania Mall in Fredericksburg.
Hugh Fleming, who operated the store, put together a honey-mustard sauce off the top of his head. Customers loved it and couldn't stop asking for more!
But that's only half the story. As the popularity of the sauce grew at the Fredericksburg location, employees began putting the sauce into pumps so they could dispense it more easily. Accidentally, one of the employees added barbecue sauce into the mix.
And the rest, as they say, is history! Fleming officially included the barbecue sauce as part of his honey mustard recipe and the mix was a phenomenal hit.
Customers loved the new sauce so much that they began requesting it by the gallons. Before retiring in 2007, Fleming gave the recipe to Chick-fil-A, which now serves it worldwide.
Did you know that the Chick-fil-A dipping sauce was invented in Virginia? What’s your favorite thing to order on the menu? Be sure to share with us in the comments!
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A lifelong Virginia resident, Beth loves exploring different parts of the world and currently resides in Alexandria. She holds a degree in English Literature and one of her short stories has been featured in the Shenandoah Review. Other interests include hiking, songwriting, and spending time in the mountains.
