When I hear the words ‘Chick-fil-A,’ my heart starts to flutter. I love crispy bites of white chicken, Dr. Pepper and pebbled ice, and the chain’s signature sauces. And how could I forget the waffle fries? These waffle-style sliced potatoes are always cooked perfectly, salted just right, and guaranteed to have a crisp golden brown exterior. But, like me, many Chick-fil-A lovers were shocked to find out that the fast food chain may have modified the original recipe of the fries. But what exactly does this mean? How could they do this to such a beloved menu item? Are we going to lose the delicious flavor that pairs up with our favorite sauces? Did Chick-fil-A change the waffle fries? Here’s what you need to know.
What is Chick-fil-A’s new recipe for the waffle fries?
Chick-fil-A took to its website to acknowledge the slight recipe change, stating that the new fry method contains a new ingredient that has been added to the coating of the fries, pea starch.
What is pea starch?
Pea starch is typically used as a binding ingredient and is neutral in flavor. Chick-fil-A said this unique ingredient is essential to creating long-lasting crispiness for its waffle fries, as the starch has helped to reduce the sogginess from oil when frying different foods. This new component guarantees you a crunchy bite each time you reach for a waffle fry without any of the extra greasiness or oil that may get left behind from frying.
How are customers responding to this new addition?
I think it’s easy to say that some of Chick-fil-A’s loyal customers are ‘salty’ about this adjustment to their beloved side dish. Many people took to platforms like TikTok and X to voice their opinions about how much they disapprove of the new waffle fries. Some customers were disappointed about the new level of crispiness being delivered, as they enjoyed the few handfuls of soggy Chick-fil-A fries they often received in their orders.
One customer took to X writing “wth did @ChickfilA do to their fries??! They’re all hard now… they suck. Don’t fix what’s not broken omggg.”
wth did @ChickfilA do to their fries??! they’re all hard now..they suck. don’t fix what’s not broken omgg
— Dawn. (@daunikanoell) January 3, 2025
There were a select few Chick-fil-A lovers who believed this was the best decision the fast food chain could make. They found their fries to be more enjoyable than before.
“Ngl but Chick-fil-A’s new waffle fries are way better now than they were before imo.”
TikTok user @monicadotson stitched her own video responding to a post hating on the new recipe for Chick-fil-A’s fries. She raved about the new levels of flavor and crispiness she got in every bite.
“I know this is controversial because everybody seemed to love the old fries,” she said. “Not me, I hated them. They were soggy, they were not salty, they were not good. The new ones… they have crunch — they’re good!”
A handful of customers are concerned about the new ingredient because they are allergic to the pea starch or protein and are worried about factors like cross-contamination.