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Copycat Chick-Fil-A Polynesian Sauce is so good, not only is it great for the obvious (dipping nuggets, fries, and smothering your sandwich with), but it also makes a great salad dressing and marinade!
![Copycat Chick-fil-A Polynesian Sauce - Shutter + Mint (1) Copycat Chick-fil-A Polynesian Sauce - Shutter + Mint (1)](https://i0.wp.com/shutterandmint.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/CFA-polynesian-sauce-recipe.jpg)
Jump to:
- You’ll love this recipe because:
- Ingredients + substitutions
- Step-by-step (with photos)
- Variations
- Ways to use Polynesian Sauce
- Make ahead
- Storage
- More CFA Copycat Recipes:
- Copycat Chick-fil-A Polynesian Sauce
- Pin it for later
Part BBQ sauce, part sweet ‘n sour sauce. It’s hard to put your finger on exactly why this stuff is so good, but I love it because it’s strong, tangy, and totally addictive. I can’t get enough of it!
You’ll love this recipe because:
- It’s clean - Simple ingredients. No preservatives here! You know exactly what is going into this sauce and of course you can customize it to fit your needs (we’ll talk more on that further down the post).
- It’s easy-to-make - although you can use a food processor, you can also just whisk the ingredients together in a bowl. No fancy ingredients or equipment needed!
- It’s versatile - it’s a dipping sauce, it’s a salad dressing (kind of like French Dressing), and it’s a marinade! It’s a 3-in-1 sauce! It makes meal prep a breeze!
Ingredients + substitutions
This sauce is ridiculously simple to make, I’m almost sure you have all of the ingredients on hand!
You’ll need:
![Copycat Chick-fil-A Polynesian Sauce - Shutter + Mint (2) Copycat Chick-fil-A Polynesian Sauce - Shutter + Mint (2)](https://i0.wp.com/shutterandmint.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/ingredients-needed-to-make-CFA-Polynesian-Sauce.jpg)
- Ketchup - any brand works, just use whatever you have and like.
- Apple cider vinegar - I really like ACV (apple cider vinegar) for this recipe, but rice vinegar, or white vinegar will also work.
- Granulated sugar - granulated sugar will give this sauce the closest flavor to the Chick-fil-A version, but you can definitely use brown sugar, date sugar, or honey.
- Honey - a little honey adds flavor and some thickness to this sauce.
- Olive oil - adds to the texture, you can use any neutral-flavored oil. Or you can leave it out if you don’t want to add it.
- Spices - garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika. You can swap the paprika for chili powder in a pinch!
The "real" CFA Polynesian Sauce has a pinch of beetroot powder in it (for color), you can add a pinch if it’s important to you that your sauce looks more like the original version.
Step-by-step (with photos)
![Copycat Chick-fil-A Polynesian Sauce - Shutter + Mint (3) Copycat Chick-fil-A Polynesian Sauce - Shutter + Mint (3)](https://i0.wp.com/shutterandmint.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/cfa-polynesian-sauce-process-shots-collage.jpg)
STEP 1: Combine all of the ingredients in a small bowl for 2-cup pyrex.
STEP 2: Whisk everything together until it’s combined.
STEP 3: Pour the sauce into a saucepan over medium-high heat and bring it to a simmer for 3 minutes. Remove it from the heat and allow it to cool to room temperature.
STEP 4: Store the sauce in a mason jar (or any airtight container) in the refrigerator for a week.
![Copycat Chick-fil-A Polynesian Sauce - Shutter + Mint (4) Copycat Chick-fil-A Polynesian Sauce - Shutter + Mint (4)](https://i0.wp.com/shutterandmint.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/polynesian-sauce-infographic-recipe.jpg)
Variations
- Spicy Polynesian Sauce - add ½ tsp of cayenne to make it a little spicier. I’d start with ½ tsp and then taste and adjust!
- Pineapple Polynesian Sauce - add 2 tbsp of pineapple juice to the Polynesian sauce recipe to give it a sweeter, fruitier flavor.
- Make it totally refined sugar free - instead of using sugar (it’s up to you if you keep the honey or not, I would), add all of the ingredients to a blender, but swap the sugar for 5 whole, pitted dates. Blend until smooth. And really, no need to cook it if you go with this option, it’s ready to go!
![Copycat Chick-fil-A Polynesian Sauce - Shutter + Mint (5) Copycat Chick-fil-A Polynesian Sauce - Shutter + Mint (5)](https://i0.wp.com/shutterandmint.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Chic-fil-a-Polynesian-Sauce-9-scaled.jpg)
Ways to use Polynesian Sauce
- Drizzle it over fried chicken - instead of hot honey chicken, try Polynesian sauce over your fried/or cornflake chicken!
- As a dipping sauce - this is the obvious one! This stuff is fantastic as a fry dip!
- As a marinade - yep, you can marinate your chicken in this stuff and then bake it. Polynesian Chicken is awesome served over a bed of white rice.
- On chicken sandwiches - definitely, and always on chicken sandwiches! This stuff adds so much flavor.
- Add it to baked beans or chili - add some flavor to your baked beans or chili by adding a few tablespoons for flavor.
- As a salad dressing - Polynesian Sauce, while it is a sweet and sour sauce, is very similar to classic French Dressing. I didn’t say it’s exactly the same! But it’s very similar. It tastes fantastic on a salad and as a dipping sauce for some crusty bread!
- Meal prep - I like to add this recipe to my weekly meal prep. Because it not only makes a great dipping sauce, but it’s also a fantastic marinade and sauce for chicken and pork chops as well as a salad dressing.
Make ahead
You can definitely make this Copycat Chick-fil-A Polynesian Sauce at home, simply make it, let it cool, and store it in an airtight container.
In an abundance of caution, I will say that you can make this one week in advance. However, as long as the ingredients you’re using aren’t about to expire, there’s no reason this shouldn’t last for at least three weeks in the refrigerator in a mason jar with a tight lid.
Storage
You can store the leftovers in a mason jar with the lid screwed on tightly. Or you can use an airtight container.
The leftovers will last for one week in the refrigerator.
More CFA Copycat Recipes:
- Copycat Chick-fil-A Zesty Buffalo Sauce
- Copycat Chick-fil-A Creamy Salsa Dressing
- Zesty Apple Cider Vinaigrette (Chick-fil-A Copycat)
- Spicy Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce
Copycat Chick-fil-A Polynesian Sauce
Chick-Fil-A's Polynesian Sauce is so good, not only is it great for the obvious (dipping nuggets, fries, and smothering your sandwich with), but it also makes a great salad dressing and marinade!
5 from 1 vote
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Cook Time 3 minutes mins
Total Time 8 minutes mins
Course Condiment
Cuisine American, Condiment, Copycat Condiment, Fast Food
Servings 10 people
Calories 78 kcal
Ingredients
- ¾ cup ketchup
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 2 tbsp honey
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp paprika
Instructions
Combine all of the ingredients in a small bowl for 2-cup pyrex.
Whisk everything together until it’s combined.
Pour the sauce into a saucepan over medium-high heat and bring it to a simmer for 3 minutes. Remove it from the heat and allow it to cool to room temperature.
Store the sauce in a mason jar (or any airtight container) in the refrigerator for a week.
Notes
As long as the ingredients you're using to make this sauce aren't about to expire, this sauce should last almost 1-3 weeks in the refrigerator.
Nutrition
Calories: 78kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 0.3g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 0.4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 164mg | Potassium: 67mg | Fiber: 0.2g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 191IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 5mg | Iron: 0.2mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Pin it for later
Be sure toPin this recipe(click on the image below) andfollow me on Pinterest!
![Copycat Chick-fil-A Polynesian Sauce - Shutter + Mint (11) Copycat Chick-fil-A Polynesian Sauce - Shutter + Mint (11)](https://i0.wp.com/shutterandmint.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/CFA-polynesian-sauce-pinterest-pin.jpg)
More Copycat Recipes
- Outback Brussels Sprouts (Copycat Recipe)
- Kale Crunch Salad with Apples, Cheddar, and Maple Balsamic Vinaigrette
- Sherry Shallot Dressing
- Arugula Apple Salad with Goat Cheese and Apple Cider Vinaigrette
About Lauren
Lauren is the freelance writer, photographer, and recipe developer behind Shutter + Mint. Thanks for stopping by!