Chick-fil-A’s coleslaw, a beloved side dish that graced the fast-food chain’s menu for nearly 50 years, bid farewell to fans on January 17, 2016. This creamy, crunchy concoction had been a staple since the restaurant’s inception in 1946, originally under a different name until the rebranding to Chick-fil-A in 1967. The decision to remove coleslaw from the menu was met with widespread disappointment and even outrage from loyal customers, who took to social media to express their dismay.

In response to the outcry, Chick-fil-A made an unprecedented move by releasing the original recipe to the public. This gesture allowed devoted fans to recreate the iconic side dish in their own kitchens, ensuring that the beloved coleslaw would live on despite its absence from the restaurant’s menu.

The recipe itself is remarkably simple, consisting of just six ingredients: mayonnaise, white vinegar, granulated sugar, dry mustard, salt, and a mix of finely shredded cabbage and carrots. The beauty of this coleslaw lies in its perfect balance of flavors and textures – creamy, tangy, sweet, and crunchy all at once.
While Chick-fil-A cited changing customer preferences and a desire for healthier options as reasons for discontinuing the coleslaw, many fans argued that its ability to complement the chain’s famous spicy chicken sandwich was unmatched. The company even produced a solemn one-minute video titled “An Ode to Cole Slaw” as a memorial to the departing side dish.