Jul 9, 2026
The cost of takeout keeps climbing, but one dad has gone viral after sharing how he feeds his family of five at Chick-fil-A for less than $45.
Instead of ordering individual combo meals, which can cost up to $12 each, Jeff Johnson, a worship pastor at an Atlanta church and a podcast host, keeps it simple. He orders a 30-count nugget entrée and three buttered buns, using them to make chicken sandwiches for his children.
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“I have a hack for every dad who is always thinking, ‘Why are we spending so much money at Chick-fil-A?’” Johnson said in a video posted on Instagram.
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The budget-friendly meal has clearly struck a chord. Johnson’s video has racked up hundreds of thousands of views in just a week, as families looking to cut back on restaurant spending embrace his ordering hack. (Moneywise reached out to Chick-fil-A for comment but did not receive a response before publication.) Here’s why the $45 meal is resonating with so many Americans.
A simple swap
Rather than ordering five separate meals, Johnson keeps costs down by buying a 30-count nugget entrée for about $17 and buttered buns for 25 cents each, which his family uses to make their own chicken sandwiches.
By comparison, a Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich typically costs about $5 to $7 on its own, though prices vary by location.
The savings can add up. Even after adding fries and drinks, the order still comes in well below what a family of five would typically pay for individual combo meals, making it an appealing option for budget-conscious diners.
“Everybody’s happy. Dad’s happy,” Johnson said. “We have saved so much money. I’m just telling you can eat for under $45 at Chick-fil-A as a family of five. Do what I’m saying. That’s all I’m saying. Bye.”
Johnson’s hack is resonating at a time when many families are rethinking how often they eat out. A LendingTree survey found that 78% of Americans now view fast food as a luxury purchase, while about half say financial pressures have made restaurant meals harder to justify.
Many viewers shared their own money-saving tricks in the comments on Johnson’s video.
“When my kids were younger, I used to order double cheeseburgers and ask for an extra bun,” one commenter wrote.
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Others joked that the real expense is the side dishes. “Love it. Now what’s the hack to save on the waffle fries???” another commenter added.
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Takeout isn’t the bargain it once was
Johnson’s video is part of a growing wave of viral posts highlighting the rising cost of fast food. In another widely shared TikTok, a Chipotle customer, Matt Riek, expressed disbelief after spending over $52 on two burrito bowls and two drinks.
“Has Chipotle lost its damn mind?” he asked in his video.“Granted, we got double meat, but we didn’t get chips, we didn’t get guac. (And it’s) $52.64 for two bowls and two drinks at Chipotle? This used to be like $11 bucks for a burrito bowl.”
With menu prices climbing, stretching each order further can make a noticeable difference. Families and groups may be able to save by sharing larger entrées instead of ordering individual combo meals, splitting fries or drinks, or skipping extras that quickly add to the bill. Ordering water instead of soft drinks and taking advantage of loyalty rewards, app-exclusive offers and limited-time promotions can also help lower the total.
For larger portions, consider turning one takeout order into two meals by saving leftovers for lunch the next day. A little planning can go a long way toward keeping the convenience of takeout without letting it strain your budget.
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Victoria Vesovski is a Toronto-based staff reporter at Moneywise covering personal finance, lifestyle and trending news. She holds degrees from the University of Toronto and New York University, and her work has appeared on platforms including Yahoo Finance, MSN Money and Apple News.
