Sign up for notifications from Insider! KFC's mashed potatoes and gravy is probably the chain's most iconic side although they themselves insist they "won't fight you if you want to call it a meal." Probably fair enough too, considering it contains 19 grams of carbs and 530 milligrams of sodium, but that's up to you. Lee's is good. Does it taste as good as KFC's hot and creamy mashed potatoes? In this case, we're using both beef and chicken bouillon, which creates the ideal flavor profile to recreate authentic KFC gravy. However, once we checked the app, it became apparent that this offer wasn't available locally and would require a 40-mile trip to acquire. Martha Sorren They were only $0.07 more than the most inexpensive potatoes, ringing in at $2.09 for an "individual" portion. They don't seem to be well-seasoned as KFC's, and as The Takeout put it, they don't "change the game." Not if you're relying on Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) and Popeyes, which were respectively America's second and third favorite fried chicken fast food restaurants in 2019, according to QSR. Fancy or fast? But, one of the secrets chefs learn in culinary school is to let it bubble and turn a light tan color. The 2020 forecast projects that the average American will eat 99 pounds of chicken for the year, which is far higher than beef (57 pounds) or pork (53 pounds). It is one of life's indulgent pleasures, reminiscent of holiday dinners. KFC is certainly good. Even if you've never visited one of the many Lee's Famous Recipe Chicken locations scattered around the Midwest and South (and Canada!) Unless your love of chicken is all about chicken fingers and you enjoy a bland diet, you should head somewhere else. Return to the pot. Even KFC started in a gas station and there are other worthy chicken chains that operate out of gas stations and convenience stores. And don't forget to add their salsa to kick things up a notch. We considered using real potatoes to make our KFC mashed potato copycat recipe. If you've never dunked your chicken or biscuit through a bowl of mashed potatoes, you've never come close to heaven. These fries need to hold up to the fried chicken so as not to be overpowered, and Popeyes' bring some much needed texture and crunch, making them the clear winner here. All that's left to do to make our gravy is to add the liquid to the hot roux. You'll notice the liquid starts to bubble up and expand almost immediately as it hits the roux; that's the scientific process of those starches absorbing the water. KFC, the granddaddy of fast food chicken, was born in 1930 in, of course, Kentucky. However, if you're a bit of a coward when it comes to spicy foods, don't worry, you have plenty of delicious choices at Wingstop, too. KFC, on the other hand, has the fried chicken, Beyond chicken, tenders (regular and spicy), pot pie, and the Famous Bowl. Luckily, we don't have that problem here. The true joy of these perfect wings, however, comes from the flavor options. Then they manage to simultaneously undercook the skin while overcooking the meat. When visiting, your best bet is to keep things simple and load up on the chicken and biscuits, as none of the sides are a true standout. Like Champs, KKC is often found in convenience stores and gas stations. There is only one kind of tender at Popeyes. Chick-Fil-A almost feels out of place lined up next to KFC and Popeyes, but technically, what they offer us Monday through Saturday (insert eye roll) is indeed a form of fried chicken. Calling KFC's mashed potatoes with gravy a meal would be pretty accurate, considering an individual side portion packs in an alarming 530 milligrams of sodium. (As if the price would ever keep you away from your favorite piece of cripsy fried chicken.). Popeyes however, is alienating a large section of the population. Another Redditor chimed in that they asked their manager about adding chicken drippings to the gravy, only to learn that "they had to stop doing that because it wasn't cost-effective." Limited Time. Remove the pan from the heat and add the potato flakes, whisking as you add. The butter wasn't real, but it seemed to add to the overall biscuit taste. Despite the high price, the flavor made this one of the better options on this list. Tenders Meal (12 Tenders, 2 Large Sides, 4 Biscuits, 6 sauces): Tenders and Popcorn Big Box Meal (3 Tenders, Popcorn, Individual Mashed Potatoes & Gravy, Cole Slaw, Biscuit, Medium Drink): Go Cup (2 Extra Crispy Tenders and Wedges): Extra Crispy Chicken The only complaint KFC ever received about the Original Recipe was that it wasnt crispy enough for some folks, thus the birth of the Extra Crispy option. Tenders often take a back seat to bone-in fried chicken at places like KFC and Popeyes. But if you're someone who opts for no bones, you're in good hands at both places. Skip the gravy and the plain mashed potatoes contain 110 calories, 3.5 grams of fat (0.5 grams of which is saturated), and 330 milligrams of sodium. Drain the potatoes and garlic. Place the remaining tablespoon of butter on top of the potatoes and let it melt. Company trademarks are the property of the respective company and their presence does not necessarily mean that FastFoodMenuPrices.com has an affiliation with the company. Phew; we didn't have to add all those crazy ingredients we can't even pronounce. The chicken pieces were on the small side compared to KFC, but they were still in the ordinary range as far as bone-in chicken goes. When you're finished, the roux should be thick but smooth. Show up to a party with a bucket of KFCs homestyle white meat chicken, and youll make friends immediately (its a scientific fact if you want to try it out). After it quickly sold out, the coveted sandwich didn't return until two months later and the frenzy continued with people across the country waiting in long lines. Where Church's redeems themselves is with their biscuits. But you pretty much just got one scoop of potatoes for that, and the least amount of gravy from all the places we visited. This is a much misunderstood and underrated component of fast food fried chicken, but would be sorely missed if it disappeared from menus tomorrow. If you like your potatoes on the creamy side, you can whisk in extra water or milk at the end. No two french fries from these fast-food chains are the same. Instructions. The sheer variety of tenders, as well as how delicious they are, put KFC in the top spot for the tenders category. Since Popeyes offers Coke products, we got a Sprite. So, depending on your health-related dietary requirements, KFC's nutritional content may be the worse dietary choice of the two. While both places offer mashed potatoes, the consistency of KFC's version is bland. Some copycat KFC mashed potatoes and gravy recipes use chicken or beef bouillon cubes, but we wanted to use both. Mashed potatoes and gravy are delicious as a side dish, but these mashed potatoes are so tasty on their own, you could eat them as the main meal. The main differences seem to come from the calorie and fat content of the chicken and biscuits. And it's also a great palate cleanser before moving onto other sides! Add prepared potatoes, garlic and salt. It's cooked fresh, never frozen, and holds a more succulent flavor than KFC. Throw Chick-fil-As nuggets into the mix, however, and its a whole different story. Better yet, skip drive-thru all together and make this famous side dish at home. Combo (Sandwich, Hash Browns, and Drink): $4.49. Popeyes, on the other hand, has no vegetarian options on the menu, at least not at their United States locations. So, we gave it a try, and we were pretty astonished at the results. Unfortunately, if you eat everything in this chicken dinner, you will have consumed more fat and sodium than the recommended daily amount (via the Food and Drug Administration). The pieces were also much bigger at KFC than at Popeyes. KFC's famous mashed potatoes and gravy was the obviouschoice for the side. 12 Pieces of Extra Crispy Tenders with 2 Large Mashed Potatoes, Large Gravy, Large Coleslaw & 4 Biscuits. An Eater review describes them as having a rubbery texture. Despite featuring two thighs and a leg rather than two legs and a thigh, The KFC 3-piece meal has fewer calories and less fat than the Popeyes meal. However, you don't need to go out and try each restaurant. And what about the side dish options? But it's not just the quality of the chicken that seems to be causing the demise of Boston Market, it's the fact that you can find rotisserie chicken in almost every grocery store these days. I have mac and cheese, chicken tender strips, onion rings & mashed potatoes!FREE GIVEAWAY for. And if the cooks get happy with the salt shaker (like it appeared they did the day we visited), you may be getting even more sodium than listed in the nutritional stats. Saving just 50 cents a day over a year will allow you to obtain over 40 percent of an emergency fund. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. Unfortunately, this time around, the gravy tasted oddly bitter. There's nothing like fried chicken with a biscuit on the side. They're also flaky, and retain just the right amount of moistness, so they're not drying in the mouth, like KFC's. You are here: Stay up to date with what you want to know. KFC has restaurants around the world and has been in the chicken business for over seven decades, making it a clear option. If you're looking for traditional mashed potatoes you might want to skip Popeyes, since it breaks the mold with its Cajun gravy. It wasn't complicated simply a crispy chicken breast topped with pickles on a brioche bun slathered in your choice of mayo or Cajun sauce. The breading on their Original Recipe is usually peppery and flavorful, but the chicken meat itself is typically greasy. If you live in Vermont, Wyoming or Puerto Rico, you'll have trouble finding a Popeyes, because there are none in those three locations. That said, this ingredient not only gives the gravy a deep, rich flavor, but beef bouillon also performs another critical task: It provides the gravy with its signature color. The gravy tasted tangy and almost sweet like with Popeyes' Cajun gravy, if you're not expecting a different flavor profile, it takes you by surprise. Chick-Fil-A Grilled Chicken Cool Wrap Review, Best Fast Food Options For Fried Chicken Meals, The Best Rooftop Bars in Chicago Our Guide and Recommendations, Nice Restaurants in Houston 8 Best Places to Eat With a View, Ranked: The Top 10 Most Popular Fast Food Chains in USA, Practical Tips: How To Find Good Places To Eat When Traveling, What Time Does Zaxbys Close Operation Info & Guide, Original Recipe Chicken The classic fried chicken offered at KFC is the Original Recipe and is often ordered in a bucket meal, combo, or. It's like eating at home, even when you're out. However, Popeyes has become ever more popular in recent years, with long lines of people waiting to eat the chain's chicken. How does the fried chicken compare? KFC tastes a little bit more like it's just got salt and pepper (I know it's not but they're the predominant flavors), whereas Popeye's actually has FLAVORS going on. Their chicken is superbly crunchy on the outside and exquisitely juicy on the inside. Even if you don't agree with the political and religious leanings of the founders, you can't disagree that Chick-fil-A offers some of the best fast food available. Redditors, too, have found KFC's chicken to be in deep decline over the past few years. Their mac and cheese is not flavorful and often a little runny, while their mashed potatoes and gravy don't mesh well with the citrus flavor of their chicken. Today choose joy and go get some.". That said, if you love spicy fried chicken, Popeyes is your place. The instant flakes are easy to incorporate into our hot liquid, so they turn out perfect every time. For consistency's sake, we ordered the smallest option at every restaurant (called "small," "individual," or "regular") and tried the potatoes and gravy separately and together to grade both parts. Check out the prices of these top sellers, or mosey on over to the full menu of prices. While they have a lot to offer on their menu, including Zalads, Zappetizers, and Sides (why not Zides? It's time to pull it all together to create KFC's classic mashed potatoes and gravy side dish. If you don't have bouillon cubes on hand, you can use something like Better Than Bouillon roasted beef or chicken base. Popeye's is fully dependent on their sauces, and Chick-fil-A isn't even fried chicken. Champs Chicken exists because it's conveniently located and inexpensive. It contains 1290 calories, 68.8 grams of fat, 170 milligrams of cholesterol, 3475 milligrams of sodium, 157 milligrams of carbs, and 70 grams of sugar. All prices provided on this website are averaged and should only be used as estimates. KFC's spicy chicken sandwich is a really close competitor. This may be the toughest category yet, because macaroni and cheese is just really difficult to pull off in a fast food setting. One excellentKFC copycat recipe hails Idahoan brand mashed potatoes as a close approximation of the dried potato flakes KFC uses in their kitchen. With only a $0.10 difference in price between the two, you want to eat where the food tastes better. So, eating the whole 3-piece meal in one sitting will max out your fat and sodium for the day and then some. Place in a pot, add 1 tbsp salt and water so it's 5cm / 2" above potatoes. Mashed Potatoes and Gravy This is an excellent side dish that goes great with chicken. However, instead of getting two legs and a thigh like at Popeyes, we got two thighs and a leg, which gave us slightly more meat. To recreate the buttery, rich flavor of KFC potatoes, we used a combination of milk and water to make our mashed potatoes. When the trio of flavors salty, crunchy, and juicy hits your taste buds, there's no turning back. Let's dive into the KFC side dishes and other options they have available. You're welcome". Boston Market has been known for their homestyle meals and amazing rotisserie chicken for decades. This Louisiana-style kitchen adds a flare to its chicken and sides that KFC has never quite been able to outdo. They are crunchy and the perfect size to pop in your mouth. Combo (Sandwich, Waffle Fries, and Drink): $6.19. They're pure white meat and use KFC's famous blend of 11 different herbs and spices. Man, oh man, these things are kind of magical! Like Popeyes, the $8.59 combo included three pieces of dark-meat fried chicken, one side, a biscuit, and a small soft drink. Chicken, 2 Large Mashed Potatoes, Large Gravy, Large Coleslaw & 4 Biscuits. But it just doesn't have the same significant crunch or powerful flavor as Popeyes', and therefore comes in second place this round. Add in the beef bouillon, and it not only improves the flavor, but it also gets our gravy closer in color to the actual dish. we'd have come out pleased. In the 90 years since, hundreds of other chicken chains have joined the flock. BHT is generally recognized as safe by the FDA but if you're leery about chemicals in your food, maybe consider scratching KFC's mashed potatoes from your next order. These booming franchises have competed against each other for years, fighting tooth and nail to remain the provider of the worlds favorite fast food chicken. Now that the roux is finished, it's time to add the liquid. The chicken chain sold its "small" side of potatoes and gravy for $2.99. We were a little overwhelmed when we started with the ingredients list from KFC's website they list over 28 ingredients, including things like mono and diglycerides, and calcium stearoyl-2-lactylate. They're also not terribly crispy, which is a very important component of fries. We know it's good, but it's not to die for. KFC's non-chicken piece mains are a bowl or a pot pie. We decided on spicy chicken since it's a Popeyes specialty and mashed potatoes with Cajun gravy so we could compare it to KFC's mashed potatoes. The potatoes themselves tasted pretty plain, but the spice from the gravy did amp that up. After making the test batch, we completely understand why KFC doesn't take the time to boil and mash real potatoes, so we didn't feel the need to do so, either. Popeyes also marinates their chicken tenders, which imparts even more spice into the chicken. As a carrier of Pepsi products, the closest choice to the Sprite we ordered at Popeyes was Sierra Mist. The basis of all good gravy is roux: a mixture of flour and fat (in this case, butter). That's a lot for something you're likely gobbling up in between bites of KFC's MSG-laden fried chicken. By opting for the snack size bowl (rather than the regular), you save 470 calories and 21g of fat. There's a chance you might enjoy KFC's mashed potatoes solely for the luscious puddle of savory brown gravy that comes with them. Increase the heat to medium-high and stir frequently until the mixture is the desired consistency, about 5 minutes. We figured out how to make a copycat version of their mashed potatoes and gravy, and it's easier that you might think. And from each chain, you can expect a good crunch, as well as juicy chicken. When it comes to fashionable fast food options, boring burgers and fries are out, while chicken sandwiches, chicken wings, and other yummy chicken dishes are in. A few Redditors from Canada confirmed this theory: A KFC Winnepeg employee explained that, when they filter out the oil, they collect "all the bits of deep fried chicken and skin and batter." Even though the late Anthony Bourdain was a Popeyes Mac and Cheese fan, neither will blow you away, but also neither will make you turn your head away in disgust. It also has a tasty brioche bun, pickles and spicy sauce or mayo. They also craft all their sauces and salad dressings every day. That's it! Redditors who have worked at Popeye's say that it's a solid shortening, and an announcement from Popeyes indicates that it contains palm oil or palm kernel oil. Started in the Philippines, this chicken restaurant came stateside in 1998 and now has over 1,300 worldwide locations but only 37 in the U.S. Jollibee offers a wide variety of dishes on their menu, from their Jolly Spaghetti in its sweet sauce made from banana ketchup (yes, that's a thing) to their Halo-Halo dessert, which is surprisingly good even though its made with beans. Instead of being able to spend $10 to feed two people, we were left with Popeyes' 3-Piece Chicken Combo. We wanted to like Bojangles' Famous Chicken 'n Biscuits just because of its catchy name. If you're looking for a homemade-potatoes feel, it doesn't get better than this restaurant chain. No one knows why their original chicken sandwich is so good it just is. KFC Triple Down - What Is It and How Do You Order One? At KFC, a 3-piece meal with 1 side, 1 biscuit and 1 drink is $8.99, while the same meal at Popeyes is $9.89. From the outside, these tenders look like they'd be good, but the coating is not as crunchy as it should be, and the meat itself is far too dry. It was the talk of the town or at least, it was the talk of social media. There are plenty of similarities across the two fried chicken fast food chains, but also just enough exciting differences that set them apart, making for an interesting head to head battle. We're not talking about fresh potatoes out of the ground. You might expect most of that sodium to come from the gravy but it's actually the potatoes that are the culprit. Chick-fil-A is clearly the winner for mastering its iconic chicken staple items. The story goes that Cummings had access to that Sanders family spice mix, as he was the one who helped Sanders sell his chicken in the early days not long before developing his own "famous recipe." You could also swap-in a similar amount of beef or chicken broth, but we find the cubes or base have more flavor than store-bought broth. But, in the end, quality may make you happier than quantity. In the end, you want to get the Read more on mashed.com Comfort Food Potatoes Food & Dining Vegetables Biscuits More stories from Comfort Food It deserved every ounce of praise it got. While Popeyes has recently become famous for its chicken sandwich, the most iconic menu items for both restaurants are their bone-in fried chicken, biscuits, and sides. The KFC Famous Bowl in a snack size has 270 calories, 13g fat, 3.5g saturated fat, 820 mg sodium, 27g carbohydrate, 1g sugar, and 11g protein. Sometimes, you'll hit the jackpot and the chicken will be perfect, but those times are few and far between these days, unfortunately. All Rights Reserved. According to a KFC manager on this Reddit Ask Me Anything thread, KFC's mashed potatoes come from powdered potatoes, a.k.a instant mashed potatoes. How many types of chicken does Raising Cane's offer? KFC answered that call by releasing their Beyond Fried Chicken, made with Beyond Meat. The WVSR suggests they jazz up the appearance a bit more to make the bowl more appealing to the public, which wouldn't be a bad idea. They do it a little differently than KFC and stay on brand with a cajun gravy. If we're being honest, both KFC and Popeyes make great potatoes. But, let's talk about the star of the show at Jollibee: the chicken. The sandwich's popularity even led to a 20% increase in sales for the chicken chain (via Restaurant Business). If your KFC and Popeyes are located close to each other, chances are that you'll see very similar price points since they're in such close competition. They lacked the lumpiness of real, homemade potatoes, but they'll hit your nostalgia spot straight-on. KFC edges out Popeyes by offering a few more options in almost every category, which is perfect for those who need to feed a bunch of people with varying tastes. It has also been shown to disrupt the endocrine system of animals, resulting in developmental effects and changes in thyroid activity. Equally important, the brioche bun held up. We wanted to find out which ranked higher the Louisiana-influenced flair of Popeyes or the Americana-drenched cuisine of Kentucky Fried Chicken? So if you consider that for an extra $2, you can get an additional side, the tender meal at KFC and Popeyes is around the same price. Bojangles' chicken on the bone is beyond greasy. To date, Bonchon has over 300 locations and they are gaining quite a following of fans around the globe and rightfully so. If the original KFC recipe did, indeed, use the fried chicken drippings found at the bottom of the pressure fryer, we would need a chicken bouillon cube to give the gravy its boost of chicken-forward flavor. They were only $0.07 more than the most inexpensive potatoes, ringing in at $2.09 for an "individual" portion. If you're traveling internationally, KFC is in more than 145 countries, with varying menus. These biscuits are buttery and flaky, and glazed in sticky honey butter heaven. You might expect most of that sodium to come from the gravy but it's actually the potatoes that are the culprit. A "regular" size of mashed potatoes and gravy was $1.99. When you have the three-piece chicken meal with mashed potatoes and Sprite at Popeyes, you can expect to consume 1390 calories, 69 grams of fat, 135 milligrams of cholesterol, 3455 milligrams of sodium, 146 grams of carbs, and 77 grams of sugar. But if you want a little more spice in your life, why not opt for KFC's Nashville Hot Tenders instead? Lee's Famous Recipe Chicken Instagram/leesfamouschick Each chain's fries had a distinct flavor, texture, and shape. Popeyes edges KFC out this time, but you can't go wrong with either option. They're both delicious, but KFC's biscuits leave a minor trail of disappointment because they're not quite as moist as you may expect. And without further ado, we present to you the latest on fast food chicken prices, because thats what we do around here. Let's take a closer look at some of the key factors to help us decide. At KFC, a 3-piece meal with 1 side, 1 biscuit and 1 drink is $8.99, while the same meal at Popeyes is $9.89. What used to be a dependable spot to find juicy, tender chicken and other delicious offerings is now an inconsistent eatery where the chicken is often more rubbery than juicy, and the seasoning is more bland than ever. Spicy or mild? Unless Boston Market revamps their menu, upgrades their chicken quality, and launches an impossible-to-ignore advertising blitz, you'd have to imagine more and more locations will be shuttered in the months and years to come. When asked for the best way to reheat a KFC biscuit, one Redditor replied, "Throw away the KFC biscuit, drive to Popeyes and order biscuits. Chicken isn't the only thing on the menu at Chick-fil-A, but it's all equally delicious, from the milkshakes to their waffle fries. So, if you want to grab your sides at KFC and get your chicken elsewhere, that's perfectly acceptable. One of the best things about TKK is the sides. In other words, they're a one-trick pony with a trick that isn't even that impressive. According to FastFood Geek, "The bun was large and pillowy, yet sturdy enough to handle the large breast of chicken and super schmear of mayo without any noticeable sog.". Drain, leave in colander to steam dry for 3 minutes. Good fried chicken should be a beautiful interplay of salty and crunchy. To make them taste exactly like KFC's mashed potatoes, add some freshly ground black pepper to dish before serving.
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