Food News
Plant-Based Chicken Will Now Be Available at KFC—Wait, What?
It’s true! Beyond Fried Chicken will be offered at thousands of KFC restaurants across the country.
Since I was a little kid, my family has always celebrated the Kentucky Derby with—what else—Kentucky Fried Chicken. We’d crowd around the television, sit down on a picnic blanket on the floor, and devour a bucket of fried chicken, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, flaky buttermilk biscuits, and our own version of a “mint julep” (which I realize now was just a mint chocolate chip milkshake). Eventually, we turned to a vegan diet, ditched the KFC, and then, years later, ditched the veganism. If only KFC had come out with plant-based chicken…
But now they have! The fast-food chain just announced that its more than 4,000 locations across the country will now offer vegan fried chicken. In an exclusive collaboration between KFC and Beyond Meat, the plant-based option will be available for a limited time beginning on Monday, January 10. Fans of the fast-food chain can buy KFC’s Beyond Fried Chicken in six- or 12-piece orders, with dipping sauces included, of course. Prices start at $6.99, excluding tax.
“This is really about where the customer is going; they want to eat more plant-based proteins,” said KFC president Kevin Hochman in a press release. “It’s January, so it’s a time of New Year’s resolutions and wanting to do something different in your diet.”
KFC is not the first fast-food chain to expand its plant-based offerings; just days ago, Chipotle Mexican Grill announced that it would start selling plant-based chorizo and new “lifestyle” bowls that adhere to Whole30, vegetarian, and vegan diets.
Looking for more plant-based chicken recipes? We’ve got you covered…
Chickpea Noodle Soup
Enjoy all the feel-good properties of chicken noodle soup with this totally vegan recipe. It’s packed with hearty veggies like carrots, parsnips, rutabaga, leeks, and celeriac head, plus chickpeas for protein.
Andrea Nguyen's Vegan "Chicken" Phở
Instead of chicken, Andrea Nguyen swaps in extra-firm tofu for her phở recipe, and the super flavorful broth won’t let you miss a thing.
Crispy Tofu Katsu
Breaded chicken cutlets are always a fan-favorite but for a plant-based option, turn to firm tofu. You’ll get the same crispness thanks to panko breadcrumbs, and plant-based egg or aquafaba (the starchy liquid found in a can of chickpeas) ensures that the coating sticks to the protein.
Vegan Buffalo Chicken Dip
A combination of cooked artichoke hearts and Great Northern beans provides all the protein and might you could ever need for this plant-based buffalo chicken dip.
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Written by: Kelly Vaughan
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