KFC Bowl Recipe
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My copycat KFC bowl recipe features creamy mashed potatoes, sweet corn, crispy popcorn chicken, and savory gravy, topped with melty cheese for the perfect finish. It’s so simple with just 5 ingredients, and makes it easy to enjoy that famous restaurant flavor for a fraction of the cost!
If you’re on a KFC kick, try my air fryer fried chicken next. KFC sells a pot pie too, and my chicken pot pie with Grands biscuits uses the same kind of easy shortcuts
How I make a KFC chicken bowl at home that feeds the whole family
I tested this recipe 4 times before it tasted as close to the real thing as I could get it. Two choices made the biggest difference.
- Instant mashed potatoes. I tested it with homemade mashed potatoes too, and the instant ones tasted closer to the restaurant. They’re also way faster, which is a win on a busy night.
- Popcorn chicken. I tried chicken tenders and even chicken nuggets, but popcorn chicken has the right amount of breading and the closest flavor. Tyson frozen popcorn chicken gets the crispiest and works the best for me. It’s also done right around the time the mashed potatoes and corn are warm, especially when I air fry them.
I also tested the portions so they work for my whole family. 1/2 cup of mashed potatoes, 1/4 cup of corn, 4 ounces of popcorn chicken, and 2 to 3 tablespoons of gravy per bowl gives you 4 full bowls with nothing left over.
My KFC bowl recipe is a copycat of the popular bowl at the restaurant. I can make 4 bowls at home for my whole family, and I usually have everything I need already, so it’s an easy one to pull together any night.
To keep this recipe as simple as possible, I use convenient ingredients like jarred gravy and instant mashed potatoes. These shortcuts are how I get most of my easy chicken dinners on the table on a busy night, and the bowl still tastes like the one from KFC.
KFC famous bowl recipe ingredients
- Instant mashed potatoes are the reason this comes together so fast. There’s no peeling, chopping, or big pot of water to boil. I make them exactly how the package says, and they’re ready in about 5 minutes.
- Drain the canned corn well. Any extra liquid thins out the gravy. The corn adds a sweet, juicy bite that the rest of the bowl needs.
- The popcorn chicken is the star, so get them extra crispy! The gravy softens them a little once it goes on top. I cook mine in the air fryer because they come out the crunchiest that way.
- I use jarred chicken gravy since it only needs to be warmed up. If you have a gravy packet, one packet makes about 1 cup, which is enough for all 4 bowls.
- Add the cheddar cheese while everything is still hot so it melts in. Cheese you shred from a block melts smoother, but I grab the bag on busy nights and it works.
How to make the KFC bowl recipe
A full printable version of this recipe with ingredient measurements is available at the bottom of this post.
Recipe tips
I pour the gravy right over the popcorn chicken, just like KFC does. These are the little things that keep the chicken from going soft before you dig in.
- Cook the popcorn chicken until it’s extra crispy. The gravy goes right on top, so the crunchier it starts, the better it holds up.
- Make the potatoes while the chicken is cooking. Instant potatoes only take about 5 minutes, so everything is ready at the same time and nothing has to sit and get soggy.
- Cook the popcorn chicken in the air fryer and take it out as soon as it’s golden. The air moves all the way around the pieces, so even the bottoms get crispy! Mine take about 10 minutes at 350°F, and I shake the basket halfway through.
- Drain the corn in a colander and give it a few shakes. Any liquid left behind waters down the gravy and pools at the bottom of the bowl.
- Warm the gravy right before you build the bowls. Hot gravy melts the cheese on top, but lukewarm gravy leaves you with cold shreds of cheese.
Variations
- If you’re a mac and cheese lover, swap the mashed potato base for my creamy stovetop mac and cheese. It’s just like the KFC mac and cheese bowl!
- Country gravy works instead of chicken gravy. It’s a little thicker and has more black pepper.
- When I don’t have canned corn on hand, frozen corn works just fine. Make sure to drain it thoroughly after cooking to remove any excess moisture.
- Have leftover mashed potatoes? Warm them up and use 1/2 cup per bowl. I still reach for instant when I’m making these on purpose, since they tasted closer to KFC when I tested both.
- Add additional toppings for extra flavor. While the original recipe doesn’t call for add-ins like bacon bits or green onions, I love throwing these in for extra flavor and crunch.
What to serve with a KFC chicken bowl
My copycat KFC bowl recipe tastes incredible with homemade versions of the same sides found at the KFC restaurant! I love serving it with Velveeta mac and cheese or my easy biscuit recipe when I’m craving something comforting, or with my easy coleslaw recipe if I want a satisfying crunch to go with my bowl.
KFC bowl recipe FAQs
What comes in a KFC bowl?
A KFC bowl has creamy mashed potatoes, sweet corn, crispy chicken bites, gravy, and a sprinkle of shredded cheese, layered in that order.
How do I keep the popcorn chicken from getting soggy?
Cook the chicken until it’s extra crispy and leave space between the pieces so they crisp up instead of steaming. Then build the bowls right before you eat, since the gravy on top softens the chicken as it sits.
What is the correct order to layer a KFC bowl?
KFC layers it mashed potatoes, corn, chicken, gravy, then cheese, and I build mine the same way. The hot gravy soaks into the chicken a little and melts the cheese on top, which is how it tastes at the restaurant.
How do I make the KFC “Spicy” Famous Bowl variation?
KFC’s spicy bowl uses spicy chicken. Use a spicy popcorn chicken, or toss your cooked popcorn chicken in a little hot sauce before it goes in the bowl.
Can I make KFC bowls ahead of time?
Yes! Cook the popcorn chicken and make the potatoes, corn, and gravy up to a day ahead. Keep each one in its own container in the fridge. When you’re ready to eat, crisp the chicken back up in the air fryer, warm everything else, and build the bowls.
How should I store leftovers?
Leftover KFC bowls can be refrigerated for up to 4 days. It’s best to store all the components in separate airtight containers, especially the crispy chicken.
How do I reheat leftovers?
Warm the parts separately and build each bowl right before serving. I reheat the popcorn chicken in the air fryer so it crisps back up. The potatoes, corn, and gravy can go in the microwave or on the stove. If you stored the bowls already built, bake them covered at 350°F for about 15 minutes. The chicken will be soft, but the flavor is all still there.
More easy comfort food dinners
- Chicken fried chicken recipe
- Air fryer chicken tenders
- Smothered chicken thighs recipe
- Chicken tater tot casserole recipe
- Chicken burrito bowl
Crispy Copycat KFC Bowl Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 (4 ounce) package instant mashed potatoes, plus other ingredients needed to make it based on packaging
- 1 cup canned corn, drained
- 16 ounces frozen popcorn chicken
- ¾ cup jarred chicken gravy
- ½ cup cheddar cheese, shredded
Instructions
- Cook the popcorn chicken according to the package directions.
- While the chicken is cooking, heat up the corn kernels and make the mashed potatoes also according to the packing instructions. Lastly, heat up the jarred chicken gravy.
- Assemble the bowls: Layer with ½ cup of mashed potatoes, ¼ cup of corn, 4 ounces popcorn chicken, 2-3 tablespoons of gravy, and 1-2 tablespoons of shredded cheese.
Notes
Nutrition
This nutrition information is based on the exact products I used in this recipe. Brands and sizes of products could alter exact nutrition and should always be calculated independently.
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