The 10 Worst Items On KFC’s Menu & 10 That Get Our Tastebuds Watering
Finger lickin’ memories, y’all! KFC’s crispy magic has always brought the fam together – especially when someone’s wrestling for that last golden drumstick.
But let’s be real, not every item on the Colonel’s menu is a cluckin’ masterpiece. I’ve pecked my way through every bite to bring you the juiciest rundown – 10 menu picks that’ll have your taste buds two-steppin’, and 10 that might just make you squawk in regret.
1. Coleslaw – The Soggy Side Dish Disappointment
Whoever decided to drown shredded cabbage in this much sugar-loaded mayo should be sentenced to eat nothing but this for a week! I once made the mistake of getting extra coleslaw instead of mashed potatoes.
Big mistake. The sickly sweet flavor overpowered everything else on my plate, turning lunch into dessert. Not the good kind either – the weird, vegetable-based kind nobody asked for.
2. Green Beans – The Cafeteria Flashback Nobody Wanted
Remember school lunch green beans? KFC somehow made them worse! Last summer, I ordered these hoping for something remotely nutritious amid my fried food feast.
What arrived was a sad puddle of olive-colored sadness – mushy, flavorless, and suspiciously gray-tinged. They tasted like they’d been boiled since breakfast, then held hostage under heat lamps until someone ordered them.
3. Chicken Pot Pie – Crust Covering Culinary Crimes
That golden crust is the biggest food lie since diet soda! Cracking through reveals a murky swamp of questionable meat chunks swimming in gluey gravy.
My cousin swears by these, which honestly makes me question our relation. The texture reminds me of baby food mixed with mystery meat. Even the vegetables inside seem to have given up, surrendering all texture and flavor to the mushy abyss.
4. BBQ Baked Beans – Sugar Bombs Masquerading As Protein
Sugar first, beans second – that’s the KFC bean formula! During my last road trip, I grabbed these thinking they’d be a hearty side.
Nope! Each spoonful delivered a syrupy sweet assault that belonged on pancakes, not alongside chicken. The beans themselves are merely vehicles for what tastes like liquid brown sugar. Even my sweet-toothed nephew pushed these aside after two bites.
5. Potato Wedges – Grease Sponges With Salt Overkill
I’ve eaten french fries that were less oily than these potato boat disasters! On my last KFC visit, the wedges left actual puddles on my napkin.
The exterior promised crispiness but delivered a sad, soggy shell. Inside wasn’t much better – somehow both undercooked and oversalted. It’s like they’re trying to ensure you order an extra large drink to combat the sodium overload.
6. Mac & Cheese – The Paste That Pretends To Be Pasta
Calling this mac and cheese is like calling ketchup a vegetable. The pasta surrenders all texture, melting into the bland, artificially yellow sauce.
During college, this was my go-to comfort food. Now I realize my taste buds were suffering from Stockholm syndrome! There’s no cheese pull, no stretchy goodness – just a homogeneous yellow mass that sticks to the roof of your mouth like edible glue.
7. Whole Kernel Corn – The Definition Of Phoning It In
Plain, frozen corn kernels heated up and scooped into a container. That’s it. That’s the recipe. I could literally make this blindfolded with one hand tied behind my back.
Nothing says “we gave up on creativity” quite like unseasoned corn. No butter flavor. No herbs. No salt. Just yellow pellets of pure boredom. Even the server looked apologetic when handing it to me, as if silently saying, “I’m sorry this exists.”
8. Popcorn Chicken – Bite-Sized Breading Disappointments
Remember when these were actually chicken-shaped? Now they’re mysterious nugget cousins with identity issues! Last month I ordered a large box for movie night.
Half were crunchy little rocks that threatened my dental work. The other half were suspiciously soft, like they’d missed their appointment with the fryer. The chicken-to-breading ratio was laughable – mostly coating with whispers of actual meat hiding inside.
9. Strawberry Lemonade – Liquid Candy Masquerading As Refreshment
Scientists should study this beverage to understand how something can taste absolutely nothing like its namesake ingredients! I ordered this during a summer heatwave, desperate for something refreshing.
What can only be described as liquid sugar with a faint flavor of furniture polish attacked my taste receptors. What should have been my first warning was the electric pink color. This chemical mixture was made without the use of real strawberries or lemons.
10. Nashville Hot Sauce – Taste Bud Terrorism
Authentic Nashville hot chicken makes you sweat with flavor. KFC’s version just makes you angry! My brother dared me to try the extra hot version last Christmas.
It wasn’t the heat that bothered me – it was the bizarre chemical aftertaste that lingered for hours. Like someone mixed hot sauce with cough syrup and a dash of regret. True Nashville hot has complexity and depth; this is just painful punishment in sauce form.
11. Original Recipe Chicken – The Colonel’s Crowning Achievement
Those 11 herbs and spices aren’t just marketing hype – they’re culinary magic! The skin crackles with flavor while the meat stays impossibly juicy.
My grandmother claims she once got Colonel Sanders’ autograph in 1969. Whether that’s true or not, our family tradition of Sunday KFC dinners definitely is. Nothing beats tearing into a fresh thigh, that perfect blend of pepper, salt and mystery spices creating a comfort food experience that’s remained consistent for decades.
12. Famous Bowl – The Magnificent Mash-Up Marvel
Whoever decided to layer all the best KFC components into one bowl deserves a Nobel Prize in comfort food! The genius lies in the textural journey – crispy chicken chunks nestled into creamy mashed potatoes.
These bowls got me through several all-nighters during my college finals week. The corn provides delicious pops, the warm gravy pours over everything, and the blanket of melted cheese on top completes the picture. It’s similar to an improved Thanksgiving leftover sandwich.
13. Mashed Potatoes & Gravy – Cloud-Like Potato Perfection
Silky smooth with not a lump in sight! These potatoes have the consistency of whipped butter clouds, and I’m here for it.
After my wisdom teeth removal, these potatoes were the only food that didn’t make me cry. The gravy isn’t an afterthought either – it’s a savory, peppered masterpiece that turns simple spuds into a borderline religious experience. I’ve been known to order extra just to enjoy them for breakfast the next day.
14. Extra Crispy Chicken Tenders – Crunch Champions
The sound these make when you bite into them should be recorded for ASMR videos! That earth-shattering crunch gives way to perfectly cooked, juicy white meat.
My nephew rates fast food solely on “dippability” – these score a perfect 10. The ridged breading creates little pockets that trap sauce perfectly. Unlike their popcorn cousins, these tenders maintain consistent quality and substantial meat-to-coating ratio that satisfies even the hungriest fried chicken enthusiast.
15. Biscuits – Buttery Bliss Bombs
Forget fancy dinner rolls – these golden-domed beauties are what bread dreams are made of! Flaky layers separate with the gentlest pull, revealing a steamy, buttery interior.
Splitting one open while still hot, letting the steam out, and then drizzling it with honey is my personal ritual. The combination of sweet honey and the biscuit’s subtle saltiness produces a magical taste. But remember to bring a drink. Their renowned dryness is real!
16. Spicy Crispy Colonel Sandwich – The Underrated Handheld Hero
Forget the chicken sandwich wars – this spicy contender quietly outperforms the competition without the hype! The chicken-to-bun ratio is spot-on perfection.
During a road trip last summer, this sandwich saved me from hunger-induced road rage. The spicy mayo brings just enough heat without overwhelming, while the pickles add the perfect acidic crunch. Unlike other fast food sandwiches that fall apart after two bites, this one maintains structural integrity until the last mouthful.
17. Original Recipe Wings – Finger-Licking Flight Perfection
Wings shouldn’t be an afterthought, and KFC proves they understand this fundamental truth! These petite packages deliver maximum flavor-to-meat ratio.
My fantasy football draft nights are fueled exclusively by these wings. The classic seasoning coats every nook and cranny of these perfectly sized pieces. Unlike their buffalo-slathered cousins at other chains, these let the chicken and seasoning shine without drowning in sauce. Plus, they’re substantial enough to feel like actual food, not bar snacks.
18. Chicken Littles – Mighty Flavor In Mini Form
Good things really do come in small packages! These slider-sized sandwiches pack full-sized flavor that belies their adorable dimensions.
Last month, my niece came to visit and insisted on eating these “fairy sandwiches” for three days in a row. The pickle adds just the right amount of sharpness to counterbalance the chicken’s richness. Additionally, the ideal bread-to-meat ratio guarantees that no bite is overly bready or dry, in contrast to their larger sandwich siblings.
19. Kentucky Fried Nuggets – Bite-Sized Breaded Beauties
Not all nuggets are created equal – these golden nuggets prove it! Unlike their fast food competitors, these actually taste like chicken, not mysterious pressed meat product.
My movie night go-to order since they’re perfect for one-handed snacking during tense scenes. The breading has actual flavor rather than just serving as a bland meat vehicle. Plus, they maintain their crunch even after the drive home, which in the world of fast food nuggets is nothing short of miraculous.
20. Sweet Kernel Corn – Simple Veggie Satisfaction
Sometimes simplicity wins! This no-frills side brings a sweet pop of color and nutrition to an otherwise indulgent meal.
This was the corn I used as a compromise food during my 48-hour health kick period. Juicy, sweet kernels that taste like real vegetables rather than just another way to get butter and salt. Even while it won’t take home any invention prizes, it offers a cool contrast to the meal’s other rich components.