All The KFC Vegan Menu Options

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KFC or Kentucky Fried Chicken is the last place most people will expect to find anything vegan. But sometimes you don’t have any other option, whether it’s because KFC is your only choice off the freeway or you need food now and can’t stomach the idea of waiting for a snack.

In any event, you’ll be pleased to know that there are a couple of vegan-friendly items to choose from on KFC’s menu. That being said, don’t be surprised when we reveal that KFC doesn’t have any main vegan options or meals to try, even compared to other chicken chains like Popeye’s.

Let’s take a closer look and break down everything you can eat at KFC as a vegan without breaking your diet. Here is a quick overview of your options:

Menu itemDishNotes
Corn on the CobCorn
Green BeansBeans
Secret Recipe FriesFries
Sweet Kernel CornCorn
House Side SaladSaladOrder with NO Croutons and with the Marzetti Light Italian Dressing ONLY
KetchupCondiment
Grape Jelly PacketCondiment
Strawberry Jam PacketCondiment
Lemon Juice PacketCondiment
Hot SauceCondimentAsk your location about the hot sauce. If they have it, it is likely be vegan but be sure to double check.
Musselman’s ApplesauceApplesauce
Note: Menu items as of 1/9/2023 as menu items may have changed.

KFC Main Meals

Source: https://www.kfc.com/menu#beyond-fried-chicken

Update: As of February 2022 – Beyond Nuggets are no longer appearing on any menus nationwide.

As of January 2022, KFC has released Beyond Chicken Nuggets at all locations nationwide in the United States. Oh the joy. Wait a minute. Is it actually vegan? The Beyond Chicken itself is vegan. It’s plant-based and lacks any animal ingredients. Beyond Chicken is also 100% delicious and it has a less heavy feel to it without the cholesterol. But, KFC advertises it is as not prepared in a vegan or vegetarian way. In other words, the product is vegan but it’s prepared with or near animal products. However, there are rumors that some locations may fry these separately so it’s a good idea to ask if preparation is a concern with you.

Technically, the KFC Beyond Chicken Nuggets is not vegan due to the preparation. That being said, it’s a step in the right direction and depending on your preferences the Beyond Chicken may be an option for you.

KFC Vegan Sides

Naturally, there aren’t any main platters or dishes you can choose from KFC that are vegan-friendly. But this fast-food chain does have several sides and other half-meals that, while not exactly the pinnacle of freshness or health, are suitable for vegan diets.

These include the majority of KFC’s so-called “Homestyle” sides, such as:

  • Green beans
  • Corn on the cob
  • BBQ baked beans
  • Sweet kernel corn
  • KFC’s Secret Recipe Fries, making this fast-food chain one of the few to have vegan-friendly fries available

As you can see, plenty of these sides can serve well as a snack or a quick bite while on the road. Just don’t expect any of them to totally fill you up or leave you satisfied. Naturally, most of KFC’s food is high in sugar and salt, so this chain isn’t the healthiest option for vegan diners.

KFC Vegan Desserts

Vegans with sweet teeth can also try out a single dessert from KFC if they want something sugary without driving on to find another spot. KFC’s Apple Turnover, which has tons of palm oil and high fructose corn syrup, doesn’t use any animal products or dairy, so it’s safe for even the strictest vegan diets.

It’s also one of the few menu items that aren’t at risk of cross-contamination from being prepared using shared tools or surfaces.

KFC Vegan Salads and Dressings

In addition to sides and desserts, KFC does offer a single salad for vegans, although you’ll have to modify it slightly to make it really vegan-friendly. The House Side Salad is almost perfect for vegans, though you need to order it with no croutons and with the Marzetti Light Italian Dressing specifically. All other dressings or sauce options are not vegan-friendly.

This salad is surprisingly tasty given KFC’s general reputation as a chicken-first, unhealthy restaurant.

KFC Vegan Sauces and Dips

Then there are KFC’s dipping sauces and other condiments. Most of these are vegan-friendly by nature, and they include:

  • Ketchup
  • Grape jelly, lemon juice, and strawberry jam packets
  • Both the Summertime BBQ and Sweet N Tangy dipping sauce cups

You can also try the Musselman’s Applesauce, which is normally found on KFC’s kid’s menu.

The Best KFC Vegan Options

There aren’t a lot of great options at KFC for vegans. If you’re set on trying the restaurant anyway, we recommend checking out the salad, which is decent if not incredible. You can also get yourself a relatively tasty snack without breaking your vegan diet by trying out some of the sides described above.

If cross-contamination doesn’t bother you, KFC does offer Beyond Fried Chicken at most of its restaurants, but not all. Ask your server if they have this option if it sounds appealing.

KFC Vegan Food FAQs

Are KFC’s French Fries vegan?

Yes. These “secret recipe” fries are vegan since they don’t naturally contain any animal or dairy products. That being said, there are almost certainly exposed to cross-contaminated tools and/or cooking surfaces. So expect the fries to be prepared in boilers or fryers that come into contact with animal products all the time.

You should also note that the fries have tons of synthetic ingredients included, including degermed yellow cornmeal, dextrose, xanthan gum, and more. Suffice it to say that these fries are not the healthiest choice at KFC.

Does KFC offer Beyond Chicken?

Yes! However, it’s technically not vegan because it shares a fryer with non-vegan chicken and other ingredients. Demand may eventually rise high enough that KFC decides to separate its Beyond Chicken fryers from regular fryers. That being said, if this doesn’t bother you, you could order Beyond Fried Chicken from KFC and still technically be adhering to the vegan diet.

We didn’t include Beyond Chicken in the above list because it’s always prepared using cross-contaminated tools or fryers.

Is the KFC Beyond Chicken Vegan?

Yes and no. The actual ingredients are plant-based and therefore vegan. KFC advertises that it not prepared in a vegan or vegetarian manner as it may be cooked where other animal products are prepared. This can vary by location so call yours to confirm if this is a concern.

Are KFC’s mashed potatoes vegan?

No. Unfortunately, the mashed potatoes always contain milk and are prepared ahead of time. So you won’t be able to order them made without dairy or any of the other complex ingredients added by default at your local restaurant.

Can you get potato wedges at KFC?

Not anymore, unfortunately. In the spring of 2020, KFC stopped offering potato wedges and switched to the above-mentioned French fries. However, KFC may eventually reverse this decision because many longtime fans of the restaurant chain have announced their displeasure with the new offering.

Summary – Does KFC Have Good Vegan Options?

As you can see, KFC is far from overly vegan-friendly. In fact, it’s probably a better idea to look for another restaurant or fast-food chain with vegan-specific options if you have the time and patience.

But if KFC is your only choice, now you at least know what you can order without breaking your diet or having to deal with chicken-flavored snacks on your road trip. Who knows? Maybe in the future, there will be more demand for synthetic chicken alternatives like Beyond Chicken.

If and when this occurs, KFC may decide to switch up its chicken menu and offer a greater number of vegan options for a wider range of diners. For now, KFC’s vegan options are few and far between.


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