kfc vs popeyes mashed potatoes
Hopefully this restaurant will be expanding and spreading their chicken goodness across America to bless the rest of the county with their yummy offerings. Fast Food Prices > Fast Food Chicken Prices from KFC, Popeyes, and Chick-fil-A. The potatoes were super buttery and had a nice, light and fluffy texture. Stopping at KFC and leaving without a side of mashed potatoes and gravy isn't an option. Stir constantly using a whisk until the mixture turns a light golden brown, about 5 minutes. Simply add them to hot water and stir until they're well combined. If you're looking for a homemade-potatoes feel, it doesn't get better than this restaurant chain. There are more than 16,000,000 vegetarians living in the United States, according to a 2018 Gallup poll. We decided we'd embark on a journey of discovery to both KFC and Popeyes to determine which one you should go to with your $10. 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. Lee's Famous Recipe Chicken Instagram/leesfamouschick The gravy, which was much thicker than the other restaurants', added extra richness to the potatoes. Popeye's Breasts have 1330 mg of sodium per 440 calories, and KFC Extra crispy breast have 1140 mg of sodium per 490 calories. Sure, the fast-food giant is more well-known for the secret blend of herbs and spices in their crispy-fried chicken, but KFC does sides right. When you're ready to serve, simply scoop out the potatoes and top them with the rich gravy. They were only $0.07 more than the most inexpensive potatoes, ringing in at $2.09 for an "individual" portion. But does Raising Cane's serve the best chicken? Phew; we didn't have to add all those crazy ingredients we can't even pronounce. Then again, after you try Popeyes for the first time, you might actually disagree with that statement. Remove the pan from the heat and add the potato flakes, whisking as you add. We were able to make this dish with a stick of butter, flour, milk, salt, pepper, beef and chicken bouillon cubes, and a packet of instant mashed potato flakes. Pasta has the same carb content as a serving of cheese, but it is nearly as fat as cheese. When we first started our quest to determine how far $10 would go at KFC and Popeyes, we encountered an online ad from Popeyes offering five pieces of dark meat chicken, two sides, and two biscuits for only $9.99. Beef may be surprising ingredient considering this fast-food chain only serves chicken. 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. You could add extra salt if you wanted yours to have a little more flavor. Add the bouillon-infused water to the pan, whisking constantly to prevent any clumps from forming. But if you want a little more spice in your life, why not opt for KFC's Nashville Hot Tenders instead? Combo (Sandwich, Waffle Fries, and Drink): $6.19. 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." 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. But it was absolutely one of the best chicken sandwiches ever made. Biscuit Only: $2.19. In this case, we're using both beef and chicken bouillon, which creates the ideal flavor profile to recreate authentic KFC gravy. Overall, two restaurants are similarly priced and you can expect the same value from both, so we're calling this one a tie. That and the KFC dryness boosted Popeyes to a 7.8-7 W. Mashed potatoes. Meanwhile, melt butter in a saucepan over medium high heat. Unfortunately, this time around, the gravy tasted oddly bitter. The gravy recipe does contain both pork and chicken, meaning it is not a vegetarian option. Overworking the potatoes turns them gummy and starchy, but under-mashing them creates unseasoned lumps. This may be the toughest category yet, because macaroni and cheese is just really difficult to pull off in a fast food setting. 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. which one?!? There was a clear winner, and the results surprised us. 2 piece Combo Meal (1 Breast, 1 Wing, Individual Mashed Potatoes & Gravy, Biscuit, Medium Drink): $5 Fill up (Chicken Breast, Larger Mashed Potatoes, Biscuit, Cookie, Medium Drink): Extra Crispy Strips The chicken tenders you can eat as a kid or an adult, with no shame. However, Popeyes also has nuggets and some seafood options like a cajun flounder sandwich and popcorn shrimp meal that Church's doesn't offer. The potatoes were seasoned liberally with pepper, but the gravy was a little milder perhaps to keep from overwhelming your palate. Now that the roux is finished, it's time to add the liquid. While some of these other restaurants' potatoes tasted fake or instant, Boston Market's tasted like they used real potatoes. To recreate the buttery, rich flavor of KFC potatoes, we used a combination of milk and water to make our mashed potatoes. Something has happened to KFC in the last few years, and it's not a good change. If PDQ begins expanding across the country, they'll give the top chains a run for their money. The chicken was nice and juicy, but the crust tasted like nothing but an overwhelming amount of salt. There's also three different chicken sandwiches, nuggets, biscuits, mac and cheese, coleslaw and corn. The gravy was tasty and contained meat, green peppers, and pepper, but the potatoes themselves were the fakest of fake. But for accessing the restaurant around the country and the world, as well as offering the flexibility of pick up or delivery, KFC takes it. It's a great bite and it really helps the meal to flow and get your palate ready for that next bite of chicken. Whereas the Popeyes biscuit is. We found nobody standing in line and nobody at the drive-through when we got to KFC during the noon rush hour, so we had no wait to make our order with the cashier. There also was more fat on the chicken than at Popeyes. They're certainly not bad, because it's hard to make bad fried chicken, but they're just not that exciting. A serving of KFC mashed potatoes and gravy contains 130 calories, 4.5 grams of fat (1 gram of which is saturated), and 520 milligrams of sodium. They said, "KFC chicken tenders are absolutely amazing. We know it's good, but it's not to die for. Simmer the mixture until the butter is melted. Popeye's is fully dependent on their sauces, and Chick-fil-A isn't even fried chicken. Bonafide Spicy Chicken The fried chicken that made Popeyes famous is marinated for 12 hours. It made the most sense for us to order similar items from both Popeyes and KFC to see how far our $10 would go in each restaurant. 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. The pieces were also much bigger at KFC than at Popeyes. 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. Fortunately, KFC does offer gluten . However, Chick-Fil-A fans (AKA everyone who isnt a vegetarian) are passionateabout their nuggets and waffle fries. So why use beef bouillon, too? What the heck is all of that? There's a difference between tasting better and having better texture. Sometimes, you'll hit the jackpot and the chicken will be perfect, but those times are few and far between these days, unfortunately. We weren't even finished paying yet before it was waiting for us. Just like Popeyes' 3-piece chicken meal, KFC's is definitely on the unhealthy side. But it just doesn't have the same significant crunch or powerful flavor as Popeyes', and therefore comes in second place this round. KFC answered that call by releasing their Beyond Fried Chicken, made with Beyond Meat. A fried chicken dinner is a hard hitter when it comes to calories, fat, cholesterol, carbs, and sodium. We figured out how to make a copycat version of their mashed potatoes and gravy, and it's easier that you might think. They are crunchy and the perfect size to pop in your mouth. When you can get a perfectly cooked bird at Costco for $4.99, why would you venture to Boston Market for a more expensive and less appetizing meal? Culver's isn't known for its potatoes. KFC's non-chicken piece mains are a bowl or a pot pie. 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. Bonchon wings are great, but the champion chicken wing chain is undoubtedly Wingstop. 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 makes El Pollo Loco chicken special is it is extremely tender and juicy, but never too soft or slimy. If you're not into spiced food (not exactly spicy, but just loaded with various spices), then maybe Popeyes won't get your vote. Before the 1990s, Americans ate more beef and pork than chicken. Its gravy is almost the consistency of potato. They're also not terribly crispy, which is a very important component of fries. Plus, they couldn't be easier to make; just heat up some water or milk, stir in the flakes, and top it off with butter. The main differences seem to come from the calorie and fat content of the chicken and biscuits. 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. Their 100 percent natural chicken is hormone-free, steroid-free, and never frozen and all of that makes a huge difference in the taste. There comes a time during every fried chicken meal when your palate calls out for something tangy, sweet and cold to help break up the grease and weight of fried chicken and biscuits. If you end up having to spend valuable time and extra money on gas to get a good deal, it's no longer a good deal. 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. If it has, don't worry; upon stirring, it will incorporate into the rest of the gravy without any problems. 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. It was a close race, with Popeyes narrowly taking the lead by one. Martha Sorren They were only $0.07 more than the most inexpensive potatoes, ringing in at $2.09 for an "individual" portion. The spice level was just right without being too fiery for those unaccustomed to spicy food. You wouldn't think that mashed potatoes made from powdered potato flakes could be so good, but they really are. 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. The only other item we could purchase with our remaining funds was another biscuit for $1.29. Sure, you can have them in different size combos or laying across a kaiser roll in their sandwich, but it's just chicken fingers and not even great chicken fingers. Popeyes has plenty on its menu, offers nuggets, tender, fried chicken, fries, mashed potatoes, coleslaw, biscuits, red beans and rice and mac and cheese, along with three different types of desserts blackberry cheesecake fried pie, cinnamon apple pie and a chocolate chip cookie. KFC Triple Down - What Is It and How Do You Order One? The Sprite also has more sugar in it than the Sierra Mist we got at KFC. If you're watching your fat and sodium, you may want to be mindful of eating this full meal. 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. Sure, you can get standards like coleslaw, curly fries, or mashed potatoes, but they also sell unique options like blistered shishito peppers, charred corn, and sweet potato frie. Even if their parking lots are terribly designed, that doesnt take away from the fast food joints success, running more than 2,200 locations worldwide. While the oil still had that specific Popeyes oil flavor, it seemed far fresher than usual. Americans have an ever-growing and insatiable love affair with chicken. If you were using real potatoes, this process would be long and time-consuming. In the end, you want to get the most food for your money, but you also want to get food that tastes good. AMWFemme 4 yr. ago Australian who had travelled extensively in the US - the only acceptable answer is Popeyes. The gravy helped thin them out a bit, but didn't smell like traditional gravy. The potatoes aren't made from scratch, but they have a nice tang. It has also been shown to disrupt the endocrine system of animals, resulting in developmental effects and changes in thyroid activity. The fact that there was nobody in the drive-through or order line when we got to KFC while everyone was at Popeyes should have been a hint about which fried chicken restaurant had the best food. Each restaurant we tried was ranked in Restaurant Business's top-100 chain restaurants of 2017. But these days, chicken is far and away the most consumed meat in the United States. Add prepared potatoes, garlic and salt. When you're finished, the roux should be thick but smooth. Also, the skin of the chicken is perfectly cooked always crunchy, never rubbery. I think Checkers' potatoes had the best flavor, texture, and shelf life. 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. The breading really shines on the breast strips. Reduce the heat to medium-low and add the flour to make the roux. It delivered on your standard mashed potatoes KFC mashed potatoes are classic. After all, the magical combo of carbs plus carbs is hard to beat. Founded in Lafayette, Louisiana, this chain has over 2,000 locations around the country. Oh, and we found a chicken feather sticking up from the chicken skin, which wasn't terribly appetizing. Of course, many surmise that Lee's Famous Recipe is the famous recipe the 11 herbs and spices one. If you live in Florida, then you know PDQ is where you can find some of the best fast food chicken in the country. In the past, the mashed potatoes and gravy have been one of the best things about eating at KFC. Bonchon wings may be a little more pricey than those from the mainstream wing chains, but you do get a free side which ranges from fries to rice to pickled radishes. It might seem like cheating to make such a flavorful side dish with a handful of ingredients that come out of pouches or bags. Chicken nuggets are the perfect sharing food. What KFC still does right is their mashed potatoes and gravy, and their buttery, flaky biscuits. By clicking Sign Up, you also agree to marketing emails from both Insider and Morning Brew; and you accept Insiders. These biscuits seem to divide crowds. These biscuits are buttery and flaky, and glazed in sticky honey butter heaven. It's certainly enough food to share or save for leftovers. A self-described former KFC employee offers a description of KFC's gravy preparation on Quora, adding that the memories are nightmare-inducing. 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. But aside from the chicken, Popeyes wins over hearts with its signature southern sides, offering rice, red beans, jambalaya, and spicy French fries unlike any other fast food fried chicken joint around. 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. Fill a large pot 1/2 to 3/4 full of water. The basis of all good gravy is roux: a mixture of flour and fat (in this case, butter). Year after year, Chick-fil-A tops the American Customer Service Index to be named the nation's best fast food restaurant. However, Popeyes has become ever more popular in recent years, with long lines of people waiting to eat the chain's chicken. The soft, warm, hopefully flaky is the perfect accompaniment to greasy fried chicken. The Real Reason You Should Never Order KFC's Mashed Potatoes. Their Honey Butter Chicken Sandwich is absolutely delicious. Their chicken is superbly crunchy on the outside and exquisitely juicy on the inside. The Idahoan brand we picked up uses 100 percent Idaho potatoes, and they really do taste just like mashed potatoes made from scratch. And don't forget to add their salsa to kick things up a notch. If you're cozying up to a bucket of KFC chicken, there's a good chance you have a side of mashed potatoes at the ready, too. The true joy of these perfect wings, however, comes from the flavor options. Sign up for notifications from Insider! It was the talk of the town or at least, it was the talk of social media. You need something like Tabasco or Frank's RedHot sauce to add some oomph to these otherwise boring fingers. With a crunchy outside and juicy inside, you can sit down to a bucket of Chickenjoy and not stop until you're ready to explode. You can get whole pieces of chicken served with your choice of sides and tortillas or burritos, bowls, quesadillas, and other specials. Unless you live on the East Coast, in Michigan, or in Texas, you probably haven't heard of TKK Fried Chicken. Add the bouillon-infused water to the pan, whisking constantly to prevent any clumps from forming. But we had high hopes for the macaroni and cheese offerings at KFC and Popeyes, and both leave the consumer longing for a lot more. Popeyes' fried chicken comes in mild and spicy flavors, as well as served with your choice of sides - rice and red beans, Cajun fries, mashed potatoes, and Cajun rice. There's also a pretty straightforward pot pie, with chicken, peas, carrots, potatoes swimming in sauce and topped with a crust. KFC's mac and cheese is thinner and more saucy, like the childhood stovetop favorite, while Popeyes was clearly going for a more solid, baked style of mac and cheese. 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. NOW WATCH: Popeyes' famous chicken sandwich is now back 'for good' so we compared it to 5 other fast-food fried-chicken sandwiches. If the gravy has sat for more than a few minutes, just give it a stir before serving it to make sure it hasn't formed a skin on top. 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. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionists advice. The first step to a good roux is letting the butter brown a little bit. In this case, the better combo is available at Popeyes. Almost, but not quite. Increase the heat to medium-high and stir frequently until the mixture is the desired consistency, about 5 minutes. One excellentKFC copycat recipe hails Idahoan brand mashed potatoes as a close approximation of the dried potato flakes KFC uses in their kitchen. The fact that Champs Chicken may call a grungy gas station home doesn't automatically make it a restaurant to thumb your nose at. You can choose from their original sauce (which is a buffalo sauce that isn't overwhelming), something more mild (their Wimpy sauce), or one of their extremely hot yet flavorful sauces with appropriate names like Insane or Nuclear. Don't worry, Chick-fil-A fans, there's no need for angry letters. Even the Sprite was good. Simmer the mixture until it's nice and thick, about five minutes. Fast Food Chicken Chains, Ranked Worst To Best, perfectly cooked bird at Costco for $4.99, many Lee's Famous Recipe Chicken locations, one of the best chicken sandwiches ever made. 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. To make it even more decadent, the bowl is drizzled with KFC's homestyle gravy. In 2019, the chain closed 45 more locations in the U.S., including the last two that were remaining in Boston. From the Mild flavor (a toned-down version of their Original Hot), to their amazingly buttery Garlic Parmesan, to their sweet yet tangy Hawaiian, there's something for everyone at Wingstop. Take KFC's popcorn nuggets, for instance. People can't get enough of their chicken, and everything else on their menu. There's just no getting around it. Keep in mind that Popeyes takes pride in its Southern food so the menu also features po'boy sandwiches and jambalaya. With only a $0.10 difference in price between the two, you want to eat where the food tastes better. That said, if you love spicy fried chicken, Popeyes is your place. Both KFC and Popeyes have very good coleslaw offerings. Martha Sorren 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. It's what most fried chicken is striving to be. 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. Combo (3 Pieces, Side, Biscuit, and Drink): Chicken PoBoy This filling sandwich is stuffed with two chicken tenders, lettuce, pickles, and mayo. The basic problem with Raising Cane's food is it's bland, very bland. All these years, their chicken has been amazingly & consistently moist, tender, juicy, and tasty. At this point, you may be wondering how KFC achieves such potatoey mashed potatoes without the use of real, fresh potatoes. Add the beef and chicken bouillons to the hot water, stirring until the mixture is well combined. They don't seem to be well-seasoned as KFC's, and as The Takeout put it, they don't "change the game." Chick-Fil-A Nutrition (Updated: May 2023), Fast Food Chicken Prices from KFC, Popeyes, and Chick-fil-A, Popeyes Announces New Chocolate Beignets and Raspberry. Lee's packs a bit more pepper than KFC, and the chicken is much more consistent than KFC. At TKK, chicken always tastes fresh, and you can order fried chicken, wings, tenders, or sandwiches. Spicy or mild? Overall, we were impressed with the quality and flavor of what we ate at Popeye's. Prices and selections offered may vary by location. Stay up to date with what you want to know. 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. In general, two restaurants are similar in price and provide the same value. So whats a guy or gal to order when youre in the mood for a little Louisiana flare? They're also flaky, and retain just the right amount of moistness, so they're not drying in the mouth, like KFC's. Drizzle the bowl with gravy to finish it off, and you're in for a real treat. 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). From there, you simply continue cooking the mixture for a few minutes to remove the raw flour taste. The home of the best Cajun flavor youll find north of the Mississippi Popeyes takes the cake for its spicy rendition of fried chicken. Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. 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. He alleges that all the leftover bits of chicken (mostly bones and "residue) that collect at the bottom of the chicken fryer which contains a "black sludge" are transferred to a freezer to later be melted and served up as KFC's famous mashed potato-topping gravy. But since Boston Market is a little pricier, if you're looking for a more inexpensive treat, you might want to try KFC. The flavor of the chicken might be good, but you'll be so distracted by the amount of grease that you would never know it. According to Idahoan, half a cup of prepared potatoes packs 370 milligrams of sodium. It's cooked fresh, never frozen, and holds a more succulent flavor than KFC. If you stirred while you added, there shouldn't be any lumps in the gravy. KFC and Popeyes both bring two pretty good biscuits to the table. Then, we learned from Popsugar that KFC mashed potatoes and gravy is made from powder packets, and we felt a little better. It just doesn't work. It deserved every ounce of praise it got. Fried potatoes with salt and ketchup makes for a tasty snack any day.
