Our Guide To Vegan Options At KFC

The vegan options at KFC were, at one point, great. Unfortunately, as of early 2023, the popular Beyond Fried Chicken was officially taken off the menu. 

This was a sad moment for many vegans, as this delicious animal-free option had only been available since 2022. So, why the limited time?

Potentially it could have been to do with demand, or perhaps they want to keep the menu fresh. Whatever the reason, many vegans have shown their dismay at the situation on social media.

So, with Beyond Fried Chicken off the menu, what are the vegan options at KFC?

That’s what we’re going to be getting into today.

What Vegan Options Should You Order At KFC?

As a place that is known for its chicken, you might think that it is impossible to order vegan-friendly food. However, there are options. 

Do keep in mind that things can change, so always check at your local KFC to ensure that the ingredients are still suitable for vegans. 

KFC Sides

Here are the vegan-friendly sides available at KFC:

• Corn on the cob

• Sweet kernel corn

• Green beans (contains MSG)

• Secret Recipe Fries (contains MSG)*

• BBQ baked beans**

*The Secret Recipe Fries could potentially be made in the same fryer as food that contains meat. For this reason, you may want to avoid eating the fries. This all depends on your own comfort level when it comes to cross-contamination of foods. It also has not been confirmed yet, so do ask at your local KFC.

**The BBQ baked beans include natural flavorings and colors that have not been confirmed whether they are from a plant source or an animal source. 

KFC Salads

There is only one option when it comes to a salad at KFC. Here is what you should order if you are wanting to eat a salad suitable for a vegan:

• KFC House Side Salad. Make sure to order it without the croutons. Order with the Marzetti Light Italian Dressing. It will also feature juicy tomatoes and crunchy lettuce.

KFC Condiments And Dipping Sauces

There are a few condiments and sauces you can eat at KFC. These are the:

• Ketchup

• Lemon juice packet

• Strawberry jam packet

• Grape jelly packet

Avoid ordering KFC sauce, honey mustard, honey BBQ, or ranch. These are definitely not vegan. 

The hot sauce might be vegan, but this has not been confirmed. If you want to eat the hot sauce with your KFC meal, then ask your local establishment to find out whether the hot sauce is suitable for vegans or not. 

KFC Desserts

Unfortunately, there is only one dessert suitable for vegans. However, this option still may not be suitable for all vegans. The dessert is:

• Apple turnover – does contain palm oil.

This is because it includes the controversial ‘palm oil’ ingredient. While palm oil does not include any animal ingredients per se, cultivating it does destroy animal life. This is because getting palm oil ruins the habitat of wild animals.

In doing so, it means that animals have no prey to catch, their habitat is unlivable, and eventually they will die out.

It depends on your own comfort level as a vegan as to whether you are okay with consuming palm oil. 

KFC Kids Meal

The KFC Kids Meal includes Muselman’s Applesauce. This is vegan-friendly!

Final Thoughts

KFC does not have a lot of choices when it comes to vegan food. When they did have vegan favorites, they were only there for a limited time.

While annoying, it could mean that they might have more vegan delights available in the future. Let’s hope that this could mean a meatless vegan burger or more dessert options. 

Even so, you can enjoy the KFC House Side Salad or the Secret Recipe Fries. 

Frequently Asked Questions