With over 25,000 restaurants across the globe, KFC is famous for its fried chicken. Its extensive menu includes original recipe chicken, Kentucky fried wings, chicken sandwiches, and much more.
Recently, KFC has made attempts to offer healthier food to its clientele. If you’re uncertain whether KFC has grilled chicken, read on to find out!
Key Takeaways
Does KFC Have Grilled Chicken In 2022?
KFC does have grilled chicken, and there are many options for you to choose from as of 2022. The company introduced a new line of grilled chicken as an alternative to its extra crispy fried chicken because the grilled products have fewer calories, less salt, and less fat.
In this post, I’ll share everything you need to know about KFC’s grilled chicken, if it’s healthy, when KFC first started selling grilled chicken, and more!
Is KFC Grilled Chicken Healthy?
According to Fast Food Nutrition, grilled chicken is an excellent source of quality proteins, as well as being low in calories and low in fats.
As such, if you’re watching your weight, KFC’s grilled chicken is one of the healthiest dishes at the restaurant.
For example, anyone looking for healthy ways to reduce caloric intake can opt for KFC’s grilled chicken wings which contain 70 calories, 1g of saturated fat, 3 grams fat, and 180 mg sodium.
Another healthy option is the Kentucky grilled chicken breast with about 210 calories, 2g of saturated fat, 130 mg of cholesterol, 7 g of fat, and 170 mg of sodium.
Is KFC Grilled Chicken Keto-Friendly?
Kentucky grilled chicken is the healthiest option at the fast-food chain if you follow a ketogenic diet.
With that, grilled chicken is the healthiest option because it has fewer carbs compared to Colonel’s crispy fried chicken.
However, it’s vital for anyone who follows a strict ketogenic diet to think about portion control.
How Is KFC Grilled Chicken Prepared?
KFC makes its grilled chicken using dry brine, and the procedure is pretty simple, including the following steps:
- Soaking: The brine mixture takes about two hours to soak into the chicken.
- Coating: The chicken is coated with breadcrumbs and an all-purpose spice blend.
- Seasoning: The chicken is seasoned with KFC’s 11 herbs & spices, including paprika onion powder, salt, and black pepper.
- Cooking: The grilled chicken is then cooked on ribbed metal plates, which gives it the grill marks.
How Much Does KFC Grilled Chicken Cost?
The price of KFC grilled chicken varies from one restaurant to another, depending on pricing guidelines.
However, you can buy KFC’s grilled chicken for as low as $3.99 to as much as $24.99 per piece.
In some cases, additional items such as fries or a side dish will increase the price of the grilled chicken.
Also, it’s possible to buy a three-piece meal offer, including a box of fries, a medium drink, and a small salad.
Additionally, you can buy the basic KFC Grilled Chicken in quantities of six, nine, 12, 15, or 18 pieces.
In 1993, KFC introduced grilled chicken into some of its restaurants. Initially, it was just an experiment, but now KFC offers grilled chicken in all its restaurants.
In 2009, KFC came under attack for its chicken after a doctors group filed a lawsuit against them, saying its grilled chicken had a cancer-causing chemical.
However, the company denied the allegations.
Does KFC Have A Grilled Chicken Sandwich?
Currently, KFC doesn’t offer grilled chicken sandwiches on its menu. However, it has introduced one of the best chicken sandwiches that serve as a replacement for the Crispy Colonel.
The new sandwich is double-breaded, has an extra-crispy chicken breast filet, pickles, and an option of spicy sauce or Colonel’s mayo on a brioche bun.
What Nutrients Does KFC’s Grilled Chicken Have?
While KFC grilled chicken is one of America’s most popular fast-food items, very few people know its nutrients. Here are some of the nutrients:
Fat
The amount of fat in KFC’s grilled chicken depends on the type of chicken ordered, with the thigh fillets containing more fat than the breast fillets.
Typically, grilled chicken contains low fat compared to crispy chicken. For instance, a grilled chicken breast contains about 8 grams of fat, while extra crispy chicken breast contains 33 grams.
Calories
The number of calories in KFC grilled chicken vary per piece, depending on the size.
The amount of calories in grilled chicken is less than half the calories in crispy chicken, and one grilled chicken breast provides up to 210 calories.
Saturated fat
The amount of saturated fat found in a serving of KFC grilled chicken is 2.5 grams, which is less than the saturated fat in its crispy chicken.
The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends a total intake of fewer than 16 grams of saturated fat. Since grilled chicken has less saturated fat, it’s not too terrible for your heart health.
Cholesterol
There are 105 milligrams of cholesterol in each serving of grilled chicken.
Before buying KFC grilled chicken, note the amount is somewhat higher than the recommended daily cholesterol intake.
Sodium
KFC grilled chicken breasts have about 460 milligrams of sodium, nearly half the recommended daily intake.
While it’s important to consider your health, there’s not much sodium in KFC grilled chicken compared to other fast-food items.
Proteins
An individual’s protein intake is an essential aspect of overall health, and KFC grilled chicken has quality protein.
USDA recommends a daily intake of 0.8 grams of protein per every 2.2 pounds of body weight, and a grilled chicken breast provides about 34 grams of protein.
To know more about what KFC offers, you can also see our posts on whether or not KFC chips are vegan, if KFC takes Apple Pay, and if KFC takes EBT.
Conclusion
KFC does offer grilled chicken, and this type of chicken has fewer calories and less fat. Generally, grilled chicken is a healthier alternative to KFC’s fried chicken.
If you are looking to maintain a steady weight, grilled chicken can be the healthiest option for you. Therefore, you can always enjoy tasty grilled chicken without undoing your entire healthy lifestyle.
However, it’s advisable to eat grilled chicken in small portions and pair it with green beans or a salad with buttermilk dressing.