Restaurant roast · 88% slop

What should you order at KFC Original Fried Chicken? Plain pieces only

The Colonel's pressure-fried icon still pulls nostalgia crowds but modern oil swaps turned it into seed-oil central.

July 25, 2026 About KFC Original Fried Chicken

fried chicken photo — Representative photo · Photo: Wikimedia Commons

Original recipe died the day they swapped tallow for soybean and canola.

The Take

Order plain Original Recipe chicken pieces only. Everything else at KFC Original Fried Chicken is 88% slop built on soybean and canola fryers plus ultra-processed breading.

Nostalgia buyers chase the 1940s taste but get heavy marketing with zero sourcing transparency and sides loaded with more seed oils and HFCS.

The Verdict

Stick to Original Recipe chicken pieces and nothing else. The based order avoids the fryer sludge that defines the rest of the menu.

Skip fries, mashed potatoes with gravy, biscuits, and every combo meal. Slop Score: 88.

Common Questions

Is KFC Original Fried Chicken healthy?

No. Seed oil frying and ultra-processed breading deliver the 88% slop score.

Does KFC Original Fried Chicken use seed oils?

Yes. Primary medium is a soybean and canola blend in most US locations.

What oil does KFC use for frying chicken?

Soybean and canola blends dominate US fryers. The 1940s recipe used different fats.

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