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This Copycat KFC Bowl recipe is quick and easy to make at home but tastes like the fast food restaurant’s Famous Bowls. It’s a delicious dinner filled with your favorite flavors.
As described by Colonel Sanders himself: “Creamy mashed potatoes, sweet corn and bite-sized chunks of crispy chicken are layered together then drizzled with home-style gravy and topped with a perfect blend of three shredded cheeses.”
Why We Love This Copycat KFC Bowl Recipe
- Quick and easy to make.
- Only uses 5 simple ingredients.
- Picky-eater approved and delicious family-friendly dinner idea.
- A hearty bowl full of comfort food with that classic KFC taste.
- A homemade version of Kentucky Fried Chicken’s Famous Bowls, but better!
Ingredients
- Chicken nuggets or tenders
- Frozen corn: You can substitute canned corn if you wish. You will need 1 (15 ounce) can.
- Idahoan Buttery Homestyle Mashed Potatoes
- Heinz chicken gravy: You can use canned chicken gravy or prepare a package of gravy.
- Cheddar cheese
Substitutions and Additions
- Choose Your Chicken: Instead of chicken nuggets, you can use chicken strips, popcorn chicken, or breaded chicken cutlets cut into thin strips. You can even use baked or roasted chicken instead of nuggets. This will change the flavors a little bit since it won’t have the breading but it still tastes delicious.
- Pick Your Potatoes: You can substitute any instant mashed potatoes or even homemade mashed potatoes if preferred. You will need 4 cups of prepared potatoes.
- Change The Cheese: Feel free to use your favorite cheese in shredded form, like a mild cheddar, extra sharp, Monterey Jack, or a taco blend.
How to Make Copycat KFC Bowl
Copycat KFC Bowl is a hearty meal full of comfort food with the classic taste of take-out without ever having to leave your house. This easy-to-make recipe can be prepared in minutes and is a delicious dinner that brings the family together!
- Cook The Chicken: Cook the nuggets in an air fryer at 360 degrees Fahrenheit for 7-10 minutes or until crispy and cooked through (you can also cook in the oven or microwave, just follow the instruction on your chicken nugget package.)
- Pro Tip: It’s best to place and cook 10 nuggets in the basket at a time (depending on the size of your air fryer).
- Heat The Gravy: Heat the gravy over medium-low heat until bubbling, about 5-7 minutes, stirring often. Reduce the heat to low and cover.
- Cook The Corn: Steam the corn in the microwave and allow it to sit in the microwave when finished.
- Prepare The Potatoes: Prepare the mashed potatoes according to the package directions, cover and allow them to sit until you are ready to assemble the bowls.
- Assemble: Add mashed potatoes to the bottoms of each bowl, sprinkle with corn, gravy, shredded cheese, and top with 5 crispy nuggets.
- Serve: Serve hot and enjoy!
Tips
- I highly recommend preparing these bowls just before serving as they do not store well.
- Sprinkle on your favorite seasoning mixture for a bit of extra flavor. This can be especially helpful if you are using unseasoned mashed potatoes and chicken.
Storage Tips
- To Store: If you have leftovers that you want to keep for later you can cover them or place them in an airtight container and refrigerate them for up to 4 days.
- To Reheat: You can reheat the bowls in the microwave until the chicken reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit inside. The texture, especially of the nuggets, will change when reheated.
MORE Quick and easy Dinner Recipes
CopyCat KFC Bowl
Ingredients
- 20 chicken nuggets or tenders divided
- 12 ounce bag frozen corn divided
- 8 ounce bag Idahoan Buttery Homestyle Mashed Potatoes prepared and divided
- 18 ounce jar Heinz chicken gravy divided
- 1 cup cheddar cheese shredded and divided
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 360 degrees Fahrenheit and place 10 nuggets in the basket in a single layer.
- Cook the nuggets for 7-10 minutes or until crispy and cooked through.
- Remove the nuggets and place them on a plate. Place 10 more nuggets in the basket and cook as above.
- While the nuggets are cooking, place the gravy in a small saucepan and heat it over medium low heat until bubbling, about 5-7 minutes. Be sure to stir it often.
- Once the gravy is bubbling reduce the heat to low and cover.
- Steam the corn in the microwave as instructed on the package and allow it to sit in the microwave when finished.
- Prepare the mashed potatoes in a large mixing bowl according to the package directions and then cover them and allow them to sit until you are ready to prepare the bowls.
- To assemble your bowls, place 1 cup of mashed potatoes in the bottoms of each large bowl, sprinkle with ½ cup of cooked corn, ⅓ cup hot gravy, ¼ cup shredded cheese and top with 5 crispy nuggets.
- Serve hot.
Notes
- To Store: If you have leftovers that you want to keep for later you can cover them or place them in an airtight container and refrigerate them for up to 4 days.
- To Reheat: You can reheat the bowls in the microwave until the chicken reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit inside. The texture, especially of the nuggets, will change when reheated.
- I highly recommend preparing these bowls just before serving as they do not store well.
- Sprinkle on your favorite seasoning mixture for a bit of extra flavor. This can be especially helpful if you are using unseasoned mashed potatoes and chicken.