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Copycat KFC Bowl recipe made at home in about 25 minutes! Layers of mashed potatoes, crispy chicken, corn, gravy, and cheese make this the ultimate comfort food bowl.
If you’ve been to KFC or seen their commercials, you’ve probably drooled over the famous KFC Bowl. It piles all their best staples into one dish for a fast, no-fuss dinner the whole family fights over.
The good news? You only need five ingredients to recreate it at home, and it comes together in about 25 minutes. I’ll also show you my favorite homemade swaps for the mashed potatoes, chicken, and gravy if you want to make it a little more from-scratch and a little better for you.
Erin’s Notes
- Busy weeknight hero. This uses store-bought shortcuts to assemble a full meal the kids will love in about 25 minutes.
- Everything is hot and ready at the same time. By the time the chicken finishes cooking, the potatoes, corn, and gravy are ready and waiting.
- Fully customizable. There’s a homemade version of almost every component, so you can make it as scratch-cooked or as quick as you want.
What Is A KFC Bowl
You can see all the layers right in the photos, but according to KFC itself, it’s creamy mashed potatoes, sweet corn, and bite-sized pieces of crispy chicken, layered together, drizzled with home-style gravy, and topped with a blend of shredded cheeses.
Ingredient Notes
- Chicken: Any crispy chicken works here — nuggets, popcorn chicken, or chicken tenders cut into pieces. Frozen and pre-cooked keeps things fast; my homemade Boneless Chicken Wings or Air Fryer Chicken Tenders work great if you want a homemade version.
- Mashed potatoes: Store-bought refrigerated mashed potatoes save the most time. For homemade, my Crockpot, Instant Pot, or Sous Vide mashed potatoes all work well here.
- Corn: Canned corn, drained and warmed, is the easiest route. Thawed frozen corn works too.
- Gravy: Use store-bought (a packet or jarred chicken gravy) or my homemade gravy recipe for a fresher flavor.
- Cheese: Shredded cheddar is the classic pick, but any melty shredded cheese you have on hand will work.
Copycat KFC Bowl
Ingredients
- 24 crispy chicken nuggets
- 3 cups prepared mashed potatoes
- 1 15 oz can corn, drained
- 1 cup gravy
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Prepare chicken nuggets according to the package directions.24 crispy chicken nuggets
- Warm the corn on the stovetop or steam in the microwave.1 15 oz can corn, drained
- Once everything is hot prepare your bowls, by dividing the mashed potatoes evenly among 4 bowls.3 cups prepared mashed potatoes
- Top each bowl with 6 chicken nuggets and 1/4 cup of corn. Pour gravy over the top and sprinkle with cheese.1 cup gravy, 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- Best served immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How To Make Copycat KFC Bowls
- Prepare the chicken nuggets according to the package directions (or use a homemade version).
- Warm the drained corn on the stovetop or in the microwave.
- Once everything is hot, divide the mashed potatoes evenly among 4 bowls.
- Top each bowl with chicken nuggets and corn, then pour gravy over the top and sprinkle with shredded cheese.
That’s it! If you’re using pre-made products, this is really more of an assembly job than actual cooking.
Recipe Tips & Suggestions
- Get creative with the potatoes – Homemade Cheesy Mashed Potatoes instead of just plain to add more flavor.
- Any chicken works. Nuggets, tenders, rotisserie, or grilled chicken are all fair game — it doesn’t have to be fried.
- Assemble right before serving. These bowls don’t hold well as leftovers already assembled, so if you have extra, store each component separately and reheat individually.
Storage & Reheating
Because this dish is meant to be layered and served right away, it’s best to store leftovers as separate components rather than as an assembled bowl — the potatoes and gravy will make the chicken soggy if they sit together.
- Mashed potatoes: Store in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. Reheat in the microwave, stirring in a splash of milk to loosen them back up.
- Chicken: Store separately in the fridge for 3-4 days. Reheat in the oven or air fryer to keep it crispy — the microwave will make it soft.
- Gravy and corn: Store separately in the fridge for 3-4 days and reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave.
Once reheated, layer everything back together and serve right away.
Yes! Cook each component as directed, then layer everything in a casserole dish instead of individual bowls. Bake at 350°F for about 10 minutes, just until the cheese melts, then serve.
That is kind of the beauty, you have everything in one bowl, so you don’t need a side dish. But a Tossed Salad would be a good way to round out the meal.
You can make the mashed potatoes and gravy a day ahead and reheat them before serving, but the chicken is best cooked fresh, or reheated in the oven or air fryer, so it stays crispy.
That looks absolutely amazing. I order the KFC bowl every time we go to KFC, so this is perfect for me.
I’ve never tried these but keep seeing the commercials on tv. Can’t wait to try the homemade version
My family is gonna LOVE this!! I am so excited to try it! Thanks for sharing!
This bowl looks irresistible!So glad to make it at home!