10 Things Most People Don't Know About KFC Mashed Potatoes

KFC has a long history of serving up perfectly crisp fried chicken, made with its super secret 11 spice blend, and all the fixings for a filling comfort meal. It's not all about the bucket of fried chicken, though. While KFC patrons might head there for the famous bird cooked to a golden brown with an unparalleled crunch factor, don't count out the array of side dishes just yet. They've gained significant followings and become stars in their own right. There isn't a single side that doesn't pair well with KFC's main menu items, and everyone has their favorite.

There are potato wedges, corn, green beans, mac and cheese, those flaky, craveable biscuits, and a few other options to choose from. This year, KFC is even bringing cheese curds to the table to shake things up. Arguably, the most popular side on the KFC roster is the mashed potatoes. Some might even say they are paramount to the integrity of the KFC menu. They certainly have a long-standing history, as one of the original sides on the earliest KFC menu created by Colonel Harland Sanders. 

That's not the only fun fact about the OG mashed potatoes (and gravy). There's an entire virtual rabbit hole filled with tidbits about KFC's mashed potatoes that many people don't know. Get ready for an abridged KFC mashed potato masterclass while you learn 10 things most people don't know about the famous spuds.

In case you assumed KFC's mashies were made by peeling, cooking, and hand-churning potatoes to create that signature texture, you are incorrect. Not a single fresh potato is used in creating the impossibly smooth (sans a rogue lump or two) texture. Not to burst your bubble, but they are actually made with dried potato flakes like you would find in a standard box of instant mashed potatoes on grocery store shelves. It's not that they aren't real potatoes. The flakes are derived from dehydrating actual cooked mashed potatoes, and then additives are involved in keeping them tasting fresh. Despite the lack of whole potatoes, KFC's mashed potatoes were part of frequent orders for Michael Jackson, the King of Pop.

It's not all bad news, though, because you have the potato flakes to thank for the silky consistency. A viral TikTok video giving a peek behind the curtain revealed KFC's mashed potato recipe, which involves a few quarts of hot water and a package of "KFC One Step Potato Mix." Once the water and potato flakes are combined, the only step to complete the side is to stir until the mixture thickens. KFC is not a fine dining establishment, so perhaps customers learning the lore of the potatoes should be less shocked to learn the truth about the recipe. While homemade mashed potatoes, lumps and all, can be delicious, there is something to be said for KFC's far-from-homemade version.

As much as KFC's mashed potatoes have amassed a loyal following over the years, there's one person who made it crystal clear that he was not a fan. Colonel Sanders, the very man behind the acclaimed chicken chain, had nothing nice to say about the velvety spuds. He wasn't shy about his utter disdain either. KFC's mastermind is even on record comparing the mashed potatoes to wallpaper paste. It didn't get better in his eyes once the gravy was poured on top. That's what he called sludge.

The Colonel with the famous head of white hair was super serious about his chicken business and was a perfectionist with very high standards. Years were spent perfecting his original chicken recipe, and he was a fan of the KFC gravy he made to accompany the potatoes. He was proud of it and preferred it to the newer recipe put in place as the chain evolved past its humble beginnings. Unfortunately, while his gravy recipe was important to him, it was just too expensive and complicated to scale across growing numbers of KFC locations. Ultimately the math wasn't mathing and it did not make financial or logistical sense for the fast food chain to use his original method.

If you are counting calories and attempting to make healthy-ish choices among a sea of fast food side dishes at KFC, mashed potatoes are not the worst option. Without the gravy, a serving contains 110 calories and 3.5 grams of fat. If you opt for the whole shebang with the gravy hated by the Colonel, it's a modest jump to 130 calories and 4.5 grams of fat. Just for comparison, a serving of KFC's coleslaw comes in at 170 calories and 12 grams of fat. If you are a calorie counter you might want to skip this next part. The secret recipe fries are a whopping 320 calories with 15 grams of fat.

It's not green juice, but the KFC mashed potatoes with or without gravy are not the unhealthiest side dish option. Can we expect fast food chains to offer healthy food? Probably not. For those who need their fast food fix but want to choose wisely, the mashed potatoes provide a hearty, satisfying option. Of course you could stick with the KFC green beans, although they have a reputation for being lackluster and mushy. You're already there so you may as well go all in — you could do a lot worse from a nutrition perspective.

The popular mashed potatoes may have a long history, but not in every KFC across the globe. While many spud lovers have been enjoying the longstanding KFC tradition of adding mashed potatoes and gravy to their meals, some locations do not offer them on the menu. All you have to do is take a quick virtual trip through some Reddit threads to find KFC customers in various locations comparing notes about the availability of mashed potatoes. Some claim they are discontinued, while others believe they must have run out when they visited. Regardless, there are KFC fans in different regions practically putting out an APB on the renowned taters.

In Canada, for example, mashed potatoes seem to be a no-go. Instead, KFC offers sides such as coleslaw, onion rings, and macaroni salad, but there's not a single bite of mashed potatoes to be found. KFC fans in the U.K. did not get their hands on the fan favorite until 2019. The love runs so deep in the U.K. that many families load up on KFC gravy to serve at their Christmas dinners. As a matter of fact, it's so beloved there that many U.K. customers prefer their mashed potatoes without the gravy, because they'd rather order it separately in large quantities.

If you are wondering what gives KFC mashed potatoes and gravy their signature flavor, it's the monosodium glutamate, or MSG. Don't quit KFC because of it, though, because there are a lot of misconceptions around MSG. Before you view this ingredient as a deal-breaker and swear off the mashed potatoes and gravy, there are a few things to know. MSG actually appears naturally in many foods you likely already consume, such as cheese, tomatoes, different yeasts, and proteins. According to the FDA, MSG is the sodium salt in glutamic acid, an amino acid found in food, additives, and our bodies. It has a similar development to yogurt, using fermentation of ingredients such as sugar, starch, and others. 

While it's gotten a bad rap over the years, the FDA does not deem it dangerous or warn people to avoid it. MSG is found in a number of foods as a flavor enhancer, and it's often the source of savoriness that keeps you coming back for more. Based on the KFC community's fondness for the tasty mashed potato topping, that notion tracks. The FDA's rule of thumb with MSG is that it must be included in the ingredient list in the name of full disclosure. If you just can't get the KFC gravy off your brain, don't let the MSG stop you from satisfying your craving.

Before we move on from the gravy train, there's another tidbit you may not know about KFC's recipe. If you maintain a vegetarian diet and are in the mood for fast food, you'll want to skip the gravy altogether because it does contain meat. In the U.K. specifically, where the gravy is revered as a Christmas staple, KFC takes pride in its preparation. Step one to creating the savory potato dressing is to scour the fryers for crackling, which are all the flavorful chicken bits, scraps, and drippings floating around waiting for their moment. That's the good stuff right there, but obviously it creates a roadblock for the vegetarians in the crowd.

Next comes the secret ingredient. The crackling is combined with water and the contents of a nondescript foil bag. Some suspect the mystery  bag is some version of flour and stock to serve as a thickening agent for the gravy. Regardless of the elusive ingredient that makes the gravy what it is, KFC customers can't get enough of it. Unfortunately, the vegetarians will have to sit this one out and go gravy-less if they want to indulge in something from the KFC menu.

What some countries may lack in availability of the KFC traditional mashed potatoes, they make up for with ingenuity in other side dishes. Some are so unique they don't even look remotely similar to something you would see in a typical U.S. KFC location. For example, in Japan, you may not get traditional mashed potatoes and gravy, but you can get a bacon potato fritter that's exactly what it sounds like. Imagine the signature mashed potatoes loaded with sour cream, bacon, and spices all fried up into a tasty fritter with a crispy golden shell. Japan locations also offer potato croquettes with a similar flavor profile that are panko breaded instead of battered.

KFC locations in Australia offer up little fried morsels of mashed potatoes. Once you get through the crunch on the outside, your taste buds are delighted with a center of creamy mash — and of course, they come with a side of gravy to dip to your heart's desire. The fried bites gained such popularity in Australia that word made it to the U.S. and we wanted in. The new Dunk it Bucket was rolled out last year on U.S. menus and features the bite-sized potato poppers, which include the original seasoning recipe KFC is built on.

For many KFC fanatics, the mashed potatoes are more than just a side dish. They can also be the very foundation of some menu standouts and deliver main character energy. The potato poppers inspired by Australia's mashies are not the only reimagined version of mashed potatoes on the KFC menu. Don't forget that before the Dunk it Bucket hit the scene, there were the KFC bowls, which are still going strong today. Take a generous layer of the celebrated mashed potatoes and add crispy chicken nuggets, corn, cheese, then smother it all in the gravy. The original KFC bowl is legendary among devoted customers. So much so that it spurred a slew of variations including Nashville hot and mac and cheese options.

If you are a spice seeker, don't worry because there are spicier versions of the KFC bowls just for you. Still need more of that potato goodness? The new kid on the KFC block is the Smash'd Potato Bowl. With this creation, not only do you get the iconic mashed potato layer on which the bowls are built, but you also get a heaping order of secret recipe fries, cheese, and bacon. If you really want to make it a meal, you can also top the whole masterpiece with crispy KFC nuggets, because protein.

Every fast food chain has its dipping traditions, some more widely practiced than others. We're not just talking about the bevy of traditional dipping sauces each chain has to offer. Anyone can use ketchup or barbecue sauce. Some of the real ones, however, like to think outside of the dipping box. Wendy's diners have been known to dip their golden fries in the beloved sweet and chocolatey Frosty. At McDonald's it's not uncommon to drag a hot, crispy french fry through the swirly vanilla ice cream cone or milkshake. KFC has its own customer approved dipping hacks. Gravy might be an obvious choice to add a layer of yum to anything on the KFC menu, but customers are inventive and have a soft spot for the mashed potatoes.

In fact, KFC diners have been spotted in the wild unapologetically dipping their finger lickin' drumsticks right into the mashed potatoes themselves. The idea may seem revolutionary to some KFC aficionados, but other loyalists have apparently been dipping for years. They don't stop at chicken either, and have no shame in submerging any of the Colonel's fare, from fries and beyond, into a piping hot cup of mashed potatoes. If you really want to level up your dipping game, drench the potatoes in the gravy first. Then, take your chicken (or whatever floats your gravy boat) and go deep to hit a textural wonderland with all the right KFC flavor highlights.

When it comes to KFC side dish staples, there is no question that the mashed potatoes are a quintessential item. Before Sanders had a full-blown restaurant, he served mashed potatoes and country ham from his own dining table in his filling station's storage area. Word of mouth brought travelers from near and far to enjoy the feast. They then earned a spot on the original KFC menu created by the Colonel himself. Even before the cookie cutter KFC restaurants began popping up everywhere, Colonel Harland Sanders set up shop in a roadside motel, where he perfected his Original Recipe with the proprietary 11 herbs and spices. 

In that motel, mashed potatoes were one of the first sides. It's easy to see why the Colonel was considered a visionary, and there is still a museum displaying KFC's culinary history in the town where it all started: Corbin, Kentucky. An American fast food icon, the mashed potatoes have stood the test of time for a reason, and it doesn't look like their popularity has ever wavered. Whether that's true or not, one thing is certain: While KFC continues to innovate its menu with new additions all the time, there are some things that are just tried and true. KFC's mashed potatoes are one of the OG side items and a pillar of the Southern food comfort menu first imagined by the Colonel.