Five KFC discontinued menu items you'll never see at again - and fans are floored
KFC fans have called out the fried chicken chain for getting rid of some beloved menu items this year.
Throughout KFC’s long run — all the way back 1939 when the original Kentucky Fried Chicken recipe was created — customers have found delicious fried chicken meals with decadent sides and desserts to add to their plates.
However, not everything good can last forever.
For unknown reasons, KFC has discontinued several of its most cherished menu items.
Here’s the full list of menu items you most likely won't be seeing at KFC.
1. POPCORN CHICKEN
Once upon a time, customers raced to KFC to try the chain's newest menu item: the delectable popcorn chicken.
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Originally introduced in the 1990s, the elevated chicken nugget concept made with premium white chicken breast, acted as a key differentiator from other chicken chains.
However, as of just this year, shoppers said goodbye to the beloved chicken item.
“Why? This is literally the best thing ever on the menu for those of us who hate bone in chicken,” a fan said at the time.
It’s unclear why the product disappeared after more than 20 years, but discontinued products often come down to low sales and reduced consumer demand.
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However, if you’re feeling especially desperate, KFC has given some customers hope, confirming that the popcorn chicken will likely be available at certain restaurants nationwide.
You can also order KFC’s Famous Bowl Combo, as it already comes prepared with popcorn chicken pieces.
A similar item is KFC’s Original Recipe chicken nuggets.
2. PICKLE FRIED CHICKEN
KFC might have learned a thing or two from Chick-fil-A when it unveiled its Pickle Fried Chicken.
The entree brought the pairing of chicken and pickles to the next level, using extra crispy chicken pieces with a thick, creamy sauce crafted from pickle juice, buttermilk, vinegar, garlic, onion and seasonings.
And of course, a few pickles were placed on top for good measure.
Unfortunately, not all shoppers may have loved the super strong sour flavor because KFC axed the item around a year after first launching it in 2018.
3. POTATO WEDGES
A cousin of the more popular potato variant, fries, KFC’s potato wedges side seemed like it would be the perfect hearty addition to your chicken meal.
Over the years, KFC has offered fries, mashed potatoes, coleslaw, corn and mac and cheese as its regular sides of choice.
However, back in the 1970s, the chain had some more unusual options for customers, including bean salad, chicken livers and chicken gizzards.
It’s unclear why exactly the potato wedges were eliminated from the menu.
Many shoppers are actually hoping to see the side make a return, saying it paired far better with KFC’s gravy than the current offering of fries ever could.
“Seriously. EVERY place has fries but there is a lack of wedge in the fast food industry,” one KFC fan complained on Reddit. “And they were seasoned perfectly so they didn't even need ketchup most of the time.
4. CHICKEN LITTLES
Chicken sliders were a beloved concept that fans are still shocked KFC revealed only to discard later on.
Known as Chicken Littles, these little guys made their run during the 1980s, offering a similar meal to the smaller White Castle Burgers with a chicken twist.
You could get one for 39 cents or three for $1, and the slider was usually gone in just one bite.
Fans were initially outraged when Chicken Littles disappeared from the menu lineup.
“I loved those chicken littles!” a fan said on Reddit. “Put mayonnaise on each one, gone in ~2 bites.”
Years later, in 2005, KFC brought back a small sandwich, the KFC Snacker.
However, it was significantly different from the prior Chicken Littles as it uses a different-sized sesame seed bun with a strip of Extra Crispy Chicken, lettuce and mayonnaise.
Technically, in 2012, KFC replaced the Snacker with the Chicken Little but it’s a far cry from the Chicken Littles of KFC’s past and mostly mirrors the chain’s prior Snacker creation.
5. NASHVILLE HOT CHICKEN
It’s surprising that KFC didn’t keep its Nashville Hot Chicken on menus after launching the iconic chicken entree in 2016.
The Nashville Hot Chicken was available in both boneless and on-the-bone varieties with additional biscuits and sides.
Perhaps the lack of success came down to the hot chicken meal being a bit too sweet with not enough spice for original fans of the Nashville hot chicken flavor.
A later rendition of the hot chicken came in 2019 when KFC started selling the Nashville Hot Chicken and Waffles, but both got the boot shortly after.
Fortunately for die-hard fans, KFC still sold its Nashville Hot Sauce in the years afterward.
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While KFC has gotten heat over the years for several discontinued items, fans are excited because the chicken chain is finally debuting a brand new meal that hopes to compete with McDonald’s and Chick-fil-A.
Plus, here are the top five discontinued fast food sides at Americans’ favorite chains.
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