KFC pot pies are a popular menu item at Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurants. They are a baked pastry pie filled with chunks of chicken, potatoes, peas, and carrots in a creamy sauce. KFC introduced pot pies to their menu in 2006 and they quickly became a customer favorite.
What are the ingredients in KFC pot pie?
KFC pot pies contain the following ingredients:
- Crust – The crust is a flaky, buttery pastry crust made with flour, butter, and shortening.
- Chicken – Chunks of white chicken meat.
- Potatoes – Diced potatoes.
- Carrots – Diced carrots.
- Peas – Green peas.
- Sauce – A creamy sauce made with milk, flour, chicken broth, and seasonings.
The full ingredients list as listed on the KFC website is as follows:
Chicken Stock, Potatoes, Carrots, Peas, Chicken, Wheat Flour, Butter, Shortening (Palm, Soybean, and/or Canola Oil, Mono and Diglycerides, Tocopherols TBHQ and Citric Acid [Antioxidants]), Modified Food Starch (Corn, Wheat, Rice, Pea), Chicken Fat, Salt, Leavening (Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Sodium Bicarbonate), Monosodium Glutamate, Hydrolyzed Corn Gluten, Sugar, Yeast Extract, Chicken Broth, Natural Flavors, Disodium Inosinate and Disodium Guanylate, Dextrose, Extractives of Turmeric and Extractives of Annatto.
Nutritional information
KFC pot pies are high in calories, fat, and sodium. The nutrition information for a KFC original recipe pot pie is:
| Nutrition Facts | Amount Per Pie |
|---|---|
| Calories | 760 |
| Total Fat | 49g |
| Saturated Fat | 19g |
| Trans Fat | 1.5g |
| Cholesterol | 125mg |
| Sodium | 1830mg |
| Total Carbohydrates | 57g |
| Dietary Fiber | 4g |
| Sugars | 4g |
| Protein | 28g |
As you can see, each pot pie contains 760 calories and has 49 grams of fat, 57 grams of carbohydrates, and 1830 mg of sodium. The high calorie, fat, and sodium content is typical for the fried foods that KFC is known for.
How are KFC pot pies prepared?
KFC pot pies arrive at restaurants frozen and pre-assembled. Employees bake the frozen pot pies in an oven for 15-20 minutes until the crust is golden brown and the filling is hot and bubbling. Baking the pies enables the flaky crust to turn out perfectly crispy.
Each KFC restaurant bakes pot pies to order throughout the day to serve fresh pies to customers. During busy times, employees may bake pot pies in batches to keep up with demand.
History of KFC pot pies
In 2006, KFC decided to add pot pies to their menu to compete with other fast food chains offering the convenient snack/meal option. Pot pies were a popular comfort food and KFC wanted a piece of the market. The KFC marketing team partnered with a pot pie maker to develop a version suited to KFC’s products and customers.
After testing different fillings and crusts, KFC landed on a classic chicken pot pie recipe using their signature fried chicken. The KFC pot pie filling used diced white meat chicken, green peas, carrots, potatoes, and a creamy sauce. The crust was flaky and buttery.
KFC pot pies were rolled out nationally in the United States in January 2006 after successful test marketing. They were an immediate hit and became a permanent menu fixture due to popularity. KFC has since expanded pot pie flavors over the years to include chicken pot pie, beef pot pie, and plant-based pot pie options.
KFC pot pie varieties
Over the years, KFC has offered several varieties and limited-time flavors of pot pie including:
- Chicken pot pie – The original and classic version with chicken, peas, carrots, potatoes, and sauce.
- Beef pot pie – Introduced in 2020, filled with shredded beef, potatoes, carrots, peas, and gravy.
- Imposter vegan chicken pot pie – A plant-based version with soy “chicken”, peas, carrots, and sauce. Launched in 2021.
- Georgian cheese-filled chicken pot pie – Tested in 2020, had an extra layer of cheese baked inside the crust.
- Minnesota chicken pot pie – Minnesota locations only, with chicken, wild rice, peas, corn, and carrots. Limited time offer.
The traditional chicken pot pie and newer beef pot pie are now permanent menu items. Special regional and limited-edition varieties pop up occasionally.
KFC pot pie sizes
KFC currently offers pot pies in just one size – a standard individual pie. The pies weigh approximately 8 ounces and are intended as a single-serve meal. KFC previously sold larger “pot pie platters” meant for sharing in 2008-2009 but no longer offers family-size pot pie options.
How to order KFC pot pie
You can order a KFC pot pie by visiting any KFC location (availability limited outside the U.S.). Pot pies can be purchased á la carte or as part of a meal combo.
To order a pot pie á la carte, simply request a:
- Chicken Pot Pie
- Beef Pot Pie
KFC meal combos featuring a pot pie include:
- Pot Pie Meal – Pot pie, 1 side, biscuit, medium drink
- Pot Pie Meal Bowl – Pot pie, mashed potatoes/gravy, corn, biscuit, medium drink
- Pot Pie Box – Pot pie, 2 sides, biscuits, medium drink
Sides may include mashed potatoes, mac & cheese, coleslaw, or others. KFC’s menu and combos vary by location.
KFC pot pie reviews
KFC pot pies are generally well reviewed for their convenience, comfort food appeal, and reasonable price point. Some pros and cons based on customer feedback include:
Pros
- Flaky, crispy crust
- Savory, creamy filling packed with chicken, veggies, and sauce
- Portable meal that’s quick to order and eat
- Nostalgic and comforting
- Affordable at around $3-5 per pie
Cons
- High in calories, fat, salt due to fried chicken, buttery crust, and creamy sauce
- Can taste processed and artificial
- Smaller portion size than some expect
- Inconsistent quality between locations
- Filling can be too sparse on chicken and veggies
Overall, KFC pot pies offer a dependable fast food option that satisfies cravings for comfort food. Customers appreciate the convenience, while nutrition should be considered due to the high fat and sodium content.
Nutrition comparison to other pot pies
Compared to other popular pot pie brands, KFC’s pot pie is higher in calories, fat, and sodium due to being fried.
| Pot Pie Brand (Chicken) | Calories | Total Fat | Sodium |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFC Chicken Pot Pie | 760 | 49g | 1830mg |
| Banquet Chicken Pot Pie | 320 | 13g | 730mg |
| Marie Callender’s Chicken Pot Pie | 450 | 26g | 930mg |
| Amy’s Organic Chicken Pot Pie | 480 | 22g | 980mg |
KFC’s fried chicken and buttery crust contributes to it having 2-3 times more fat and sodium compared to frozen pot pie brands. However, some find it worth the indulgence in moderation.
Is KFC discontinuing pot pies?
As of October 2023, KFC has not announced any plans to discontinue pot pies and they remain available nationwide. However, some locations may stop selling them based on low demand.
KFC frequently rotates limited-time menu options which may temporarily replace pot pies at some restaurants. But the classic chicken pot pie and newer beef pot pie are core menu items that KFC expects to keep.
If KFC were to ever remove pot pies from their menu, it would likely spark customer backlash, similar to when other beloved items like the Double Down sandwich were discontinued. For now, pot pie fans can continue to enjoy this KFC staple.
Conclusion
KFC pot pies offer a convenient individual-sized meal with the classic comfort flavors of chicken pot pie made using the Colonel’s famous fried chicken. They have been a customer-approved menu item at KFC since 2006.
While tasty and affordable, the high fat and sodium content should be considered when enjoying KFC’s pot pies. Overall, they provide a dependable option for those craving warm, savory pot pie on the go.
KFC continues to innovate and expand their pot pie selection, especially with new fillings and crusts. Fans can look forward to even more variety in the future of this beloved menu item.