Those on the ketogenic diet know that it can be challenging to avoid carbohydrates and sugar when you eat a meal out, especially if that meal is at a fast food joint – like everyone’s favorite fried chicken chain: KFC.
But once you know which menu items to avoid and which will align better with your lifestyle or diet, be it keto, vegan, or gluten-free, enjoying the occasional indulgence or a quick meal on the go becomes a little easier. That’s where we come in.
If you’re pulling into the KFC drive-thru and looking to order something that won’t kick you out of ketosis, we’ve compiled everything on the current menu that qualifies as keto-friendly.

Keto-friendly food and drinks available on the KFC menu
You may be wondering how you can order anything keto-friendly at a place that specializes in fried chicken, which is notoriously breaded and deep-fried in processed oil. But assuming that you don’t eat every meal at KFC, it’s possible to indulge yourself once in a while and still stick to your general carb limit for the day.
There are obvious culprits to stay away from: biscuits, fries and mashed potatoes, mac & cheese, and desserts to name a few. Unfortunately most of KFC’s homestyle sides are too carb-heavy to be keto-friendly, and most keto-friendly menu options that the chain did offer at one point (like grilled chicken and green beans) are no longer available due to its newer, more simplified nationwide menu.
But because keto is more about counting carbs, and replacing them with fats and protein, rather than completely avoiding them – they can be okay in small doses. Which means that certain items at KFC can qualify as keto-friendly, as long as you consider what you’re pairing them with and what else you’re consuming that day.
The Kentucky Grilled Chicken will be the best option for those eating keto; however, unfortunately this menu item is extremely limited. While it was once available nationwide, it’s currently only found at certain select locations – so it depends if you live near a KFC that still offers grilled as a cooking style option.
For something to qualify as a low-carb option at KFC, we’ve included items that amount to under 15 grams of net carbs, considering most people need to stay somewhere under 50 grams of net carbs per day (for many, it’s much lower than that). All of that to say, yes – some of KFC’s fried chicken makes the list, because the total carbs in the amount of breading used is fairly low for smaller cuts of chicken like a wing or drumstick. However, keep in mind that these items are keto-friendly per piece, so you’ll need to order any fried chicken as individual add-ons or a la carte rather than as a meal.
Here’s the complete list of keto-friendly food and drinks at KFC.
Keto-Friendly Chicken | Keto-Friendly Ordering Options |
Kentucky Grilled Chicken* | 8-piece, 12-piece, or 16-piece chicken only |
Chicken Drum Add-On | Grilled*, Original Recipe, Extra Crispy |
Chicken Wing Add-On | Grilled*, Original Recipe, Extra Crispy |
Chicken Thigh Add-On | Grilled* |
Chicken Breast Add-On | Grilled* |
Keto-Friendly Sauces + Condiments | |
Colonel’s Buttery Spread | |
Hot Sauce | |
Ranch Dipping Sauce | |
Buffalo Ranch Dipping Sauce | |
Keto-Friendly Beverages | |
Diet Soda | |
Unsweetened Iced Tea |
KFC has simplified their national menu in recent years, and several menu items – like the Kentucky Grilled Chicken – are either no longer available or only available at select, limited locations. It may still be possible to order grilled chicken as a bucket or a la carte, but it will depend on your specific store location.
For KFC’s Original Recipe Fried Chicken, one fried chicken breast contains 11 total carbs and 9 grams of net carbs. One fried chicken thigh contains 8 total carbs and 7 grams of net carbs. One fried chicken drumstick contains 4 total carbs and 3 grams of net carbs. And lastly, one fried chicken wing contains 3 grams of total carbs and 3 grams of net carbs.
No, unfortunately none of KFC’s current homestyle sides are keto-friendly, as they all contain a moderate amount of either starch, flour, or sugar, which make their carb content too high. KFC used to offer a side of green beans which were considered keto-friendly, but they are no longer available on the menu.
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