A year ago, when KFC locations in the UK started testing a vegetarian fried chicken, KFC's USA branch told Foodbeast that there were "no plans related to the UK’s test at this time." Since then, though, they've come up with their own version of plant-based fried chicken, thanks to a partnership between the Colonel and Beyond Meat.
Photo courtesy of KFC
Starting on August 27th, KFC's plant-based take on their signature fried chicken will officially release into the US. The fried chicken empire has chosen to start with two different Beyond Fried Chicken options. You can order nuggets with a choice of dipping sauce or boneless wings tossed in either Nashville Hot, Honey BBQ, or Buffalo sauce.
Despite this being the first-ever debut of a Beyond Meat fried chicken, they're still pretty accessible in terms of cost. You can try the new option for as little as $1.99 for a 4-nugget option. There's also combo meals featuring 6 or 12 nuggets for $6.49 or $8.49, respectively. As for the wings, they're available as a half dozen for $6 or a full dozen for $12.
Photo: John Amis/AP Images, Courtesy of Beyond Meat
Beyond Meat's partnership comes as a surprise, as they've been mainly focusing on the launch of Beyond Meat 2.0 in both major fast food chains and grocery stores. Plant-based chicken, of course, is nothing new to grocery stores, but this is definitely a first for the big names in fast food.
KFC's test of this new meat-free option will only be available at one location only for now. Folks in Atlanta, Georgia, will have it for a limited time starting on the 27th at the following KFC location:
2637 Cobb Pkwy South East, Smyrna, Ga.
On the 27th, complimentary samples of the plant-based fried chicken will be given out between 10:30 am and 6:30 pm local time, while supplies last. Feedback from this test will be used to determine whether the Beyond nuggets and boneless wings will get a bigger test or nationwide debut. A dedicated fryer is at the test location to prevent cross-contamination.
UPDATE: KFC's sole Atlanta location has already sold out of Beyond Fried Chicken in just 5 hours. KFC is in the process now of evaluating feedback to determine whether the plant-based poultry will get a larger taste or nationwide debut in the near future.
