KFC Calories: Official Numbers for Chicken, Sides, and Sandwiches
A KFC order runs from a 70-calorie grilled wing to a 1,760-calorie Big Box. Official calories and protein for every piece and side, the grilled-versus-crispy math, real meal breakdowns, and an FAQ.
An Original Recipe chicken breast at KFC is 390 calories with 39g of protein, the Extra Crispy version of the same piece is 530 with 35g, and if Kentucky Grilled Chicken is available at your location it is 210 with 38g. That is the whole story of eating at KFC in three numbers: the chicken is genuinely protein-dense, and the breading is where 140 to 320 calories per piece come from. A full order ranges from about 235 calories for a grilled breast with green beans to 1,760 for a Wings and Sandwich Big Box. Everything below is from KFC's own nutrition guide, with the sourcing caveats stated plainly, because KFC's data has more gaps and internal contradictions than most chains we have documented.
A note on KFC's published data
KFC's own menu pages publish calories only. Its full nutrition guide at kfc.com, which is where the protein, fat, carb, and sodium figures come from, is delivered through an embedded nutrition provider rather than served directly by KFC. The data in it is KFC's, the page is KFC's, and it carries KFC's disclaimer and a stamp reading "Interactive Nutrition Menu Last Updated: 09/15/2026." That is the most authoritative source KFC offers, and it is what we use here. KFC publishes no downloadable nutrition PDF for the US.
Three specific gaps you should know about, all KFC's own:
- Multi-piece items publish calories only. Buckets, multi-count tenders, and multi-count nuggets have no published protein, fat, or carbs.
- KFC's own figures do not always agree. Its guide lists the KFC Snacker at 350 calories while its menu page lists 370. Its 16-piece tenders figure of 6,240 to 6,960 calories is not consistent with its 8-piece and 12-piece figures. We report these as published rather than correcting them.
- Some items appear in the guide but cannot be ordered online, including Kentucky Grilled Chicken, green beans, corn on the cob, and BBQ baked beans. Availability may be regional, so check your location.
Official numbers: chicken by piece
| Piece | Calories | Protein | Fat | Sodium |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky Grilled Chicken Breast | 210 | 38g | 7g | 710mg |
| Kentucky Grilled Chicken Thigh | 150 | 17g | 9g | 420mg |
| Kentucky Grilled Chicken Drumstick | 80 | 11g | 4g | 220mg |
| Kentucky Grilled Chicken Whole Wing | 70 | 9g | 3g | 180mg |
| Original Recipe Breast | 390 | 39g | 21g | 1,190mg |
| Original Recipe Thigh | 280 | 19g | 19g | 910mg |
| Original Recipe Drumstick | 130 | 12g | 8g | 430mg |
| Original Recipe Whole Wing | 130 | 10g | 8g | 380mg |
| Extra Crispy Breast | 530 | 35g | 35g | 1,150mg |
| Extra Crispy Thigh | 330 | 22g | 23g | 700mg |
| Extra Crispy Drumstick | 170 | 10g | 12g | 390mg |
| Extra Crispy Whole Wing | 170 | 10g | 13g | 340mg |
| Spicy Crispy Breast | 350 | 30g | 20g | 1,100mg |
| Spicy Crispy Thigh | 270 | 13g | 20g | 720mg |
| Spicy Crispy Drumstick | 130 | 9g | 8g | 420mg |
| Spicy Crispy Whole Wing | 120 | 7g | 8g | 350mg |
The grilled breast is the standout item on the entire menu: 38 grams of protein for 210 calories is better than almost anything at any fast food chain, and it beats the Original Recipe breast on protein while costing 180 fewer calories. If it is available where you are, it changes what KFC can be.
Sandwiches, bowls, and boxes
| Item | Calories | Protein | Sodium |
|---|---|---|---|
| KFC Snacker | 350 | 15g | 730mg |
| Classic Chicken Sandwich | 650 | 34g | 1,260mg |
| Spicy Chicken Sandwich | 620 | 34g | 2,140mg |
| Twister | 680 | 29g | 1,360mg |
| KFC Famous Bowl | 590 | 31g | 2,160mg |
| Chicken Pot Pie | 720 | 26g | 1,750mg |
| Popcorn Chicken | 620 | 23g | 1,970mg |
| Popcorn Chicken Combo | 940 | 28g | 3,070mg |
| Popcorn Chicken Big Box | 1,470 | 52g | 3,980mg |
| Wings & Tenders Big Box | 1,620 | 55g | 3,980mg |
| Wings & Sandwich Big Box | 1,760 | 56g | 4,040mg |
Note the sodium column rather than the calories on the last three rows. A Big Box carries roughly 4,000mg of sodium, which is more than a typical full-day recommendation in a single meal.
Sides, individual
| Side | Calories | Protein |
|---|---|---|
| Green Beans | 25 | 1g |
| Sweet Kernel Corn | 70 | 2g |
| Corn on the Cob | 70 | 2g |
| Mashed Potatoes, no gravy | 110 | 2g |
| Mashed Potatoes with Gravy | 130 | 3g |
| Macaroni & Cheese | 140 | 5g |
| Coleslaw | 170 | 1g |
| Biscuit | 180 | 4g |
| BBQ Baked Beans | 190 | 11g |
| KFC Cornbread Muffin | 210 | 3g |
| Secret Recipe Fries | 320 | 5g |
| Cheese Curds | 350 | 17g |
Two surprises in that table. Coleslaw is 170 calories, which is more than mashed potatoes with gravy and more than double the corn, because it is a mayonnaise dish rather than a salad. And BBQ baked beans carry 11 grams of protein, the most of any side on the menu.
Family-size sides are roughly four to five times the individual: mashed potatoes with gravy 590, coleslaw 640, mac and cheese 540, Secret Recipe Fries 840, BBQ baked beans 830.
How to build a lower-calorie KFC order
Ranked by calories saved:
- Order grilled instead of Extra Crispy, where available. Breast for breast, that is 210 against 530, a saving of 320 calories on one piece and the single biggest lever on the menu.
- Choose Original Recipe over Extra Crispy if grilled is unavailable: 390 against 530 on a breast, saving 140.
- Take green beans or corn instead of fries: 25 or 70 against 320, saving up to 295.
- Skip the biscuit, which is 180 calories of side nobody counts.
- Choose coleslaw last, not first. At 170 it is the heaviest of the vegetable-looking sides.
- Order pieces rather than a Big Box. A grilled breast with two vegetable sides is under 300 calories; the cheapest Big Box is 1,470.
Five orders under 550 calories
Every total is the sum of the published per-item numbers above.
- Grilled breast + green beans + corn on the cob: 210 + 25 + 70 = 305 calories, 41g protein
- Grilled breast + mashed potatoes with gravy: 210 + 130 = 340 calories, 41g protein
- Original Recipe drumstick + thigh + green beans: 130 + 280 + 25 = 435 calories, 32g protein
- KFC Snacker + green beans: 350 + 25 = 375 calories, 16g protein
- Original Recipe breast + sweet kernel corn: 390 + 70 = 460 calories, 41g protein
Five highest-protein orders
Ranked by protein, and all of them beat most fast food entrees on protein per calorie.
- Two grilled breasts + BBQ baked beans: 210 + 210 + 190 = 610 calories, 87g protein
- Grilled breast + Original Recipe breast: 210 + 390 = 600 calories, 77g protein
- Grilled breast + grilled thigh + green beans: 210 + 150 + 25 = 385 calories, 56g protein
- Original Recipe breast + BBQ baked beans: 390 + 190 = 580 calories, 50g protein
- Classic Chicken Sandwich + green beans: 650 + 25 = 675 calories, 35g protein
The top of that list is remarkable for fast food: 87 grams of protein for 610 calories, which compares favorably with anything in our Chick-fil-A guide.
Real-world orders, broken down
The lean order
| Component | Calories |
|---|---|
| Kentucky Grilled Chicken Breast | 210 |
| Green Beans | 25 |
| Corn on the Cob | 70 |
| Total | 305 |
41 grams of protein, which is the whole reason to know whether your location still serves grilled chicken.
The standard order
| Component | Calories |
|---|---|
| Original Recipe Breast | 390 |
| Mashed Potatoes with Gravy | 130 |
| Coleslaw | 170 |
| Biscuit | 180 |
| Total | 870 |
The classic two-side combo. The biscuit and coleslaw together are 350, more than the chicken's side of the plate.
The indulgent order
| Component | Calories |
|---|---|
| Wings & Sandwich Big Box | 1,760 |
| Total | 1,760 |
56 grams of protein and roughly 4,040mg of sodium in one box.
How to log KFC in Nouri
KFC is the chain that makes the case for describing food instead of looking it up, because the thing that decides your number is not on any receipt. "Chicken" at KFC is a 450-calorie spread depending on whether it was grilled, Original Recipe, or Extra Crispy, and the piece matters as much as the style: a wing and a breast differ by 260 calories in the same coating.
So the log has to carry both facts. What I write is "two pieces of KFC original recipe, a breast and a thigh, with mashed potatoes and gravy." Nouri returns it itemized, each piece separate from the side, and the total lands where the arithmetic above says it should. When I am handed a bucket at somebody's house and have no idea what I am eating, I write "three pieces of fried chicken, mixed, and a biscuit" and accept an estimate, because that is enormously better than the alternative of logging nothing, which is what used to happen. Nouri is iPhone (iOS only), and there is a free trial.
FAQ
How many calories in a KFC chicken breast?
390 for Original Recipe, 530 for Extra Crispy, 350 for Spicy Crispy, and 210 for Kentucky Grilled Chicken where available. All four carry 30 to 39 grams of protein.
What is the healthiest thing at KFC?
Kentucky Grilled Chicken, if your location has it: a grilled breast is 210 calories with 38g of protein. Pair it with green beans at 25 or corn at 70. If grilled is unavailable, Original Recipe beats Extra Crispy by 140 calories per breast.
How many calories in KFC Extra Crispy chicken?
Per piece: 530 breast, 330 thigh, 170 drumstick, 170 whole wing. Extra Crispy adds roughly 140 calories to a breast versus Original Recipe.
How many calories in a KFC Famous Bowl?
590 calories with 31g of protein and 2,160mg of sodium, per KFC's guide.
How many calories in a KFC bucket?
KFC publishes calories only for buckets, as ranges reflecting the chicken mix: roughly 920 to 2,400 for 8 pieces, 1,380 to 3,600 for 12, and 2,040 to 4,800 for 16. It does not publish protein, fat, or carbs for buckets.
How many calories in KFC mashed potatoes?
110 without gravy and 130 with gravy for an individual side. The family size with gravy is 590.
How many calories in KFC coleslaw?
170 calories for an individual side, which makes it heavier than mashed potatoes with gravy. It is a mayonnaise-based dish, not a light vegetable option.
How much protein is in KFC chicken?
A lot, relative to its calories: 39g in an Original Recipe breast, 38g in a grilled breast, 35g in an Extra Crispy breast. Thighs run 13g to 22g and drumsticks 9g to 12g.
How many calories in a KFC chicken sandwich?
650 for the Classic and 620 for the Spicy, each with 34g of protein. The Spicy carries considerably more sodium, 2,140mg against 1,260mg.
How many calories in KFC fries?
320 for an individual Secret Recipe Fries and 840 for the family size. Green beans at 25 or corn at 70 save up to 295 calories in the same slot.
Is KFC good for high protein diets?
Yes, better than its reputation suggests. Two grilled breasts and BBQ baked beans is 610 calories with 87g of protein. The breading, not the chicken, is what makes KFC calorie-dense, as covered in How to Track Macros.
Does KFC publish full nutrition information?
Partly. Its menu pages give calories only, and its full guide, which includes protein and other macros, is delivered through an embedded provider. Multi-piece items such as buckets and multi-count tenders publish calories only, and some published items are no longer orderable online.
Ask whether your location still has grilled chicken, because that one question is worth 320 calories a piece, then log the pieces and the sides as one sentence in Nouri. Compare against our Chick-fil-A numbers if protein per calorie is what you are optimizing, and start with Calorie Counting 101 if you have not set a target yet.
Sources
- KFC full nutrition guide, kfc.com/full-nutrition-guide, stamped "Interactive Nutrition Menu Last Updated: 09/15/2026" (checked September 27, 2026). KFC delivers this guide through an embedded nutrition provider; it is the only source in which KFC publishes protein and other macros
- KFC menu pages, kfc.com/menu, which publish calories only (checked September 27, 2026)
- Per KFC's own disclaimer: "Although this data is based on standard portion guidelines, variation can be expected due to seasonal influences, minor differences in product assembly per restaurant and other factors," and "No allergen or nutritional information on our website should be considered a guarantee, but simply a good faith effort to serve our customers"
- Discrepancies reported as published, not corrected: the KFC Snacker appears as 350 calories in the guide and 370 on its menu page; the 16-piece tenders range is inconsistent with the 8-piece and 12-piece ranges
- Availability not verifiable at the time of writing for Kentucky Grilled Chicken, green beans, corn on the cob, and BBQ baked beans: each appears in KFC's guide but has no ordering page on kfc.com
- All multi-item totals in this post are sums of KFC's own published per-item figures, verified arithmetically before publishing
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