KFC makes new Beyond Fried Chicken available nationwide after 2 years of testing

Fried chicken sandwiches were the undisputed fast-food goliath of 2019 and in 2022 a plant-based alternative has entered the arena.

Kentucky Fried Chicken and Beyond Meat announced Wednesday that after more than two years of testing, its highly-anticipated poultry alternative nuggets would hit menus nationwide on Jan. 10.

The limited-time menu item, which first rolled out in select markets in 2019 and made KFC the first fast-food chain to introduce a plant-based chicken, was developed exclusively for the chain by Beyond Meat. The previous Beyond Fried Chicken launches sold out in all test market locations from Atlanta to Southern California with high praise from tasters.

"We couldn’t be prouder to partner with KFC to offer a best-in-class product that not only delivers the delicious experience consumers expect from this iconic chain but also provides the added benefits of plant-based meat," Ethan Brown, Founder and CEO, Beyond Meat, said in a statement. "We are truly thrilled to make it available to consumers nationwide."

To introduce the new product, the brands created a "Magic Chicken Carpet" campaign starring social media creator turned actress Liza Koshy, who in the ad swoops in to reveal the "Kentucky Fried Miracle" of plant-based Beyond Fried Chicken.

An order of the six-piece Beyond Fried Chicken nuggets will start at $6.99, the same price as its six-piece original chicken tenders, and come with a choice of KFC dipping sauce, including Honey BBQ, Ranch, Honey Mustard and KFC Sauce. It will also be available in a 12-piece order and as KFC’s first-ever plant-based combo meal with fries and a medium drink.

Last year, Burger King announced it was also testing a version of plant-based nuggets in partnership with Impossible Foods.

KFC noted that its Beyond Fried Chicken is not prepared in a vegan or vegetarian manner.