Homemade KFC Famous Bowl Recipe
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Are you craving a KFC Famous Bowl but don’t want to leave the house? Then look no further – you can make this easy recipe at home in the air fryer or oven.
Our copycat KFC Famous bowl recipe is filled with popcorn chicken, potatoes, corn, smothered in gravy and topped with cheddar cheese. This easy dinner hits all the comfort food notes, especially when paired with homemade cheddar bay biscuits.
We’re sharing tips to help you get the best results with this recipe. If you don’t need the tips, scroll to the bottom for the full recipe and a printable recipe card.
Call me crazy, but I have a hard time choosing just one dish at KFC. Do I order the crispy chicken or a bowl? So when I’m craving all of the comfort foods, I go with one of the bowls so I can taste a little bit of everything. Problem solved!
These bowls are also great to make after the holidays, just like these Thanksgiving egg rolls and leftover turkey crescent rolls. It’s an easy way to use up leftover gravy, corn, and potatoes.
New to air frying? Get the low down on maximizing your usage of this amazing small appliance, including easy clean up tips, with our best air fryer tips for beginners.
KFC popcorn chicken bowls are super simple to make. And even easier when you make the chicken in the air fryer. I’m also going to share a few shortcuts with you that will save even more time, so you can make this an easy weeknight meal anytime the craving hits.
This recipe is very adaptable. You can adjust the quantities to your preferences. Or swap out rotisserie chicken or roasted turkey if that’s what you have on hand.
If you’re looking for another easy comfort food recipe be sure to check out our air fryer tater tot casserole.
Copycat KFC Famous Bowl Ingredients
- chicken breasts – when cubing the chicken, try to cut the pieces in similar sizes
- eggs
- cornstarch – secret ingredient to get that crispy outside like KFC does
- flour
- Nature’s seasoning – this is a blend of salt, pepper, garlic and onion powder, but feel free to mix your own if preferred
- mashed potatoes – these need to be cooked ahead of time
- brown gravy
- corn
- shredded cheddar cheese
Get the complete ingredients & directions in the recipe card below.
How to Make the Homemade KFC Bowl Recipe
Preheat the air fryer to 385 degrees F. Setup a dredging station using 3 bowls. One that contains the beaten eggs, one with cornstarch, and one with the flour mixed with the seasoning.
Dip each piece of chicken first into the cornstarch, then the egg, ending with the flour mixture. Place the breaded pieces on a plate until you are ready to cook.
Spray the air fryer basket with oil or use a parchment paper liner so the chicken doesn’t stick to the basket.
Air fry for 8 to 10 minutes, shaking the basket occasionally.
Just before the chicken has finished cooking, warm the mashed potatoes, gravy, and corn in the microwave separately.
Unsure which oil to use? Check out our handy guide to the Best Oil for Air Fryers.
How to Assemble the KFC Bowls
Add a cup of mashed potatoes to 4 bowls.
Top with a ½ cup of corn.
Divide the cooked chicken evenly among the bowls and ladle on a ½ cup of gravy.
Top with shredded cheese and serve immediately.
Unsure which oil to use? Check out our handy guide to the Best Oil for Air Fryers.
How to Make KFC Famous Bowl as a Casserole (Oven Baked)
While these famous bowls are off-the-charts delicious, you can throw together a casserole if you don’t want to make individual bowls.
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Place a layer of mashed potatoes in 9×13 casserole dish. Top with corn, then add the chicken. Bake for 15 minutes, then top with cheese. Bake for another 5 minutes or until the cheese has melted, and pour the gravy over top.
Tips for Making Homemade Famous Bowl
- If you’re making the casserole version of this recipe, make sure your gravy is hot before adding it to the top so it doesn’t cool down the casserole.
- You can make the chicken in the oven if you don’t have an air fryer. Prepare as directed then bake it in the oven at 375 degrees F on a parchment lined baking sheet.
Recipe Substitutions and Variations
- Use frozen popcorn chicken or grab some from the deli in place of the homemade chicken nuggets.
- Take this dish to the next level by swapping cooked mac and cheese for the mashed potatoes.
- Frozen corn can be used instead of canned. Just thaw it completely first so it doesn’t make the bowls soggy.
- Save time by using instant potatoes or heat and serve potatoes from the grocery. Or use leftover mashed potatoes if you have them on hand.
DON’T KNOW WHERE TO START?
Grab the free guide to Air Fryer Cooking Times Cheat Sheet & say goodbye to the guesswork.
How to Store Leftover Famous Bowls
Keep the leftover ingredients in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 days in separate airtight containers.
Our Favorite
Air Fryer Chicken Recipes
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Homemade KFC Famous Bowl Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 chicken breasts, about 1-1.5 pounds, cut into cubes
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 1/2 cup flour
- 1 tablespoon Nature’s seasoning
- 4 cups prepared mashed potatoes
- 2 cups canned corn, drained
- 2 cups brown gravy
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
Chicken:
- Preheat your air fryer to 385 degrees F.
- While air fryer is preheating, create a dredging station with 3 bowls: place beaten eggs in 1 bowl, cornstarch in 2nd bowl and mix flour and seasoning in the 3rd bowl.
- Coat each piece of chicken in the cornstarch, then egg mixture, and ending with the flour mixture. Place on a plate until ready to cook.
- Lightly spray the air fryer basket with oil and place coated chicken in the basket.
- Cook for 8-10 minutes, shaking the contents every 3 minutes.
- While the chicken is cooking, warm up the mashed potatoes, gravy and corn separately (I use the microwave).
To assemble the Famous bowls:
- Place 1 cup of mashed potatoes in each of 4 serving bowls.
- Top with 1/2 cup of corn.
- Divide the chicken evenly between the bowls and top each bowl with ½ cup of gravy.
- Finish with a ¼ cup of shredded cheese.
Notes
- Use frozen popcorn chicken in place of the homemade chicken if you’re short on time. Prepare chicken as directed on the package.
- Substitute mac and cheese for the mashed potatoes and corn if preferred.
- Store leftover ingredients separately in airtight containers for 2-3 days.
- To make as a casserole: Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Layer mashed potatoes in a 9×13 casserole dish, then add the corn and finish with the chicken. Bake for 15 minutes. Remove from oven, add cheese and bake for 5 more minutes until cheese has melted. Remove from oven and pour hot gravy over the casserole.
- Nutritional information may vary based on the ingredients used.
Nutritional Estimate
Nutritional information is provided as a reference, using an online calculator. We recommend verifying the information independently for accuracy.
