KFC Mashed Potato Bowl Copycat Recipe

If you like fried chicken and mashed potatoes, then you definitely need to try our copycat KFC Mashed Potato Bowl!! It’s a homemade version of the famous KFC chicken bowl recipe with layers of potatoes, corn, cheese, gravy and chicken all served together in a bowl.

Do you love KFC Famous mashed potato bowls? If so you're in for a treat because now you can easily make them at home, saving some money and a trip to pick them up.

Copycat KFC Famous Bowls recipe makes a mouthwatering dinner that’s so hearty and comforting. The whole family will love it! I can almost guarantee it. 

As of late, instead of preparing individual serving bowls like we used to, we make a casserole and serve everyone right from there.  We have found that making an entire casserole or even individual KFC mashed potato bowls makes weeknight family dinners that much easier.

This KFC mashed potato bowl is one of our favorite comfort dinners EVER. It was inspired by another chicken casserole recipe on Kitchen Divas and tastes great with these air fryer green beans or a simple preparation of your favorite vegetable.

These KFC Mashed Potato Bowls are super easy to prepare. Especially when made into a quick and easy casserole. Such a time saver and so much simpler to do too. If you make casseroles often, then you definitely need to try French Onion Beef Casserole and this easy Frito Casserole.

Why You Will Love This Bowl Meal

• An easy weeknight dinner the whole family will enjoy!
• A one-pot casserole and comfort food meal that’s incredibly hearty and satisfying.
• Eating bowls helps manage portion control. They make you feel more satisfied.
• Eating from bowls may be comforting and can improve your mood.

What is a Bowl Meal?

Bowl meals have been around for thousands of years. The KFC mashed potato bowls are just one of the more recent ones! Around the world, many cultures prioritize bowl use over plates.

There is a physical connection you get with your food when you eat it from a bowl that is more comforting. That's probably why bowl foods like soup and macaroni and cheese are referred to as comfort food. 

Typically, we think of bowl foods using rice as a base. It's the most common across various cultures. Noodles of some sort are the second.

But the more you delve into it, the more you will come to see how prevalent food bowls have become and how they have evolved.

Bowl meals in America have risen recently in the pop-culture consciousness for a variety of reasons such as the increase in the one-pot cooking method, dietary restrictions, and foods that are easier to eat on the go.

KFC Mashed Potato Bowl Ingredients

This easy comfort food recipe is prepared using simple, easy-to-find ingredients to quickly prepare this dish for a weeknight dinner.

• russet potatoes
• cream cheese
• butter
• salt
• garlic powder
• pepper
• crispy chicken bites, nuggets, or strips
• sweet corn
• cheddar cheese
• brown gravy mix

How to Make Copycat KFC Famous Bowl Recipe

This recipe goes together quickly, in just a few steps. If you want to see step-by-step images, check the recipe card.

Step 1: Cook the Potatoes

Add diced potatoes to 8 cups of boiling water. Boil for 12-15 minutes or until potatoes become tender. Remove from water and drain.

Step 2: Make Mashed Potatoes

Add cream cheese, butter, salt, garlic powder and pepper to the potatoes. Mix thoroughly until mashed potatoes are creamy and smooth.

Step 3: Assemble the Casserole

Grease bottom of 9x13 casserole dish. Layer the bottom of the dish evenly with mashed potatoes. Add chicken bites and corn evenly on top of the potatoes. 

Sprinkle with cheese and set aside and begin to preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Step 4: Make the Gravy

Cook gravy according to package instructions and when it’s ready, pour over the dish evenly.

Step 5: Bake in the Oven

Cook for 5-7 minutes or until the cheese has melted into the dish.

Remove from the oven and serve immediately.

Choosing the Chicken for a KFC Chicken Bowl

KFC serves up their mashed potato bowls with crispy chicken bites made with chicken breast and a crunchy crispy crust. You can do something similar or change up your potato bowls with a variety of different preparations of chicken.

Here are just a few of my favorites:

• Want traditional but homemade? Then I think you will love these Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
• Prefer dark meat over white? Then you will love these Air Fryer Chicken Thighs.
• Is time a factor? Then pick up a bag of popcorn chicken at the store and use Air Fryer Frozen Popcorn Chicken to prepare it!
• Want chicken without a breading? Then these Parmesan Ranch Chicken Tenders are the perfect option for your KFC mashed potato bowl!
• Love it spicy? Then these Nashville Hot Chicken Strips will give you all the added spiciness you love!
• Want to chicken with a little more flavor? Try these Garlic Parmesan Popcorn Chicken. I’m sure you won’t be disappointed.

Substitutions

• Run out of potatoes? Use instant potatoes instead to quickly make this casserole for dinner. 
• Want to save time? Buy chicken nuggets, chicken strips, or popcorn chicken and bake them from frozen instead. 
• Don't like package gravy. Then use canned, make it from scratch or your favorite gravy.

Variations

• Vegetarian: Ditch the chicken and pile on the veggies! Don’t forget to swap out the brown gravy mix for a vegetarian option.
• Healthier: Swap out the crispy chicken for grilled and use a tad bit less cheese!
• Mac and Cheese Bowl: Swap out the mashed potatoes with macaroni and cheese and ditch the gravy and corn. So good!

Expert Tips

Use russet potatoes for the fluffiest mashed potatoes...you can also check out our list of other tasty russet potato recipes. They're just so good that you're going to love them!

Also we have a fantastic use for your potato peels. Instead of throwing them in the garbage I'll hope you try our totally addictive snack, our crispy potato skin chips. They're out of this world good.

To make individual mashed potato bowls instead of a casserole, add the ingredients in single servings in a bowl and then heat them to melt the cheese. Use the oven if you have oven-safe bowls or the microwave if you prefer.

If using chicken breasts, thighs, or tenders, cut it up into smaller bite-sized pieces to make it easier to eat.

FAQs

Here are some popular questions I get about making this recipe.

KFC Mashed Potato Bowl Copycat Video

More Easy Dinner Recipes

• Easy Cheese Corn Casserole Recipe
• Easy Sausage, Pepper and Rice Skillet
• Easy Healthy Chicken Stir Fry

Enjoy your delicous copycat KFC mashed potato bowls!

Other great recipes to try

Bacon and Cheese Leftover Mashed Potato Burgers
Creamy Little Potato Bake
Supreme Mashed Potato Casserole