Like many Americans, when Oprah talked about the free KFC grilled chicken coupon on her website, I printed it off and ran on down to the local KFC to try their new product. Also like many Americans, I was disappointed that they were out of chicken by the time I got there! However, they let me fill out a rain check and mailed it in for me, and I finally received a coupon for a full two-piece meal with two sides, a biscuit and a drink for free. I took it to the restaurant and was cheerfully served my meal.
KFC Grilled Chicken Tastes Great
Even during a time in my life when I hated chicken in all forms, I always loved KFC fried chicken. However, it is pretty fattening and I have to exclude from my diet most of the time. However, KFC’s grilled chicken is much healthier, yet still has the great taste and falling-off-the bone tenderness we have come to expect from KFC.
The skin is basted in butter and spices to give it good flavor and a slightly crispy texture, but not enough to make it excessively greasy or fatty. This provides a delightful contrast to the tender chicken inside. Is this chicken what The Colonel originally envisioned for his company? Probably not. Is it traditional southern-style chicken? Most certainly not. Do I care? Nope! It tastes good and is a healthier option than fried chicken.
Nutrition Information for KFC Grilled Chicken
Compared to KFC fried chicken, the grilled chicken is lower in fat and carbohydrates. According to their website, for a thigh and drumstick, Original Recipe has 26 grams of fat and eight grams of carbohydrates, Extra Crispy has 36 grams of fat and 18 carbs, and Grilled has just 13 grams of fat and no carbs. For a breast, Original Recipe has 21 grams of fat and 7 carbs, Extra Crispy has 31 grams of fat and 17 carbs, and Grilled Chicken has four grams of fat and no carbs.
Comparing this to a fast food hamburger, a Big Mac has 29 grams of fat and 45 carbohydrates according to their website, while a McChicken sandwich has 16 grams of fat and 40 carbs. It is easy to see that KFC Grilled Chicken has McDonald’s beat, at least on those products. Even the Premium Grilled Chicken Classic Sandwich at McDonald’s has 10 grams of fat and 51 carbs-slightly lower in fat but very high in starch.
While not as healthy as a good salad with low-fat dressing, KFC Grilled Chicken is a much healthier alternative than some of the other tasty fast food options. It is relatively low in fat with no carbohydrates, making it a viable choice for the occasional treat, even on a diet. Of course, you have to “just say no” to the tasty biscuit, cole slaw and mashed potatos!
