The new item on the menu is like a choice from KFC in Australia.
Homestyle mashed potatoes are great on their own. What could make them even better?
KFC just added new Mashed Potato Poppers to the menu. They are all about comfort food dreams. These Poppers are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, using KFC potatoes. These golden treats are new to the United States. You can get them at drive-thrus starting today, the brand shared with Food and Wine.
Like all good eats, these won't last long—they are only here while they have stock, the brand said. But how did a chain come up with such a fresh side? To make this twist on a Southern dish, Kentucky Fried Chicken looked to its spots in other countries.
"We got the idea from a well-loved KFC item in Australia called Mashies. Our new Mashed Potato Poppers are a fresh, modern take on our famous mashed potatoes and go well with gravy or any sauce on the menu," a KFC person shared with Food & Wine.
For many KFC fans in Australia, "Mashies" are special. These fried mashed potatoes, sold in a pack of 12, were gone for over ten years before they came back in 2023. The love—and later, the loss—for the nostalgic Mashies has been strong, it seems:
In the U.S., hungry fans can grab this new snack in the $7 Dunk It Bucket, which is the first new bucket in ten years. This combo deal comes with Poppers, Original Recipe chicken tenders, fries, and three dipping sauces. Want just a small taste? You can get five Poppers by themselves with that gravy.
"Mashed Potato Poppers are made to be dipped," a KFC person said to Food & Wine. "They taste great with our warm gravy, zesty Comeback Sauce, ranch, and more—with lots of sauce choices to fit what you like."
KFC is not the only brand to focus on sauce. Dippable snacks are on the mind of Taco Bell's cooks, shown in their new Steak and Queso Crunchwrap Sliders. At the same time, Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen is selling its sauces in stores, and Heinz is changing its usual offerings with a mix of "global" flavors. Even if KFC is not in Kentucky anymore, the chain is keeping up with food trends in its own fun way.
To sum it up: If jalapeño poppers are too hot for you, this creamy version might be just what you want.