What is sodium stearoyl lactylate?

KFC Fried Chicken Combo Meal Nutrition Review

With the combo meal, you have your choice of the type of chicken and various side dishes from which to choose.

You can, for example, order the combo meal with coleslaw, mashed potatoes, or corn. KFC combo meals also include a medium drink and a biscuit.

Total calories in the chicken vary depending on whether your order includes chicken breast, chicken thigh, or a drumstick.

Read this overview for an in-depth report of the nutrition facts, ingredients, and allergens in the combo meal at Kentucky Fried Chicken.

Calories in KFC Combo Meal Options

There are 500+ calories in a fried chicken combo meal. The total calories depend on the number of pieces of chicken ordered as well as the chosen side dish. Whether you select Original Recipe® or Extra Crispy™ will also impact the total calories.

An Original Recipe 2pc combo meal with one drumstick and one thigh includes 410 calories in the chicken alone. Total calories increase by about 100 for the Extra Crispy recipe option.

Calories in Chicken

Here is a summary of the calories by type of chicken.

Calories in Original Recipe Chicken

Chicken Breast: 390 calories
Chicken Thigh: 280 calories
Drumstick: 130 calories
Whole Wing: 130 calories

Calories in Extra Crispy Chicken

KFC’s chicken coated with the extra crispy breading has higher calories per serving compared with the original recipe chicken.

Chicken Breast: 530 calories
Chicken Thigh: 330 calories
Drumstick: 170 calories
Whole Wing: 170 calories

Calories in Side Dishes

All Combo Meals include a medium drink and a biscuit. You also get to select one side dish such as coleslaw, mashed potatoes, or corn.

Here are the calories for each KFC side dish:

Biscuit has 180 calories
Mac & Cheese: 140 calories
Potato Salad has 340 calories

Lower Calorie Side Dish Options

For lower calorie options, select either the green beans (25 calories) or the sweet kernel corn (70 calories).

Sweet Kernel Corn: 70 calories
Green Beans: 25 calories

Nutritional Information

Here are summary nutrition facts labels for select options available with an order of KFC’s chicken combo meal.

Nutrition Facts: Chicken

Serving Size 1 Piece

Amount per serving (%DV)

Red indicates %DV is high.

	BREAST	THIGH
Calories	390	280
Total Fat	21g (21%)	19g (29%)
Saturated Fat	4g (20%)	4.5g (23%)
Trans Fat	0g	0g
Cholesterol	120mg (40%)	100mg (33%)
Sodium	1190mg (50%)	910mg (38%)
Carbohydrates	11g (4%)	8g (3%)
Dietary Fiber	2g (8%)	1g (4%)
Total Sugars	0g	0g
Protein	39g	19g

%DV based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Calorie needs vary and your %DV may be higher or lower. Provided for informational purposes only. Consult with your physician for dietary or healthcare advice.

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KFC fried chicken with sides and a drink. — Product Images: KFC. Original Design: Nutrition & Ingredients

Nutrition Facts: Sides

Serving Size 1 Piece

Amount per serving (%DV)

Red indicates %DV is high.

	BISCUIT	MAC & CHEESE
Calories	180	140
Total Fat	8g (12%)	6g (9%)
Saturated Fat	4.5g (23%)	1.5g (8%)
Trans Fat	0g	0g
Cholesterol	0mg (0%)	5mg (2%)
Sodium	520mg (22%)	590mg (25%)
Carbohydrates	22g (7%)	17g (6%)
Dietary Fiber	1g (4%)	1g (4%)
Total Sugars	1g	2g
Protein	4g	5g

%DV based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Calorie needs vary and your %DV may be higher or lower. Provided for informational purposes only. Consult with your physician for dietary or healthcare advice.

Combo Meal Items Ingredients and Allergens

Here are the lists of ingredients for select food items in the Fried Chicken Combo Meal, including the fried chicken, biscuit, and macaroni & cheese.

The proprietary recipe for the Colonel’s secret recipe, however, is not included. It is secret, after all.

Ingredients

Original Recipe Chicken

Fresh Chicken Marinated with Salt, Sodium Phosphate and Monosodium Glutamate.

Colonel’s Secret Original Recipe Seasoning

The Colonel’s Secret Original Recipe Seasoning is used in the fried chicken combo meal. KFC does not publish any information related to its secret combination of seasonings and spices.

Breading

Wheat Flour, Salt, Tricalcium Phosphate, Nonfat Milk, Whey, Potato Starch, Egg Whites, Maltodextrin, Triglycerides, Food Starch-Modified, Natural Flavor

Biscuit

Enriched Bleached Flour (wheat flour, niacin, ferrous sulfate, thiamin mononitrate, riboflavin, and folic acid), Water, Palm Oil, Palm Kernel Oil, Buttermilk, Sugar, Baking Soda, Salt, Sodium Aluminum Phosphate, Nonfat Milk, Sodium Caseinate, DATEM, Whey Protein Concentrate, Sodium Acid Pyrophosphate, Whey, Wheat Protein Isolate, Natural Flavor. Liquid And Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Salt, Sunflower Lecithin, Natural Flavor, Beta Carotene (color)

Macaroni & Cheese

Cooked Enriched Macaroni Product, Skim Milk, Water, Pasteurized Cheddar Cheese Product, Soybean Oil, Wheat Flour, Food Starch-Modified, Salt, Sugar, Disodium Phosphate, Cheese Flavor (salt, maltodextrin, dextrose, natural flavors and lactic acid), Mono and Diglycerides, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Alginate, Carrageenan Lactic Acid, Citric Acid, Beta Carotene (corn oil, tocopherol)

Cooked Enriched Macaroni Product is made with water, enriched durum wheat semolina, egg white solids.
Enriched durum wheat semolina is made with semolina, niacin, ferrous sulfate, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, and folic acid.
Pasteurized Cheddar Cheese Product is made with cheddar cheese, water, soybean oil, whey protein concentrate, nonfat dry milk, modified food starch, natural flavors, salt, maltodextrin, whey, sodium citrate, anhydrous milkfat, dipotassium phosphate, potassium chloride, sodium stearoyl lactylate, sorbic acid (a preservative), yeast extract, and color.
Cheddar Cheese is made with pasteurized milk, cultures, salt, and enzymes.
Color is derived from one or more of the following: beta carotene, paprika, and/or annatto extract.

Sodium Stearoyl Lactylate (SSL) is created from the sodium salt of lactic acid and stearic acid. It is a light yellow powder with a waxy texture.

SSL is commonly used as a food additive for its emulsification properties that improve the ability for certain foods to combine. It also extends the shelf life of processed foods.

The ingredient is found in commercially produced baked goods, icings, pastas, cereals, sauces, and other commercial food products.

Allergens

Menu items in KFC’s fried chicken combo meal are made with ingredients that include egg, dairy, and wheat.

The food is also cooked and/or prepared in the same oil or on the same surface that may be used to cook fish or items that contain soy.

Check list of allergens in KFC chicken and other menu items

Chicken, biscuit, mashed potato as part of KFC combo meal. — Calories vary depending on type of chicken side dishes selected.

Nutrition facts, prices, and ingredients are based on available information as of the date of publication. Restaurants and food manufacturers may change recipes or formulations without notice. Check package labels and ask the product manufacturer or restaurant for the most up-to-date information. Unless otherwise stated, %DV is based on a 2,000 calorie diet. All reports and reviews published on this site are for informational purposes only. NutritionandIngredients.com does not provide healthcare advice or dietary recommendations. Always consult your licensed physician for any healthcare or dietary advice.

Nutrition facts, allergens, and ingredients source: KFC Corporation. Food product images: KFC®. Original design by Nutrition & Ingredients for purposes of fast food nutrition research.