While the rest of the nation is freaking out about Popeye’s new chicken sandwich being better than the classic sandwich from Chick-Fil-A, Kentucky Fried Chicken is preparing a new challenge: A new mac and cheese meal to rival Chick-Fil-A’s latest menu addition.
Just a couple of weeks ago, Chick-Fil-A rolled out mac and cheese as a permanent side item on its menu. KFC, which has offered the dish for years, has now announced that a new macaroni bowl entree will be available starting Aug. 26.
The $5 mac bowl is a variation on KFC’s Famous Bowl. The Famous Bowl — a heap of mashed potatoes, gravy, fried chicken chunks, corn and cheese — is a treasured staple of the KFC menu, but they’ve never before incorporated the restaurant’s macaroni and cheese. Here’s a pic:
The mac and cheese bowl is basically a Famous Bowl, but with creamy macaroni and cheese instead of mashed taters. A blend of cheeses replaces the gravy, and diners can choose between original-recipe popcorn chicken or a spicy Nashville Hot flavor.
“Mac and cheese has a cult-like following, and bowl food is a trend that isn’t going away,” said KFC’s U.S. chief marketing officer Andrea Zahumensky in a statement. “So, it made perfect sense to call up a favorite side dish to the big leagues, in a way that only we could, with Mac and Cheese Bowls.”
KFC teamed with YouTube personality Kalen Allen to film a taste test of the new bowl. After daring himself to try random food combos, Allen finally gives the mac and cheese bowl a try. He proclaims it “real good” before offering a joking prayer of thanks to Colonel Sanders for the bounty. See for yourself:
The mac and cheese bowl will go for $5 on KFC’s Fill-Ups menu, which includes a drink and a chocolate chip cookie for dessert.
Chick-Fil-A’s in a rough position, defending its signature chicken sandwich and now its macaroni and cheese. What could be next?
Here’s some fightin’ words: Bojangles’ chicken biscuit sandwich is better than Chick-Fil-A’s. You know I’m right!
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