KFC, biscuit
Whole food · Fast Foods
Photo: Wikipedia
A KFC biscuit is a dense, savory-sweet, buttermilk-leavened quick bread with a flaky, buttery interior and a slightly crisp, golden-brown top. It's a signature side that delivers a rich, comforting flavor and a tender, crumbly texture. Nutritionally, it's a significant source of refined carbohydrates and fat, providing quick energy but little fiber.
Calorie split: 8% protein · 49% carbs · 43% fat
↓ Full nutrition💚 Why it's loved
People love it for its perfect balance of salty and buttery flavors, its satisfyingly flaky and tender crumb, and its role as the essential, comforting companion to fried chicken. It's a staple of American fast-food culture and a nostalgic comfort food.
⚠️ Watch-outs & how to enjoy it better
The biscuit is high in refined carbs and fat, which can contribute to blood sugar spikes and is a concern for those managing calorie or fat intake. It also contains common allergens like wheat (gluten) and dairy (buttermilk). To counteract, pair it with a protein source (like grilled chicken) to slow digestion, practice portion control by sharing, and drink water to aid digestion.
Key benefits
- Provides quick energy from carbohydrates
- Contains a small amount of protein from flour and buttermilk
- Source of calcium from buttermilk
- Offers dietary fat for satiety
- A convenient, ready-to-eat baked good
🍽️ Popular dishes
🌍 Where it's eaten
💡 Did you know?
KFC's biscuits are made from scratch in the restaurant daily using a proprietary recipe that includes buttermilk and a specific blend of spices, and they are not pre-made or frozen.
Full nutrition (USDA data · scales with serving)
| Water | 28.4 g |
| Energy | 358 kcal |
| Energy | 1496 kj |
| Protein | 7.5 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 17.1 g |
| Ash | 3.5 g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 43.5 g |
| Fiber, total dietary | 2.0 g |
| Total Sugars | 4.0 g |
| Sucrose | 1.9 g |
| Glucose | 0.00 g |
| Fructose | 0.00 g |
| Lactose | 1.7 g |
| Maltose | 0.50 g |
| Galactose | 0.00 g |
| Starch | 37.9 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 55.0 mg |
| Iron, Fe | 2.9 mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 16.0 mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 538 mg |
| Potassium, K | 115 mg |
| Sodium, Na | 1070 mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 0.50 mg |
| Copper, Cu | 0.09 mg |
| Manganese, Mn | 0.42 mg |
| Selenium, Se | 15.2 ug |
| Thiamin | 0.43 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.31 mg |
| Niacin | 3.9 mg |
| Pantothenic acid | 0.40 mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.06 mg |
| Folate, total | 81.0 ug |
| Vitamin A, RAE | 0.00 ug |
| Retinol | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, IU | 0.00 iu |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | 0.26 mg |
| Tocopherol, beta | 0.04 mg |
| Tocopherol, gamma | 0.96 mg |
| Tocopherol, delta | 0.32 mg |
| Tocotrienol, alpha | 0.00 mg |
| Tocotrienol, beta | 0.18 mg |
| Tocotrienol, gamma | 0.00 mg |
| Tocotrienol, delta | 0.00 mg |
Fat & fatty acid profile (per 100g)
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 11.9 g |
| SFA 4:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 6:0 | 0.04 g |
| SFA 8:0 | 0.51 g |
| SFA 10:0 | 0.41 g |
| SFA 12:0 | 4.5 g |
| SFA 14:0 | 1.4 g |
| SFA 15:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 16:0 | 1.4 g |
| SFA 17:0 | 0.01 g |
| SFA 18:0 | 3.6 g |
| SFA 20:0 | 0.05 g |
| SFA 22:0 | 0.02 g |
| SFA 24:0 | 0.01 g |
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated | 1.2 g |
| MUFA 14:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 15:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 16:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 16:1 c | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 17:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 18:1 | 1.2 g |
| MUFA 18:1 c | 1.0 g |
| MUFA 20:1 | 0.01 g |
| MUFA 22:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 22:1 c | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 24:1 c | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated | 1.4 g |
| PUFA 18:2 | 1.2 g |
| PUFA 18:2 n-6 c,c | 1.2 g |
| PUFA 18:2 CLAs | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 18:3 | 0.12 g |
| PUFA 18:3 n-3 c,c,c (ALA) | 0.12 g |
| PUFA 18:3 n-6 c,c,c | 0.01 g |
| PUFA 18:3i | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 18:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:2 n-6 c,c | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:3 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:3 n-3 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:3 n-6 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:5 n-3 (EPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:5 n-3 (DPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:6 n-3 (DHA) | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total trans | 0.26 g |
| Fatty acids, total trans-monoenoic | 0.22 g |
| TFA 16:1 t | 0.00 g |
| TFA 18:1 t | 0.22 g |
| TFA 22:1 t | 0.00 g |
| TFA 18:2 t not further defined | 0.04 g |
| Fatty acids, total trans-polyenoic | 0.04 g |
| Cholesterol | 1.0 mg |
Amino acid profile (per 100g)
| Tryptophan | 0.10 g |
| Threonine | 0.26 g |
| Isoleucine | 0.31 g |
| Leucine | 0.59 g |
| Lysine | 0.26 g |
| Methionine | 0.11 g |
| Cystine | 0.14 g |
| Phenylalanine | 0.40 g |
| Tyrosine | 0.21 g |
| Valine | 0.36 g |
| Arginine | 0.29 g |
| Histidine | 0.17 g |
| Alanine | 0.26 g |
| Aspartic acid | 0.40 g |
| Glutamic acid | 2.5 g |
| Glycine | 0.26 g |
| Proline | 0.89 g |
| Serine | 0.38 g |
FAQ
Are KFC biscuits vegan?
No, they contain buttermilk (dairy) and are made with a recipe that includes animal-derived ingredients.
Can I get a gluten-free biscuit at KFC?
KFC does not currently offer a certified gluten-free biscuit due to the risk of cross-contamination in their kitchens.
How many calories are in one KFC biscuit?
A standard KFC biscuit contains approximately 180-200 calories, with variations based on size and exact recipe.
Nutrient density (calculated · NRF9.3)
Nutrient Rich Foods index: beneficial nutrients (protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals) minus saturated fat, added sugar & sodium, per 100 kcal.
NRF9.3 index — Fulgoni, Keast & Drewnowski, 2009. Computed from USDA nutrients.
Weight-loss friendliness (composite index)
Energy density 3.58 kcal/g · 8% calories from protein · 2.0 g fiber · 4.0 g sugar per 100 g.
Composite of energy density (Rolls et al., 1999), protein & fiber satiety, minus sugar. A calculated heuristic — ranks satiety-per-calorie, not a clinical measure.
Dietary load (calculated from USDA values)
Potential renal acid load. Positive = acid-forming, negative = alkaline-forming.
Sodium-to-potassium ratio: 9.30 (lower is better — aim for ≤ 1)
Sodium:potassium per WHO potassium guidance. Computed from USDA nutrients.