KFC throws a National Fried Chicken Sandwich Day celebration

I thought I had all my holidays covered, but National Fried Chicken Sandwich Day really snuck up on me this year. Everyone goes straight from Halloween to Christmas, I guess.

KFC was not going to let National Fried Chicken Sandwich Day pass without properly celebrating the holiday. If you’re a millennial like me, you probably have memories of your parents bringing home a bucket of fried chicken from KFC. Since you were a kid in the 90s and didn’t have any taste, you probably skipped the dark meat and focused on the biscuits. (If you’re a kid, it’s hard to understand that you should be claiming the chicken thighs in the bucket, not the drumsticks.)

After Popeyes shook up the chicken sandwich game, changing the face of fast-food chains forever, KFC introduced a completely revamped version of its own chicken sandwich in 2021. It’s been awhile since I had a chicken sandwich at KFC, but the chain caught my attention with its National Fried Chicken Sandwich Day promotion.

With the purchase of any item that cost at least a buck this weekend, you got either a free Classic Chicken Sandwich or Spicy Chicken Sandwich.

“National Fried Chicken Sandwich Day falling on a Sunday felt like the perfect moment for KFC to show up big,” KFC chief marketing officer Melissa Cash said in a statement. “While others close up shop, we're giving fans more to love with our bigger, better Classic Chicken Sandwich made with our signature, craveable KFC taste and available seven days a week — because cravings don’t do days off.”

Yes, that’s absolutely some shade being thrown at Chik-fil-A. As someone who has found himself on the New York State Thruway on Sunday, I get this dig. People need their chicken sandwiches seven days a week. Especially if you’re at the mercy of a rest stop.

Snackology has covered a bunch of chicken releases this year — how do KFC’s two flagship chicken sandwiches compare? Are they a worthy steward of National Fried Chicken Sandwich Day?

What they cost

Both the Classic Chicken Sandwich and Spicy Chicken Sandwich were $5.59 at my KFC, but because of the restaurant’s National Fried Chicken Sandwich Day promo, one of my sandwiches was free.

My thoughts

Because there was no way I could choose between the Classic Chicken Sandwich and the Spicy Chicken Sandwich, I added both to my order on the app. (If you want the free sandwich this weekend, you need to use either KFC’s app or website to order.) KFC also has an Original Honey BBQ Chicken Sandwich and a Chicken Little sandwich too, but I had to draw the line somewhere.

Classic Chicken Sandwich

In case you needed a refresher like I did, KFC Classic Chicken Sandwich is an Extra Crispy chicken breast on a toasted brioche bun. (Interesting that KFC goes brioche for its roll when other chains use a potato roll.) The sandwich is topped off with pickles — it obviously wouldn’t be a fried chicken sandwich without them — and “the Colonel’s real mayo.” Wow, the Colonel not only invented KFC’s secret blend of herbs and spices, he also had time to create his own mayo.

Oh man, this is a fantastic fried chicken sandwich. Just perfect on every level. The brioche bun is soft and has just the right level of give as you bite into it. The chicken was crispy, and I gotta give the Colonel credit for that mayo.

I really need to make KFC’s Classic Chicken Sandwich a regular part of my fast-food rotation.

Snack score

🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪 (5 out of 5 cookies)

Spicy Chicken Sandwich

The Spicy Chicken Sandwich is almost exactly like its Classic sibling, only swapping out mayo for spicy sauce. I’m not quite sure what goes into KFC’s spicy sauce — I’m the guy who, for years, had believed McDonald’s was using buffalo sauce on theirs — but I understand that the Colonel wasn’t around to perfect his own take on spicy sauce.

Once again, a terrific fried chicken sandwich. I mean, look at the thickness of the chicken breast in the Spicy Chicken Sandwich I got at KFC.

It totally makes sense that KFC embarked on a Size Matters Tour leading up to National Fried Chicken Sandwich Day, visiting cities across the country to not only hand out free sandwiches but also “exclusive merch.” (Dang. I missed the tour. I love exclusive merch.)

🍪🍪🍪🍪 (4 out of 5 cookies)

Mountain Dew Sweet Lightning Peaches & Cream Soda

OK, please excuse the Taco Bell cup on this one — my closest KFC is a combo KFC/Taco Bell — but I added Mountain Dew Sweet Lightning Peaches & Cream Soda to my order out of curiosity.

This is the first time I’ve had a dirty soda, and — wow — I understand this trend. I was thrown off when I first saw a layer of actual cream at the bottom of my cup, but once I sloshed everything around and took a sip, I was hooked. My excitement over Dirty Mountain Dew Cream Soda, a new flavor coming to stores in 2026, is even higher now.

KFC’s current take on a dirty Mountain Dew flavor came out earlier this summer, so if you’re interested in giving it a try, the clock might be ticking ...

Snack score

🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪 (5 out of 5 cookies)

KFC’s Classic Chicken Sandwich, Spicy Chicken Sandwich and Mountain Dew Sweet Lightning Peaches & Cream Soda were provided to Snackology for this independent review.