How Many Carbs Are in KFC Chicken Strips?

KFC chicken strips are a popular menu item at the famous fried chicken chain. But if you’re watching your carb intake, you may be wondering – how many carbs are actually in KFC’s chicken strips? In this article, we’ll take a detailed look at the nutrition facts and carb count for KFC chicken strips.

An Overview of KFC Chicken Strips

KFC refers to their chicken strips as “Extra Crispy Chicken Tenders” on the menu. They come in three different sizes:

• Snack Size (1 tender)
• Regular Size (2 tenders)
• Large Size (3 tenders)

The chicken strips are made from all white meat chicken breast, coated in KFC’s signature blend of 11 herbs and spices. They are then hand-breaded and pressure fried for an extra crispy coating.

Chicken strips are served with a choice of dipping sauce including honey BBQ ranch, honey mustard and KFC’s special Finger Lickin’ Good sauce. They can also be ordered as part of a meal with mashed potatoes, coleslaw, biscuit and a drink.

Checking the Nutrition Facts

To find out the carb count for KFC chicken strips, we need to check the nutrition facts label. KFC provides nutrition information for all menu items on their website.

Here are the key nutrition facts for a single KFC Extra Crispy Chicken Tender:

• Serving Size: 1 tender (71g)
• Calories: 160
• Total Fat: 8g
• Carbohydrates: 13g
• Fiber: 0g
• Sugars: 0g
• Protein: 12g

So a single chicken tender contains 13g of total carbohydrates To get the net carb count, we subtract the fiber, which is 0g Therefore, the net carbs in one KFC chicken tender is 13g.

It’s also useful to look at the macros – on a percentage basis, a single tender contains 36% fat, 33% carbs and 31% protein.

Net Carbs for Different Serving Sizes

Since chicken strips come in different sizes, the carb count will vary depending on how many you order. Here is the net carb count for each serving size:

• Snack Size (1 tender) – 13g net carbs
• Regular Size (2 tenders) – 26g net carbs
• Large Size (3 tenders) – 39g net carbs

As you can see, the more tenders you eat, the more net carbs you will consume. Sticking to the Snack Size with 1 tender is the best option if limiting carbs.

How Chicken Strips Fit Into a Low-Carb Diet

For those following a ketogenic or low-carb diet, chicken strips can still fit into your daily macros, but portions need to be controlled.

Here are some tips for staying low-carb if you want to eat KFC chicken strips:

• Stick to Snack Size (1 tender) to keep net carbs under 15g
• Avoid biscuits, mac and cheese, mashed potatoes and coleslaw as sides
• Opt for lower carb sides like green beans or Caesar salad
• Get strips without batter as a lower carb alternative
• Dip in low-carb sauces like buffalo, mustard or ranch
• Drink water, unsweetened tea or diet soda instead of sugary drinks

One KFC chicken tender can fit into a 50g net carb daily limit. But be mindful of all your other carb intake for the day.

Ordering Low-Carb Options at KFC

If you want to keep your meal at KFC low in carbs, there are some other menu options beyond chicken strips:

• Grilled Chicken – The grilled chicken breast and thighs have zero carbs. Get it with a side salad or green beans.

• Fried Chicken (No Breading) – Order extra crispy or original recipe chicken without the breading to cut the carbs significantly.

• Wings (No Breading) – KFC’s Kentucky Grilled Wings or Hot Wings have around 2g net carbs per wing.

• Green Beans – The steamed green beans side order has 5g net carbs.

• Macaroni Salad – While not super low-carb, the macaroni salad has 16g net carbs per serving.

• Caesar Salad (No Croutons) – Ask for the salad without croutons and it contains just 3g net carbs.

So if you go for grilled/unbreaded chicken plus a veggie side, you can easily stay low-carb at KFC. With some modifications, you can still enjoy the tasty fried chicken even when limiting carbs.

Other Tips for Reducing Carbs

In addition to making the right menu choices, there are some other easy swaps you can make to reduce carbs when dining at KFC:

• Skip the biscuit and opt for an extra chicken piece instead.
• Choose mashed cauliflower or green beans as a lower carb side.
• Ask for any sandwiches as a lettuce wrap instead of a bun.
• Replace sugary soda with bottled water or unsweetened iced tea.
• Order creamy coleslaw without added sweetener or get the potato salad.
• Add extra spices/seasoning instead of high-carb sauces.
• Request sauces and dressings on the side to control portion size.

With a few simple modifications, you can satisfy your fried chicken craving at KFC without going overboard on carbs.

The Bottom Line

So how many carbs are in KFC chicken strips? Here’s a quick recap:

• One KFC chicken tender contains 13g net carbs
• A snack size order (1 tender) has 13g net carbs
• A regular size order (2 tenders) has 26g net carbs
• A large size order (3 tenders) has 39g net carbs

Chicken strips can fit into a low-carb diet in moderation. Stick to snack size, avoid high-carb sides and sauces, and pair it with lower carb options like salads or green beans. With smart menu choices, you can still enjoy the delicious taste of KFC chicken even when limiting your carb intake.