KFC puts its Country Fried Steak in the value spotlight

KFC is leveraging consumer trends toward comfort food by shining a spotlight on its Country Fried Steak, which rolled out to the broader system earlier this month.

For a limited time, the chicken chain is offering a Country Fried Steak Meal for $4.99, including crispy fried steak covered in white gravy, gravy-covered mashed potatoes, coleslaw, and a warm biscuit. The deal is available on Wednesdays only at participating restaurants nationwide for a limited time.

The item made its debut at the chain in 1984 and by the late 1980s, it was available in some parts of the U.S. The item has been brought back sporadically in certain markets as a regional Wednesday value special, including in 2019 and 2021.

At KFC restaurants where the item was already on the menu, average daily Country Fried Steak orders jumped nearly 20% following its broader rollout, the company said. The lack of national promotion and its Wednesday-only availability at select locations has given it somewhat of a cult following among KFC regulars, and the company calls it one of its "best-kept secrets."

Comfort food like country-fried steak was identified as the second top menu trend for 2026 in the National Restaurant Association’s “What’s Hot” culinary report.

The Country Fried Steak Meal is the latest value offering from KFC as it continues its comeback campaign launched last summer. Earlier this month, the chain brought back its Popcorn Chicken, available as part of three value options. In May, the chain launched a 5 for $5 Tenders deal and extended its $10 bucket deal to each weekday. And, in March, KFC introduced a lineup of Box Feasts starting at $7.

"At the end of the day, people just want a meal that feels like it delivers," Melissa Cash, chief marketing officer for KFC U.S., said in March. "What we're seeing is that people still expect their meal to feel complete, satisfying, and abundant, and that's where Value Feast stands apart, delivering a full box with an irrational amount of chicken for the price."