KFC’s Mashed Potato Poppers and Dunk It Bucket Meals Are Here

Homestyle mashed potatoes are already glorious in their own right. What could possibly make them better? 

KFC just added crunchy new Mashed Potato Poppers to the menu — and it’s everything of our comfort food dreams. Described as crunchy on the outside with a creamy filling of classic KFC potatoes, these golden-brown goodies are unlike anything we’ve previously seen in the United States. The newest menu item will hit drive-thrus starting today, the brand tells Food & Wine. 

Like all good things, they won’t last forever — and will only stick around while supplies last, the brand confirms. But how does a chain land on such a groundbreaking new side? To develop this twist on a classic Southern side, Kentucky Fried Chicken says it looked to its international locations. 

“We were inspired by a popular KFC menu item in Australia called Mashies, but our new Mashed Potato Poppers are a refined, modern take on our iconic mashed potatoes and seamlessly complement gravy or any dipping sauce on the menu,” a KFC spokesperson tells Food & Wine. 

To many KFC diners in Australia, “Mashies” are almost sacred. These limited-edition fried mashed potatoes, sold in a 12-pack, disappeared for more than a decade before popping back up in 2023. (Their KFC outposts also have fried chicken nachos, if you aren’t already jealous.) The love — and later, grief — for the nostalgic yet elusive Mashies have been undeniable, so it seems: 

Stateside, hungry visitors can snag this snack in the $7 Dunk It Bucket, the chain’s first new bucket in 10 years. This limited-time combo includes an order of Poppers, Original Recipe chicken tenders, fries, and three dipping sauces. (You’ll have the choice between seven different dips, including KFC’s signature brown gravy.) Want just a taste? You can order a five-piece of these Poppers on their own with that gravy to pair. 

“Mashed Potato Poppers are made for dunking and dipping,” a KFC spokesperson tells Food & Wine. “They’re delicious with our warm gravy, zesty Comeback Sauce, ranch, and more — with plenty of sauce options on deck to meet personal preferences.”

KFC isn’t the only chain to embrace a sauce-forward menu. Dippable snacks are evidently on the minds’ of Taco Bell’s menu developers, notably in their latest Steak and Queso Crunchwrap Sliders. Meanwhile, Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen is bringing its sauces to the grocery aisle, and condiment mainstay Heinz is switching up its usual offerings with an array of “globally-inspired” flavors. Even if KFC doesn’t call Kentucky home anymore, the chain is approaching food trends in its own finger lickin’ way. 

Bottom line: If jalapeño poppers are too spicy for your taste, this creamy version might be more up your alley.