Okay listen — I’m not trying to be dramatic (I mean… maybe a little), but this KFC Style Veg Strips Recipe has ruined my life in the best possible way. I made them one random Tuesday evening in my cramped Queens kitchen — you know the ones where the fridge door hits the chair if you open it too fast? Exactly — and I legit sat down on the floor with the mixing bowl because I got tired. And hungry. Mostly hungry.
But here’s the thing — once I tasted a strip fresh out of the oil?
I swear I felt something. Like the universe saying, “Hey, you didn’t need chicken anyway, buddy.” Which is kinda rude but also true.
And the wild part is: I’m not even a “make my own snacks at home” kinda person. I’m the “order fries from three different apps at midnight and fall asleep waiting” kinda person. You ever do that thing where you wake up to the knock on the door and pretend you weren’t asleep for 45 minutes? No? Just me? Fine.
Either way… these veg strips saved my dignity. Or destroyed it. Not sure yet.
Why I Even Tried Making KFC-Style Anything
So my cousin — the one who says he’s a health guru but gets winded climbing two subway steps — told me that if I make snacks at home, at least I know what’s going in them. Which is hilarious because I’ve seen that man eat pizza rolls at 3 a.m. without even heating them properly.
But he showed me this hack where you blend veggies and spices into this thick dough thing and then bread it just like KFC. And I looked at him like:
“Bro… are you trying to turn me into a functioning adult? Because that’s not happening.”
Still, I tried it. Mostly to prove him wrong. But also because I was broke that week. Queens rent will do that to you.
And wow. I totally lost it.
The crunch?
The flavor?
The “wait, why does this taste better than chicken?” moment?
Unreal.
The Time I Almost Burned Down the Kitchen (Optional but Not Really Optional)
Okay so—tiny story. The first time I made these veg strips, I put the oil to heat and then got distracted by a TikTok of some guy making a perfect roti in 7 seconds. Seven. Seconds. You know the kind of video that makes you feel like your whole life is a joke?
Next thing I know the oil started doing that angry bubbling thing and the handle of my pan went “click” like it was considering ending our relationship.
I panicked. Obviously. My smoke alarm in Queens is like that overly dramatic friend who screams at everything. I’m not kidding — one time it beeped because I toasted bread too enthusiastically.
Anyway, I turned off the gas, swore a little, opened the windows, pretended everything was fine, and finally got back to my KFC Style Veg Strips Recipe because priorities.
And guess what? They STILL came out amazing.
Kitchen drama: 1
Me: 0
Veg strips: undefeated.
What Makes These Veg Strips So Addictive?
Honestly? The texture.
That crispy-crumbly outside with the soft veggie-flavored inside… it hits. It hits hard.
Also the spices. If you’ve ever had that moment where KFC seasoning makes you pause mid-bite like, “What IS that? Paprika? Magic?” — this scratches the same itch.
And I know somebody’s gonna be like, “But does it really taste like the real thing?”
Listen.
Relax.
Nobody’s saying this will make the Colonel come back from the afterlife. I’m saying it tastes good, okay?
H3: The Vegetables (aka, the Part Where We Pretend to Be Healthy)
Look, I’m not pretending these are a health food. They’re fried, crispy, salty, and the kind of thing you’ll eat way too fast during a Netflix binge.
But the filling is veggies, so honestly it cancels out.
That’s how math works in my head.
You can use:
- Carrots
- Potatoes
- Beans
- Peas
- Corn (yes, corn. Don’t argue.)
- Capsicum
Blend them into a thick dough with spices and a lil breadcrumbs. And bam. You’re practically a chef.
🧂 Recipe Time
(Not the boring food-blogger version where you have to scroll past my childhood trauma to get the ingredients.)
Actually wait. Speaking of trauma — the first time I cooked for someone I had a crush on, I made pasta without salt. Like zero. None. The girl blinked at me and said, “Is this… diet pasta?”
I’ve never recovered.
Anyway — here’s the recipe before I emotionally derail.
KFC Style Veg Strips Recipe (finally)
Ingredients
For the Veg Base:
- 2 medium potatoes
- ½ cup mixed veggies (carrot, peas, beans, corn — whatever’s dying in your fridge)
- 1 green chili
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp chili flakes
- ½ tsp black pepper
- Salt (unlike my pasta incident)
- ½ cup breadcrumbs
- 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
For the Coating:
- 1 cup flour
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- ½ tsp paprika
- ½ tsp pepper
- A pinch of oregano
- Water for the slurry
Frying:
- Oil (the angry hot kind, but safely)
Taste Test — aka My Favorite Part
So the first time I took a bite, I literally said out loud:
“Bro… WHAT.”
And I was alone in the kitchen.
Which is normal for me.
The outside is crunchy like a good secret, and the inside is soft and flavorful — kinda like a veggie nugget but sexier. And I don’t know why frying food gives me this unearned confidence but I suddenly felt like I could open a food truck on Roosevelt Ave.
Imagine me on the street yelling, “VEG STRIPS! GET YOUR VEG STRIPS!”
Yeah, nobody wants that.
Still — these strips? 10/10.
What to Serve These With (because sauce is life)
- Spicy mayo
- Garlic aioli
- Honey chili dip
- Literally any sauce in your fridge except maybe jam
Pro tip: Mix mayo + sriracha + lemon. Thank me later.
Storage Tips (for mysterious people who don’t finish snacks)
Look, if you somehow have leftovers — which is suspicious — freeze them after breading, not after frying.
Fry straight from frozen. No need to thaw. They come out extra crispy. And you get to feel like one of those Pinterest parents who always has snacks ready.
Random Tangent Because My Brain Does This
Once, when I was on the 7 train heading home, I saw a guy eating a burrito with a fork. A fork. The train jerked, he dropped it, and the burrito rolled. I swear to god it rolled like it had somewhere to be.
Anyway, this has nothing to do with veg strips. But that moment lives in my mind rent-free.
Outbound Links (as requested)
- A funny cooking disaster story that made me feel better about myself: https://theweirdkitchen.com
- This chaotic food blog I love: https://smittenkitchen.com
Final Thoughts (not a formal conclusion don’t worry)
Look, if you’ve ever wanted a snack that tastes like comfort, chaos, nostalgia, AND crispy happiness — these are it. This KFC Style Veg Strips Recipe is honestly one of those things I make when I need a win in life.
Try it once.
Burn your tongue.
Regret nothing.
And if they actually do make you forget chicken?
Just remember who told you first.
(Yes, I’m bragging. Let me have this.)
