Learn more fun facts on the National Fried Chicken Day Video Page.
- Categories:
- Food & Beverage
- Tags:
- American foodComfort FoodCooking
- Where:
- United States
- Date change rule:
- Every July 6
- Holiday emoji:
- 🍗
National Fried Chicken Day arrives every July 6, inviting everyone to indulge in this iconic comfort food. Whether you prefer it spicy, original, or extra crispy, it’s a day to savor every bite. Gather your friends and family, find your favorite fried chicken spot, or try making your own delicious batch at home!
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Expected National Fried Chicken Day Deals
While we wait for official 2027 promotions to drop, history shows that National Fried Chicken Day brings irresistible deals from major chains. Expect KFC to offer special buckets or combo discounts, while Popeyes often features BOGO deals on their famous chicken. Chick-fil-A might surprise customers with app-exclusive offers, and Church’s Chicken could roll out family meal specials. Smaller regional favorites like Zaxby’s, Bojangles’, and Raising Cane’s are also likely to participate with limited-time promotions or freebies. We will update this page with confirmed live deals as July 6 approaches.
Platform Guide for National Fried Chicken Day
TikTok
Tag @www.nationaltoday.com and use #NationalFriedChickenDay. Film a taste test of different fried chicken brands or share your secret recipe.
Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #NationalFriedChickenDay. Post mouth-watering photos or reels of your favorite fried chicken meals.
X/Twitter
Mention @NatlToday and use #NationalFriedChickenDay. Share your top fried chicken spot or debate the best side dish to pair with it.
National Fried Chicken Day Hero
Colonel Harland Sanders
History of National Fried Chicken Day
American fried chicken is considered the best, but Americans weren’t the first to do it. Europeans were already frying chickens back in the Middle Ages, but it was the Scottish immigrants to the U.S. who brought with them their tradition of deep-frying chicken in fat. Their preferred style of eating fried chicken was with no seasoning so their recipe was slightly bland. African slaves of the Scottish immigrants adopted the fried chicken recipe, often adding more spices as their own unique touch in the way fried chicken was cooked. This dish became a staple in many Southern-American households when African slaves became cooks there.
One basis of this theory is from James Boswell’s journal titled “Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides.” In 1773, he wrote about eating fricassee of fowl for dinner, served by the locals — “fried chicken or something like that.”
The earliest known recipe for fried chicken was written by Hannah Glasse in the 18th century in her cookbook titled “The Art of Cookery Made Plain and Easy.” Her recipe was strangely named ‘To Marinate Chickens,’ and its first publication was in 1747.
The history of fried chicken wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the king of fried chicken himself, Colonel Harland David Sanders. After doing a range of jobs, he came up with the genius idea of cooking fried chicken fast using a blend of seasoning and a pressure cooker. When he first started selling the dish at his restaurant in Corbin, Kentucky, it wasn’t an instant success. At the age of 65, he hit the road selling his fried chicken under the name “Kentucky Fried Chicken.” As part of his business, he adopted the title of colonel. By 1964, when he sold his company, there were 600 KFC franchises all over the country.
Fried chicken continues to spark the interest of food lovers and consumers. In 2019, Popeye’s launched their fried chicken sandwich, which caused a huge sensation. The craze and hype for the chicken sandwich continue until the present, with an ongoing ‘chicken war’ between competing franchises.
National Fried Chicken Day timeline
Humans living in Southeast Asia domesticate wild jungle fowl.
Fried chicken is associated with American Southerners.
The earliest known written recipe for American-style fried chicken appears in the British cookbook, “The Art of Cookery Made Plain and Easy” by Hannah Glasse.
"Colonel" Harland Sanders begins franchising his Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant.
How Businesses Can Celebrate National Fried Chicken Day
Local restaurants and diners can celebrate National Fried Chicken Day by offering special discounts on fried chicken meals, creating unique flavor profiles, or hosting ‘all-you-can-eat’ events. Food trucks can feature limited-edition fried chicken sandwiches or tenders. Grocery stores might run promotions on chicken cuts, breading mixes, and cooking oil to encourage home cooks to celebrate. Consider partnering with local beverage companies for combo deals.
National Fried Chicken Day - Survey Results
Traditions
It’s tradition to consume a bucket (or two) of fried chicken. Fried chicken is addictively good and unparalleled in taste. It is consumed in high quantities daily all over the world, but on National Fried Chicken Day, it will be sinful to not indulge in fried chicken.
Fried chicken is all the rage these days, with ‘chicken wars’ taking place between franchises. Great deals and limited edition fried chicken variations are offered, with people queuing to take advantage of them and get their favorite chicken. Social media blows up with fans pledging to their choice of chicken, and the hot topic of the day is “which fried chicken is the best of all?”
Fried chicken is prepared with different ingredients and methods in different communities, and countries. Cooking and trying variations of fried chicken is also traditional.
National Fried Chicken Day By The Numbers
3 – the number of primary frying methods for fried chicken.
1825 – the year when the first recipe for fried chicken in the U.S. appeared in a book called “The Virginia Housewife, Or Methodical Cook”
18,000 – the estimated number of KFC franchises worldwide.
115 – the number of countries KFC is sold in.
2,493 – the weight in pounds of the largest serving of fried chicken at KFC in celebration of the franchise’s 70th anniversary.
1.25 billion – the number of chicken wing portions consumed on Super Bowl weekend in 2012.
National Fried Chicken Day FAQs
When is National Fried Chicken Day?
National Fried Chicken Day 2026 falls on Monday, July 6. It’s the perfect way to kick off a delicious week with some crispy, savory comfort food.
How popular is fried chicken in America?
Fried chicken remains incredibly popular in the U.S., with millions of servings consumed annually across fast-food chains and home kitchens. It’s a staple comfort food deeply embedded in American culinary culture.
What are the origins of fried chicken?
The origins of modern fried chicken trace back to a fusion of Scottish frying techniques and West African seasoning traditions. This culinary blend evolved in the American South, becoming a beloved dish.
What are the key ingredients for perfect fried chicken?
Achieving perfect fried chicken typically involves brining the chicken for tenderness, a well-seasoned flour or batter for crispiness, and frying at the right temperature for a golden-brown finish.
National Fried Chicken Day Activities
Fry it up yourself
Find a recipe, hit the kitchen, and dive in. Serve the results to family and friends. They'll probably love you for it.
Go authentic
Fast food fried chicken is delicious, but on this special day, step up your fried chicken game. Try the real thing by finding an authentic Southern restaurant in your area. Chances are — fried chicken occupies a prominent place on the menu.
Treat the boss
Fried chicken is traditionally a family meal shared from a common bucket, bowl, or plate. Surprise your coworkers by carting a giant bucket 'o' chicken to the office and enjoying it together during your lunch hour. Make sure to bring plenty of napkins. Nobody wants greasy keyboards.
5 Facts About Fried Chicken
KFC wasn’t an overnight success
It took Colonel Sanders a long time to get his recipe to catch on.
Fried chicken has different traditions
In Japan, a bucket of KFC is a mandatory part of Christmas celebrations.
Fried chicken was for special occasions only
Before World War II, fried chicken was only served on special celebrations.
Fried chicken is different around the world
Chicken is fried differently around the world — in Korea, it is double-fried and coated in sweet and spicy sauce and, in Japan, it is cut into little pieces before frying.
Gainesville takes eating fried chicken seriously
In Gainesville, Georgia it's illegal to eat fried chicken with a fork or any utensil other than your hands!
Why We Love National Fried Chicken Day
Humble beginnings
Fried chicken acted as a means to empower slaves, who were able to generate independent cash flows by selling it. The dish became popular prior to the Civil War since chickens were the only animals slaves were allowed to own and raise.
Endless variety
Spicy? Extra crispy? Regular? There are as many ways to cook fried chicken as there are people lined up to eat it. Fried chicken can be dunked in vegetable shortening, lard, peanut oil, or any other oil of your choice.
Eat it your way
You can leave (most of) your manners at the door. It's a dish best eaten sloppily, noisily, and with a lot of passion.
National Fried Chicken Day Featured Video
Celebrate National Fried Chicken Day!
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