KFC Twister

The KFC Twister is made with fried chicken strips, creamy pepper mayonnaise, lettuce and tomato. It used to be a popular item at Kentucky Fried Chicken but it has disappeared from the menu. Don’t worry, you can make your own wrap with this copycat recipe that’s easy to make at home in under 30 minutes.

Since the KFC Twister was discontinued in the United States several years ago, I thought it would be great to make a copycat version. This recipe uses pre-fried chicken strips to make it fast and easy to get dinner on the table. Cook the strips from frozen or grab some at the grocery store deli.

The pepper mayonnaise is really what makes this wrap so delicious. It’s so creamy and the fresh black pepper really adds a nice kick of flavor.

Ingredients needed

Tortillas – Large, burrito size flour tortillas.

Chicken strips – You can cook frozen chicken strips or buy pre-cooked chicken strips from the grocery store.

Mayonnaise – Full fat mayonnaise works best. You can also substitute with vegan mayonnaise.

Black pepper – Try and use fresh ground black pepper. This is the star ingredient for the mayonnaise spread.

Lemon juice – Adds a little freshness and acidity to the sauce.

Lettuce, Tomato – Use your favorite shredded lettuce. I used green leaf lettuce for these pictures but romaine or iceburg would work well.

How to make KFC Twister Wrap

1. Black pepper mayo: Place mayonnaise, ground black pepper and lemon juice in a bowl. Whisk until combined and creamy.
2. Assemble: Slightly warm tortillas in the microwave or on the stove to make them easier to wrap.
3. Spread mayonnaise mixture down the middle of a tortilla. Make sure to leave a little room at the ends to wrap.
4. Place 2 cooked chicken strips on the mayonnaise.
5. Top with shredded lettuce and sliced tomatoes.
6. Fold in the ends of the tortilla and wrap like a burrito.

How to warm tortillas

Warming the tortillas helps make them easier to fold and wrap without breaking or tearing. They need to be just slightly warmed to become pliable.

To warm, either microwave them for 10 seconds or place them in a large skillet over medium heat on the stove for about 2 minutes.

How to make homemade chicken strips

If you would like to make your own, homemade fried chicken strips for your KFC wrap you will need:

enough vegetable oil for frying

1 pound boneless chicken breasts, cut into strips

1 beaten egg

1 cup milk

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons ground black pepper

2 teaspoons salt

1/4 teaspoon paprika

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

1/8 cayenne pepper

1/8 teaspoon baking powder

Heat oil in a large pot or deep skillet. Mix together flour, salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder, cayenne and baking powder and place in a zip-loc bag. Place chicken strips in the bag and shake to coat them.

Combine milk and beaten egg into a bowl. Dip each flour coated chicken strip into milk mixture and then coat again in flour mixture. Place chicken in the hot oil and cook until golden, about 10 minutes. Only cook a few at a time. Make sure the internal temperature of the chicken reaches at least 165 degrees F.

Recipe tips

• The Twister wrap is not available in the United States anymore. It is still available in some other countries. The new version of the KFC Twister in other countries includes a crunchy slaw. You can add your favorite coleslaw or leave it off.
• Serve any leftover black pepper mayo as a dip for the wrap or even french fries.
• The great thing about making copycat recipes at home is that you can control the ingredients. This recipe is what you would find at Kentucky Fried Chicken but feel free to add more to the wrap like pickles, onions, shredded cheese and more.

How to store

If you have leftover pepper mayo, it can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.

More easy copycat recipes

• Taco Bell chicken quesadilla
• Texas Roadhouse chili
• Wingstop lemon pepper wings
• Texas Roadhouse seasoned rice
• Wingstop fries