Anyone who has followed us for a while knows we love to recreate some of the big burger chains creations. But make them vegan. Whether it’s the copycat McDonald’s ‘Steakhouse Stack’ burger with peppercorn sauce or the Max Burger’s vegan gochujang burger – I see the adverts and want to try them. So we have started recreating them in vegan form. Here is our version of a vegan KFC dirty Louisiana burger. It’s a really indulgent treat, packed with creamy sauces, a hash brown, crunchy gherkins and a “chicken” style burger. I hope you enjoy it as much as we all do. This. isone the children keeping asking us to make again.

👩‍💻 About the author – Nichola is a family travel expert (and food fanatic) and has written for The Guardian, The Telegraph, LonelyPlanet Magazine and Wanderlust amongst many others. She’s spent over a decade travelling the world with her children and loves recreating recipes from those travels.

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What is this vegan dirty Louisiana KFC burger recipe?

This is my indulgent vegan take on the KFC Dirty Louisiana Burger. Instead of chicken fillet, we’re using a plant-based burger (I used Moving Mountains, but any chicken-style burger will work). Pile it high with a crispy hash brown, two slices of vegan burger cheese, crunchy gherkins, crisp lettuce, and a trio of sauces – creamy sriracha, smoky BBQ, and a black pepper mayo. All sandwiched in a bar-marked brioche bun. It’s saucy, decadent and everything a dirty burger should be.

What does it taste like?

Crispy, juicy and unapologetically messy. You get crunch from the hash brown, tang from the gherkins, creaminess from the cheese, heat from the sriracha, smokiness from the BBQ and when you grill the buns, and that punch of peppery mayo to tie it all together. Each bite is indulgent, saucy and packed with flavour.

Why you’ll love this vegan copycat KFC dirty Louisiana burger recipe

A proper indulgent vegan fast-food fix
Full of flavour and textures
Customisable with your favourite plant-based patties and sauces
No need for a drive-thru – it’s cheaper, kinder and just as satisfying at home
The perfect burger for a weekend treat or crowd-pleasing fakeaway night

Key ingredients

Vegan chicken-style burger – Moving Mountains, Beyond or any brand you love
Hash brown – adds that essential crispy potato layer
Vegan burger cheese slices – melty and indulgent
Creamy sriracha sauce – replacing KFC’s Supercharger sauce
Smoky BBQ sauce – store-bought or homemade
Black pepper mayo – vegan mayo mixed with crushed black pepper and vegan Worcestershire sauce
Gherkins – tangy, sharp, essential for balance
Lettuce – crisp and refreshing
Vegan brioche buns – grilled to get those KFC-style bar marks

Ingredients (serves 2)

Ingredients - Vegan KFC Dirty Louisiana (copycat recipe)

2 vegan chicken-style burgers (Moving Mountains or similar)
2 hash browns
4 slices vegan burger cheese
2 brioche-style vegan burger buns
4–6 gherkin slices
2 lettuce leaves

For the black pepper mayo

3 tbsp vegan mayonnaise
1 tsp crushed black peppercorns
½ tsp vegan Worcestershire sauce

For the sauces

2 tbsp creamy sriracha sauce
2 tbsp smoky BBQ sauce

How to make our vegan KFC dirty Louisiana burger

Cook the patties and hash browns – Follow packet instructions until golden and crispy. Keep warm.
Make the black pepper mayo – Mix vegan mayo with black pepper and Worcestershire sauce. Taste and adjust to your liking.
Grill the buns – Lightly brush the cut sides of the brioche buns with oil and grill or toast until golden with visible bar marks.
Melt the cheese – Add two slices of vegan cheese onto each cooked patty and let it melt slightly (covering with a lid in a pan helps).
Assemble the burgers –
- Spread vegan black pepper mayo over the base of each toasted bun.
- Add the lettuce leaf.
- Place the vegan burger on top.
- Cover with the smoky bbq sauce.
- Place your cheese slices over the cheese.
- Add a hash brown.
- Add the gherkin slices.
- Spoon over creamy sriracha.
- Cap with the bar-marked top bun.
Serve – Wrap in paper if you want the real fast-food experience, and enjoy while hot.

Variations

Swap the vegan chicken burger for a crispy tofu fillet or seitan patty.
Add caramelised onions for extra sweetness.
Make it spicier with jalapeños or a hotter chilli sauce.
Use a wholemeal bun if you want a lighter version.

Serving suggestions

Serve with seasoned fries, onion rings or vegan corn on the cob for a true fakeaway night. A cold beer or a fizzy drink is the perfect partner.

KFC Dirty Louisiana recipe success tips

Grill the buns for that authentic KFC look and extra flavour.
Don’t skimp on the sauces – it’s meant to be messy and indulgent.
Layer carefully so the sauces ooze but don’t completely escape with the first bite.
Use a good vegan cheese that melts well.

Frequently asked questions

Can I make this gluten-free?
Yes, just use gluten-free burger patties, hash browns and buns.

Is this healthier than KFC’s version?
It’s still indulgent, but you’re controlling the ingredients – no hidden dairy or animal products, and less oil if you bake instead of fry.

Can I prep ahead?
The sauces can be made in advance, but the patties and hash browns should be cooked fresh for crispness.

Nutritional information (per burger, approx)

Calories: 630 kcal
Fat: 30 g
Carbohydrates: 64 g
Sugar: 9 g
Protein: 22 g

Our KFC Dirty Louisiana recipe card