KFC to serve meat free ‘chicken’ in its UK restaurants from next year as Brits turn veggie

KFC is cooking up meat free "chicken" to serve in the UK as more Brits opt for veggie diets.

The Bargain Bucket chain is planning to roll out its new vegetarian range in British restaurants in 2019 — after trials as early as this year.

But they assure fast food fans that the alternative "meat" will still be coated in the Colonel's famous seasoning of 11 herbs and spices.

It comes as the fast food giant plans to cut calories by 20 per cent per serving over the next seven years to tackle Britain's obesity crisis.

More than one in four adults in the UK are classified as obese — up from just 15 per cent 25 years ago, according to NHS stats.

The vegetarian "chicken" will offer the "great taste of KFC to new and existing customers who are changing their dining habits", the chain said.

And they insist the veggie chicken will be healthier than its standard range.

A Big Daddy Meal comes in at a gut-busting 1,430 calories — nearly 60 per cent of a man's recommended daily intake and 80 per cent for an adult woman.

But KFC has not given any details on what the range will consist of just yet.

A spokesman told Sun Online that "development of the recipe is still in its very early stages, and so the options we’re exploring in our kitchen are still top secret."

A statement added: "Once we’ve perfected the recipe we aim to test with customers this year, and if all goes well, we hope to launch a new vegetarian option in 2019."

It comes after rivals McDonald's announced last October it was trialling a vegan burger in Finland.