KFC Canada x Matty Matheson | Menu, Collab & Guide in 2026
Welcome to the KFC Canada x Matty Matheson: Everything You Need to Know About the Collab. If you follow Canadian food culture even a little, you have probably seen Matty Matheson’s face somewhere whether it’s on a cooking show, a Netflix series, or now on a KFC Canada menu board. And if you have not heard of him yet, you are about to understand why his collaboration with KFC Canada turned heads across the country.
This is not your typical celebrity fast-food deal where a famous face just slaps their name on a combo. The KFC Canada and Matty Matheson collaboration launched on January 19, 2026, and introduced four distinct limited-edition menu items that blend Matheson’s bold Canadian culinary style with KFC’s traditional fried chicken foundation. That’s a real menu overhaul and the items are genuinely interesting.
For the full lineup, visit the KFC x Matty Matheson category on our site. This article breaks down everything who Matty is, why KFC picked him, what the items taste like, and what you need to know before heading to your nearest KFC location.
Who Is Matty Matheson?
Matthew James Matheson was born on February 7, 1982, and is a Canadian chef and actor. He was born in Saint John, New Brunswick, and his family moved to Fort Erie, Ontario when he was 11. His grandfather owned a diner on Prince Edward Island, and that early connection to food and restaurants never really left him.
At 19, Matheson enrolled in Humber College’s culinary arts program in Toronto, which is where he finally found his passion for cooking. He worked his way up through Toronto’s restaurant scene, eventually becoming executive chef at Parts & Labour, a well-known spot that ran until 2019.
After that, he kept building. Matheson has since started Matty’s Patty’s Burger Club, a takeout restaurant in Toronto which opened in December 2020, and in 2022, he opened Prime Seafood Palace, also in Toronto.
But most Canadians know him from his TV work. Though he is made a name for himself as the recognizable face of cooking shows like Vice’s Munchies, Dead Set on Life, and It’s Suppertime, being a regular character on a scripted TV show was never his goal. That changed when he joined the cast and production of The Bear on FX he is an executive producer and co-star on the show, playing handyman Neil Fak.
His food style? Loud, generous, and unapologetically comfort-driven. He is not the type to plate a tiny piece of fish with foam. He piles things on, melts cheese over everything, and makes food that actually looks like it was made for eating, not photographing.
Why KFC Canada Partnered with Matty Matheson
KFC Canada wanted to connect with a younger, food-obsessed Canadian audience, people who follow chefs on social media, watch The Bear, and care about food culture beyond just fast food. Matty Matheson is arguably the most relatable and recognizable figure in that space right now.
“We didn’t want to make ads about Matty, we wanted to make KFC feel like Matty,” said Joel Holtby, founder and co-CCO of Courage, the agency behind the campaign. “Matty represents a kind of loud, generous, unapologetic Canadian food culture that KFC has always been part of.”
That quote says it all. The goal was not to get a celebrity to smile in front of a bucket. It was to make the KFC Canada menu feel genuinely creative and Canadian and Matty was the right person to do that.
“Matty is a Canadian culinary icon, so partnering with him for KFC Canada just felt right,” said Jordan Sequeira, Sr. Marketing Manager, KFC Canada.
The collaboration also gave KFC a cultural moment. KFC transformed a Toronto location into “Matty’s KFC” the first time the chain reimagined its storefront for an activation, with both exterior and interior fully redesigned to reflect the limited-time menu. That kind of event generates real buzz, not just ad impressions.
Every Item in the KFC x Matty Matheson Menu
The collaboration included four menu items: the Matty Melt Slider, the Matty Melt Sandwich, the Matty Mega Melt Poutine, and the Matty Mega Feast. Here is a detailed look at each one:
1. Matty Melt Slider
The Matty Melt Slider features KFC’s Original Recipe chicken tender topped with creamy cheese sauce, caramelized onions, and mayo, stacked into a sesame slider bun. It’s available in a 2 for $6 deal or as a combo.
This is the entry-level item in the collab, small, snackable, and great value. The caramelized onions are the move here. Sweet, soft, and slow-cooked, they’re the detail that sets this apart from a regular KFC slider. Two for $6 is genuinely affordable, and ordering them as a combo with fries and a drink makes a solid meal.
Best for: Quick snack, first-time collab trier, budget-conscious KFC fans.
2. Matty Melt Sandwich
The Matty Melt Sandwich features KFC’s signature triple-breaded chicken fillet layered with cheese sauce, sweet caramelized onions, and creamy mayo, all stacked on a potato bun.
This is the full sandwich version of the slider concept, and the triple-breaded chicken fillet is the real upgrade here. More crunch, more chicken, and that potato bun adds a softness that works well against the crunchy fillet. The cheese sauce and onions carry the same Matty flavour DNA as the slider, just at a bigger scale.
Best for: Sandwich lovers who want something different from the Big Crunch or Zinger. Available as a combo with fries and a drink.
3. Matty Mega Melt Poutine $10
The Matty Mega Melt Poutine features a stack of fries topped with the classic cheese curds and gravy, as well as cheese sauce, caramelized onions, and popcorn chicken.
This is the most creative item in the lineup. KFC’s regular poutine is already popular but Matty cranked it up. Adding popcorn chicken directly into the poutine is a smart move; every forkful has something going on. The seasoned cheese sauce over the traditional curds and gravy makes it richer and more layered than your standard KFC poutine. At $10, it’s shareable or a serious solo meal.
Best for: Poutine fans, people who want the most “Matty” item on the collab menu.
4. Matty Mega Feast
The Matty Mega Feast includes 10 pieces of KFC Original Recipe chicken, a large Popcorn Chicken, a Matty Mega Melt Poutine Bowl, two homestyle sides of your choice, and 3 dips.
This is the all-in option for groups. If you want to try the collab poutine and get a proper bucket of KFC chicken, the Mega Feast is the most efficient way to do it. It’s a full group meal in one order.
Best for: Feeding a group, families, anyone who wants the full Matty x KFC experience. Here is a quick summary table:
| Item | Key Ingredients | Price (CAD) | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matty Melt Slider (x2) | Chicken tender, cheese sauce, caramelized onions, mayo | $6 | Snacking, value |
| Matty Melt Sandwich | Triple-breaded fillet, cheese sauce, caramelized onions, potato bun | Available as combo | Sandwich lovers |
| Matty Mega Melt Poutine | Fries, cheese curds, gravy, cheese sauce, onions, popcorn chicken | $10 | Poutine fans |
| Matty Mega Feast | 10-pc chicken, popcorn chicken, poutine, 2 sides, 3 dips | Group pricing | Families, groups |
How Do the Matty Matheson Items Taste? Review
The Matty Melt Slider punches above its price. Two for $6 feels like a deal, and the caramelized onions genuinely change the flavour compared to a regular KFC slider. The cheese sauce adds creaminess that holds the whole thing together. The only downside? They’re small. You’ll want at least three to feel full on their own.
The Matty Melt Sandwich is the standout. The triple-breaded fillet gives you more crunch than the standard Big Crunch, and the potato bun holds up without going soggy. The combination of cheese sauce and caramelized onions makes it taste more “restaurant” than “fast food” which is exactly what a chef collab should do.
The Matty Mega Melt Poutine is the boldest item. It’s rich, heavy, and very filling. The popcorn chicken scattered throughout makes every bite interesting, and the cheese sauce on top of the traditional curds creates a double-layer of cheesiness that works surprisingly well. It’s not for anyone looking for something light but it’s not supposed to be.
The Mega Feast is value-forward and doesn’t disappoint. You get solid KFC chicken alongside the collab’s signature poutine, which is a good combination for a group setting.
Overall: the items feel genuine, not just branded. You can taste Matty’s influence. Everything is bolder, cheesier, and more layered than the regular KFC menu.
Is the KFC x Matty Matheson Collab Still Available in 2026?
The collaboration was originally available at restaurants across Canada until February 22, 2026. As a limited-time offer, the full original lineup ran through that date at participating KFC outlets nationwide.
However, KFC Canada has kept the KFC x Matty Matheson category active on its menu page, which suggests certain items or variations may remain available or return in updated form. The collab also included weekly app-exclusive secret items throughout the campaign window and weekly app-only drops extended the collaboration throughout the campaign period.
If you are searching for a KFC near me that still carries these items, your best bet is to check the KFC Canada app or use the KFC Canada store locator to confirm availability at your nearest KFC location. Menu availability varies by outlet and province.
Other Famous KFC Canada Collab & Limited Time Offers
KFC Canada has a solid track record of interesting limited-time offers beyond the Matty Matheson collab. The Limited Time Offers section of the KFC Canada menu is where these items land and it’s worth checking regularly.
Past examples include seasonal flavour launches, special bucket deals, and partnership promotions tied to Canadian sports like the KFC Canada and Winnipeg Jets NHL partnership in late 2024, which brought special game-day pricing on the Big Crunch at participating KFC locations near Canada Life Centre.
KFC Canada also rolls out new Chili Crunch items and other bold flavour additions throughout the year. These limited-time items come and go, so the best way to stay current is through the KFC app or by checking the KFC Canada menu regularly.
Ftrquently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Conclusion
The KFC Canada x Matty Matheson collab was one of the most talked-about fast-food moments in Canada in early 2026. It worked because both sides brought something real to the table: KFC’s chicken foundation and Matty’s bold, comfort-forward cooking style. The items were not gimmicks. They were legitimately good, and they felt genuinely Canadian.
Here is a quick recap of what made this collab stand out:
- Four real menu items not just rebranded existing products
- Unique flavour profile caramelized onions and cheese sauce across the lineup
- Strong value 2 sliders for $6, Mega Melt Poutine for $10
- App-exclusive weekly drops kept the collab fresh throughout the campaign
- Nationwide availability at KFC locations across Canada, from BC to Nova Scotia
For the most up-to-date information on item availability, check our KFC x Matty Matheson page and the broader Blogs section where we cover new KFC Canada developments as they happen.
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All information is based on verified press releases and publicly available KFC Canada announcements. Menu availability may vary by KFC location and province. Check kfc.ca or the KFC app for current offerings.
