KFC's Controversial Double Down To Return

If you think restaurant stunts are going to run out of steam anytime soon, think again, because the granddaddy of fast-food hype — the KFC Double Down — is back. From celebrity meals to brand partnerships (like Krispy Kreme's collaboration with Reese's) to special condiments (like the Baja Blast hot sauce), unusual limited-time food and beverage offerings have been popping up everywhere recently.

While fast-food chains have always developed special menu items, the trend has exploded over the last decade, with social media exposure turning announcements into major events. But there was a simpler time when the novelty of these kinds of foods came from just serving something in the weirdest way possible.

The Double Down first appeared back in 2010, and even among all the other over-the-top offerings in the previous decades, it stood out. McDonald's had given us the option to supersize, and Pizza Hut had released stuffed crust and the Insider – a pizza inside of another pizza — but nobody had gone so far as to sandwich bacon and cheese between two fried chicken patties.

Still, KFC knew what it was doing by launching the Double Down. Despite the fact that people thought it was a joke at first, it ended up becoming so popular that it stayed on the menu longer than anticipated, and then later returned for a limited time in 2014 before leaving for good. Now, after nearly a decade, the fan favorite is back for its crown.