KitchenAid KFC3516ER 3.5-Cup Food Chopper: 2 Speeds, Pulse and a Drizzle Basin

The KitchenAid KFC3516ER is a 3.5-cup electric food chopper built for small prep jobs rather than full-size food-processor work. This article covers Amazon US child ASIN B01LZIHVTC in Empire Red, the corded KFC3516ER with a handled work bowl, stainless-steel multipurpose blade, and lid with drizzle basin.

At fact-check time, Amazon showed the exact child at $54.99 with 4.5 stars from 31,008 ratings and 700+ bought in the past month. KitchenAid's own Empire Red page showed the same $54.99 sale price against a $69.99 regular price. Those prices can change, so the more useful question is whether a 3.5-cup chopper saves enough time on the small jobs you actually do.

The 3.5-cup bowl is designed for small batches

The work bowl is the defining feature. KitchenAid gives it a handle and pour spout, and the blade locks into place so you can pour out chopped or puréed food without a loose blade dropping into the bowl.

For onions, herbs, garlic, small salsa batches, cooked vegetables, sauces, or baby-food-sized portions, that compact capacity is practical. The machine is easier to leave on a small counter than a full-size processor, and KitchenAid adds a simple cord wrap for storage.

The limitation is equally clear: 3.5 cups is not a family-size processing bowl. If you regularly prep large batches or want to slice and shred vegetables through feed-tube discs, a larger food processor is a better match.

Two speeds plus pulse cover coarse and smooth results

KitchenAid gives the KFC3516 two speeds plus pulse. The brand positions those controls for moving from coarser textures such as chunky salsa toward finer results such as hummus, smooth sauces, or dressings.

That is enough control for a small chopper without adding a complicated panel. Pulse is especially useful when you want short bursts and do not want herbs or vegetables to move immediately from chopped to overprocessed.

The stainless-steel multipurpose blade handles chopping, mixing, and puréeing. There are no slicing or shredding discs in the included three-piece accessory set, so this is best understood as a powered chopper and purée tool, not a replacement for every food-processor attachment.

The drizzle basin is useful for dressings and sauces

The lid includes a drizzle basin that lets you add liquid while the machine is running. That is a small feature, but it changes what the chopper can do well.

Instead of stopping to remove the lid repeatedly, you can gradually incorporate oil or another liquid into mayonnaise, vinaigrettes, sauces, and similar mixtures. That makes the KFC3516 more versatile than a basic one-button mini chopper used only for dry ingredients.

The bowl's pour spout also fits this workflow: process a dressing or sauce, remove the lid, and pour from the same container. The compact bowl still limits batch size, but for a small amount of dressing or dip that can mean fewer dishes.

Dishwasher-safe removable parts simplify cleanup

KitchenAid says the work bowl, lid, and blade are dishwasher safe. That matters for a tool whose main value is speed; a mini chopper is less useful if cleanup takes longer than the knife work it replaces.

The motor base is not a dishwasher part, so the practical cleanup routine is to remove the bowl, lid, and blade for washing while wiping the powered base separately. The blade is sharp, and the locking design should not be treated as a reason to handle its cutting edges casually.

Who should buy it? The KFC3516ER makes the most sense for one- or two-person kitchens, cooks who frequently mince aromatics, or households that want a fast second processor for small quantities. It is less compelling if you need large-batch capacity, slicing or shredding discs, a feed tube, or a cordless design.

At roughly $55 during this fact check, its appeal comes from doing a narrow set of jobs quickly: chop, mix, purée, drizzle, pour, and clean up. If those are the tasks that slow down your everyday prep, the 3.5-cup size is an advantage. If your normal recipe starts with a large pile of vegetables, the same small bowl becomes the reason to choose something bigger.