4:28 PM PT -- A spokesperson for J.D. Vance tells TMZ ... "The media is making a story up out of thin air. Senator Vance was referring to the fact that he prefers fried chicken, and his wife prefers curry chicken. Fried chicken was a staple in the Vance household when JD was a kid, as he wrote in Hillbilly Elegy."

J.D. Vance is catching heat for taking Laura Loomer's racist Kamala Harris diss to the next level ... adding fried chicken to the mix, along with a side of curry.

In a recent interview on NBC News' "Meet The Press," Vance tells Kristen Welker ... "Whether you're eating curry at your dinner table or fried chicken, things have gotten more expensive thanks to her policies."

Vance was being asked about Loomer's recent racist comments aimed at the Vice President ... namely, saying if Harris, whose mom was Indian American, got elected, the White House would "smell like curry."

Donald Trump's running mate begins his response by saying he makes a "mean chicken curry" and says he doesn't agree with what Loomer said about Harris, but says that's not the point.

Vance goes on to say Loomer is not running for President and Harris is the nominee ... and then mentions curry and fried chicken.

The issue for lots of folks ... Harris is also Black, and Vance's fried chicken comment comes off as racist.

Welker also pointed out during the interview that Vance's wife, who he has 3 children with, is Indian. 🤷🏽‍♂️