KFC’s Fried Chicken Recipe is known for its unique flavor and crispy texture. The secret lies in the blend of 11 herbs and spices that give the chicken its signature taste. While the exact recipe is a closely guarded secret, many have attempted to recreate it over the years.
Most importantly, the base of the recipe starts with high-quality chicken. KFC uses fresh chicken pieces, ensuring they are tender and juicy. The chicken is usually soaked in buttermilk, which tenderizes the meat and adds flavor. Buttermilk also helps the seasoning stick to the chicken better.
Another crucial key to KFC’s Fried Chicken Recipe flavor is the seasoning mix. Although the original recipe remains secret, it’s believed to include ingredients like salt, black pepper, and paprika. Other likely ingredients are garlic powder, onion powder, dried thyme, and dried basil. Some speculate that white pepper, mustard powder, and celery salt are also part of the mix.
Here is my version of KFC’s Fried Chicken Recipe.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1.5 tsp dried thyme leaves
- 1.5 tsp dried basil leaves
- 1 tsp celery salt
- 2 tsp of salt
- 1 tbsp ground black pepper
- 1 tbsp ground yellow mustard
- ¼ cup paprika
- 2 tbsp garlic salt
- 1 tbsp ground ginger
- 3 tbsp ground white pepper
- 1 large carton of buttermilk
- 1 egg, beaten
- 8-10 pieces of a whole chicken (drumsticks, thighs, breasts)
- Enough canola oil to fill a Dutch pot for frying
- Aluminum foil
- MSG seasoning, like Accent – – – >> here is a link to the one I used on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3XicyXy
- Baking Sheet with Wire Rack (to place on top of baking sheet) – – – >> here is a link to it on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3XgTWqB.
- Dutch oven pot – – – >> here is a link to a good one on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4cEmz5C
- 2 Mixing bowls – – – >> here is a link to a set of mixing bowls on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3MjT5zq
- A sealable Tupperware container big enough to brine 8-10 pieces of chicken overnight in buttermilk. – – – >> these are the containers I use and they come with a lid: https://amzn.to/4dUN7AL.
- Tongs – – – >> here is a link to some inexpensive, good ones on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3X7abFM.
***For the chicken to retain its moisture, brine the chicken in buttermilk overnight.
Directions for KFC’s Fried Chicken Recipe:
Making the batter
- In a large mixing bowl, combine all the herbs and spices with the all-purpose flour. Set it aside.
- In another mixing bowl, crack an egg and whisk it until smooth.
- Take the chicken that has been brining overnight out of the fridge and mix it with the beaten egg so that all chicken is covered in egg and buttermilk.
- Preheat the oven to 175 degrees Fahrenheit (F).
- Take a large baking sheet and line it with aluminum foil. Place a wire rack on top of the lined baking sheet. We will use this to put the fried chicken in the oven at the very end for the perfect crunchy texture.
We are now at the frying stage for KFC’s Fried Chicken Recipe
- In a large Dutch oven pot, heat your canola oil. I like to fill the Dutch pot about halfway with oil to ensure a good deep fry.
- Make sure the oil reaches a stable temperature of 350 degrees F. Use a thermometer to measure accuracy. Once the oil reaches 350 degrees F, reduce the heat to medium-low.
- Take the chicken, one by one, and place each piece in the flour mixture making sure all sides are coated. Press down firmly to ensure the flour mixture adheres to all sides of your chicken. Shake off any excess flour and slowly lower the chicken into the hot oil in your Dutch pot. I usually fry about 4 pieces at a time. Always make sure to allow the oil to return to 350 degrees F before adding more chicken. Repeat the same process of dredging the chicken in the flour mixture and frying until all chicken is fried.
- Cook the chicken for approximately 12 minutes, making sure to turn the chicken halfway through with some tongs. The chicken will be a gorgeous gold brown color. It will not be fully cooked yet, so don’t freak out if you take it out and the inside still needs cooking. That is why we finish it in the oven until it reaches the desired cooked internal temperature of 165 degrees, while preserving the crunch of the fried chicken, and not over frying the batter.
Time to bake it to finish cooking and give it the perfect crunch!
- Transfer your chicken onto the wire rack on top of your aluminum foil lined baking sheet.
- Sprinkle lightly with MSG (I used Accent). Be careful not to use too much or your chicken will be extremely salty. It only needs a little dusting.
- Then, place your chicken in the oven to continue cooking until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees.
So, I had a lot of fun making this video and editing it. My hubby and I actually created the song using AI with my recipe incorporated into the lyrics. Please watch the video for clarity on any of the steps above. This video has the complete breakdown of this recipe from beginning to end. You can watch every step of this recipe in this video as I prep, coat the chicken in the batter, and fry it with you, all in a 3-minute video. Pause the video as you cook with me.
Grab a glass of wine like I do in my video and make my version of KFC’s Fried Chicken Recipe with me!
By the way, the leftover fried chicken tasted even better the next day! I popped the chicken into my air fryer for 5 minutes and it was pure perfection the next day. My husband didn’t mind re-heating the chicken in the microwave. I prefer the air fryer because it comes out crispier, but both ways taste amazing. There is something about these herbs that just make this chicken so tasty. I can’t wait for you guys to recreate this at home. Let me know what you guys think and don’t forget to tag me on Instagram, @realdenisewilliams, so I can see all your delicious creations!
If you’re still hungry when you wake up in the morning, try my fluffy Cinnamon Roll Pancakes with cream cheese icing. They are amazing! Here is a link to them: https://lifewithdenise.com/2021/01/cinnamon-roll-pancakes/.
