Kentucky Fried Chicken Recipe (2024)

Home Fried Chicken Recipes Kentucky Fried Chicken Recipe

Becky Hardin

4.68 from 31 votes

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This Kentucky Fried Chicken Recipe brings KFC’s famous spice blend to the traditional flavor of fried chicken. Each piece of chicken has the perfect crispy texture that is sure to make your mouth water!

Kentucky Fried Chicken Recipe (1)

What’s in this KFC Recipe?

This copycat Kentucky fried chicken recipe has the ever-so-famous KFC spice blend, making for a flavorful crust on your chicken that would even make colonel sanders himself envious.

  • Chicken: We part out a whole chicken so everyone gets their favorite bits.
  • Buttermilk: Makes the chicken tender and flavorful.
  • Egg: Helps the coating stick to the chicken.
  • All-Purpose Flour: Helps form the crispy coating.
  • Spices: A savory blend of paprika, garlic powder, ground white pepper, celery salt, ground black pepper, ground mustard, kosher salt, onion powder, thyme, basil, oregano, ginger, and MSG makes this chicken finger-lickin’ good!
  • Vegetable Oil: The perfect high smoke point neutral oil for frying.

Pro Tip: After marinating your chicken, pat it dry before breading it. This will help the breading stick better.

Variations on Kentucky Fried Chicken

Want a spicier fried chicken? Add a bit of cayenne pepper to the spice mix so you get that kick of heat right in the crispy skin. You can also serve it with some hot sauce for good measure!

Kentucky Fried Chicken Recipe (2)

Kentucky Fried Chicken Recipe (3)

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What is the secret to Kentucky Fried Chicken?

According to the Chicago Tribune, the original recipe consists of 11 herbs and spices, including: salt, thyme, basil, oregano, celery salt, black pepper, dried mustard, paprika, garlic salt, ground ginger, and white pepper. To amp ours up a bit, we added onion powder and MSG (optional).

How do I cut up a whole chicken?

With the chicken breast side up, pull each leg away from the body, then slice through the skin between the breast and drumstick. Turn the chicken onto its side and bend each leg back until the thighbone pops out of its socket. Cut through the joint and skin to detach the leg completely, then pull each wing away from the body and cut through the joint. Lift up the chicken and cut down through the ribcage and then shoulder joints to separate the breast from the back. Place the breast skin side down. Split the center bone using a chopping motion, then slice through the meat and skin to separate it into 2 pieces. To divide the legs, turn each skin side down and cut through the joints along the white fat line to separate the thigh from the drumstick.

How long should I marinate Kentucky fried chicken for?

I recommend marinating the chicken overnight if you have time, but 30 minutes is sufficient if you’re in a hurry.

Why is my Kentucky fried chicken burnt on the outside, but raw in the middle?

If your heat is set too high, you’ll end up with chicken that has a burnt exterior but is still raw and uncooked inside. Be sure to use a thermometer to check your oil temperature often, and use an instant-read thermometer to check the internal temperature of the meat.

Why is my Kentucky fried chicken oily/soggy?

If your heat is set too low, it can take too long for the chicken to fry, and it will become dense, oily, and soggy. Be sure to use a thermometer to check your oil temperature often, and don’t overload the Dutch oven with too many pieces of chicken at once.

Can I make Kentucky fried chicken in an air fryer?

Yes! Preheat your air fryer to 390°F and lay parchment along the bottom so that the chicken doesn’t stick. Place the chicken in the air fryer in a single layer with no pieces touching one another (you may have to fry in batches) and air fry for about 25 minutes, flipping once halfway, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.

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How to Store and Reheat

Store leftover Kentucky fried chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat fried chicken, place the chicken pieces on a wire rack set in a baking sheet in a 400°F oven for 15-20 minutes, or until 165°F internally.

How to Freeze

Freeze Kentucky fried chicken tightly wrapped in aluminum foil and set in a Ziplock bag for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

Serving Suggestions

Serve Kentucky fried chicken with classic sides, such as mashed potatoes, french fries, coleslaw, mac and cheese, or biscuits. Dip in your favorite sauce, such as honey mustard, BBQ, ranch, or hot sauce!

Kentucky Fried Chicken Recipe (5)

Kentucky Fried Chicken Recipe (6)

4.68 from 31 votes

Copycat Kentucky Fried Chicken Recipe

This homemade Kentucky Fried Chicken Recipe brings KFC's famous spice blend to the traditional flavor of fried chicken.

Prep: 40 minutes minutes

Cook: 15 minutes minutes

Total Time: 1 hour hour 25 minutes minutes

Marinating Time: 30 minutes minutes

Servings: 8 people

Kentucky Fried Chicken Recipe (7)

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Ingredients

  • 1 whole chicken cut up into 8 pieces
  • 1 cup buttermilk (see note)
  • 1 large egg beaten
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • ¼ cup ground paprika
  • 2 tablespoons garlic powder
  • 2 tablespoons ground white pepper
  • 1 tablespoon celery salt
  • 1 tablespoon ground black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon dry ground mustard
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • 2 teaspoons onion powder
  • 2 teaspoons dried thyme
  • 2 teaspoons dried basil
  • 1 ½ teaspoons dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • ½ teaspoon MSG optional
  • vegetable oil for frying

Equipment

  • Baking Sheet

  • Deep Fryer OR

  • Dutch Oven

  • Deep Fry Oil Thermometer

  • Instant-Read Thermometer

Instructions

  • Cut the chicken into its respective parts, discarding the carcass.

    1 whole chicken

  • Pour the buttermilk and egg in a large bowl and whisk well, then place the chicken in the bowl and toss to coat. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and soak for at least 30 minutes. You can marinate the chicken in this mixture overnight in the refrigerator, if desired.

    1 cup buttermilk, 1 large egg

    Kentucky Fried Chicken Recipe (8)

  • When ready to fry, combine the flour with the seasonings in a separate large bowl.

    2 cups all-purpose flour, ¼ cup ground paprika, 2 tablespoons garlic powder, 2 tablespoons ground white pepper, 1 tablespoon celery salt, 1 tablespoon ground black pepper, 1 tablespoon dry ground mustard, 2 teaspoons kosher salt, 2 teaspoons onion powder, 2 teaspoons dried thyme, 2 teaspoons dried basil, 1 ½ teaspoons dried oregano, 1 teaspoon ground ginger, ½ teaspoon MSG

    Kentucky Fried Chicken Recipe (9)

  • Preheat oven to 175°F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and set an oven-safe wire rack on top of the baking sheet; set aside.

  • In a deep fryer or large Dutch oven set over medium-high heat, heat about 3 inches of oil to 350°F.

    vegetable oil

  • Remove a piece of chicken from the buttermilk, shaking off any excess liquid. Press the piece of chicken into and through the flour mixture, adhering the mixture to all sides. Shake off excess flour and carefully drop the chicken into the hot oil immediately. Repeat with more pieces, frying no more than 3-4 at a time depending on size.

    Kentucky Fried Chicken Recipe (10)

  • Fry the chicken for 12-15 minutes, turning halfway through, until golden brown.

    Kentucky Fried Chicken Recipe (11)

  • Remove the chicken from the oil and place it on the wire rack. Place the baking sheet in the oven.

  • Once the oil returns to 350°F, repeat the dredging and frying process with the remaining pieces of chicken.

  • When all the chicken is fried, keep them in the oven for about 10-15 minutes, maintaining the internal temperature of 165°F until ready to serve.

Notes

  • Buttermilk: If you don’t have any buttermilk, you can make your own by measuring 1 cup of milk, removing 1 tablespoon of it, and mixing in 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or white vinegar. Let this mixture sit for 5 minutes before using in the recipe.
  • After marinating your chicken, pat it dry before breading it. This will help the breading stick better.
  • Coat the chicken thoroughly with flour.
  • Make sure to shake off any excess flour. Excess flour will cause the breading to fall off.
  • Be sure not to overcrowd the pot. Overcrowding will reduce the oil temperature, leading to oily, soggy chicken.
  • Resist the urge to turn the chicken over until you see a golden brown line all the way around the sides of the chicken. This line tells you that the breading is evenly crispy.
  • Place the chicken pieces in a warm oven to keep them crisp while you continue frying the rest of the chicken.
  • Nutritional information does not include optional ingredients.

Storage:Store copycat Kentucky fried chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Nutrition Facts

Copycat Kentucky Fried Chicken Recipe

Amount Per Serving

Calories 439Calories from Fat 216

% Daily Value*

Fat 24g37%

Saturated Fat 6g38%

Trans Fat 0.1g

Polyunsaturated Fat 8g

Monounsaturated Fat 8g

Cholesterol 98mg33%

Sodium 1566mg68%

Potassium 403mg12%

Carbohydrates 32g11%

Fiber 3g13%

Sugar 2g2%

Protein 24g48%

Vitamin A 1901IU38%

Vitamin C 2mg2%

Calcium 92mg9%

Iron 4mg22%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Author: Becky Hardin

Course:Dinner

Cuisine:American

Did You Make This?We love seeing what you’ve made! Tag us on social media at@easychickenrecipesfor a chance to be featured.

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Kentucky Fried Chicken Recipe (18)

Meet Becky Hardin

Becky Hardin founded Easy Chicken Recipes in 2018. She has been creating trusted, easy, and delicious recipes on the web since 2012. Becky is known for simple dinner ideas, delicious crockpot recipes, creative chicken meals, and so much more. We have built a team of recipe developers, testers, and writers that love to create trust chicken recipes for every family.

Reader Interactions

Leave a Review

  1. Kentucky Fried Chicken Recipe (19)Colleen Smith says

    This was very disappointing! It tasted nothing like KFC chicken and I followed the recipe exactly as given. It was dry and had almost no flavor.

    Reply

    • Kentucky Fried Chicken Recipe (20)Becky Hardin says

      I’m sorry to hear this recipe didn’t work out for you, Colleen! It sounds like your chicken may have gotten overcooked. I recommend investing in an instant-read thermometer to ensure the chicken doesn’t get overcooked in the future!

      Reply

Kentucky Fried Chicken Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is KFC chicken batter made of? ›

The flavorful coating is created by combining flour with 11 herbs and spices, so get ready to load up the grocery cart with salt, dried thyme, dried basil, dried oregano, celery salt, ground black pepper, ground yellow mustard, paprika, garlic salt, ground ginger, and ground white pepper.

What is Colonel Sanders recipe for Kentucky Fried Chicken? ›

ingredients
  1. 2 packages dried Italian salad dressing mix.
  2. 3 tablespoons flour.
  3. 2 teaspoons salt.
  4. 1 dash black pepper.
  5. 14 cup lemon juice.
  6. 2 tablespoons vegetable oil.
  7. 2 12 - 3 lbs broiler-fryer chicken pieces.
  8. 2 cups carbonated soda water.

Does Kentucky Fried Chicken use egg in their batter? ›

Original Recipe® Chicken Fresh chicken. Breaded in: Wheat flour, Salt, Monosodium glutamate, Spices, Dehydrated garlic, Modified milk ingredients, Dried egg white (Egg white, Baker's yeast, Citric acid). Cooked in: Canola oil (Dimethylpolysiloxane (Antifoaming agent), TBHQ). Contains: Wheat, Milk, Egg.

Does KFC deep fry or bake their chicken? ›

KFC deep fries its chicken for 15 minutes and then drains the oil off for another five minutes – 20 minutes in total. If you don't have a deep fryer, heat up plenty of oil in a large saucepan and do it that way.

Is KFC chicken battered or breaded? ›

Our iconic fried chicken is freshly prepared and hand-breaded by our trained cooks in restaurant every single day, using the type of ingredients you'd find in your kitchen at home.

Why is KFC chicken so crispy? ›

It's pressure cooked

By cooking its chicken in pressure fryers, KFC ensures that its fried chicken is consistently crispy. Pressure fryers are basically deep fryers and pressure cookers combined into a single machine. They are completely airtight, trapping all of the steam and pressure inside of the sealed fryer.

What cooking oil does Kentucky Fried Chicken use? ›

KFC said that after a two-year trial of various cooking oils, it settled on low linolenic soybean oil, a zero trans-fat cooking oil, to replace partially hydrogenated soybean oil in its U.S. restaurants.

Why does Kentucky Fried Chicken taste so good? ›

The chicken is traditionally deep-fried, which results in a crispy exterior and tender, juicy meat inside. The frying process helps seal in the natural juices of the chicken while creating a delightful contrast of textures. Another factor that contributes to KFC's appeal is the concept of “umami” or savory taste.

Why dip chicken in water before frying? ›

Everyone says it makes the chicken crispier. and it doesn't leave a mess in the pan. Some of the keys to crispy chicken without doing this. is letting your chicken rest. after dipping it into the flour mixture.

What is the difference between KFC and Kentucky Fried Chicken? ›

Outside of chicken conspiracy theories, the company claimed publicly that the name change from Kentucky Fried Chicken to KFC was to shy away from the word “fried” for potential health-conscious patrons. The official reason KFC changed their name from Kentucky Fried Chicken in 1991?

Does KFC use milk in their fried chicken? ›

Heads Up! The Original Recipe Chicken and Kentucky Fried Chicken Nuggets at KFC do contain milk. It isn't noted on their allergy chart, but it's likely that all of their chicken is cooked in the same fryers. The Nashville Hot Chicken and Plant-Based Chicken, both of which were dairy-free, have been discontinued.

Does Kentucky fried chicken still pressure cook their chicken? ›

Cook. Then pressure cooked at a low temperature to preserve all the great taste we're known for around the world.

What cuts of chicken do KFC use? ›

The wing is cut from the breast, the leg (drum) is cut from the thigh. The breast and the wing are white meat, the leg and thigh are dark meat. This gives you two breasts, two wings, two thighs, and two legs) = 8 pieces.

What is fried chicken batter made of? ›

In a large bowl, thoroughly whisk together potato starch, all-purpose flour, black pepper, baking powder, salt, paprika, and cayenne, about 30 seconds. Whisk in the water until a smooth batter forms, about 30 seconds.

Is KFC chicken processed chicken? ›

None of our chicken is processed. We only serve whole pieces of leg, breast, rib, wing, or thigh meat.

What is KFC Beyond Fried Chicken made of? ›

The KFC website lists the ingredients of Beyond Fried Chicken, including water, enriched wheat flour, soy protein isolate, canola oil, wheat gluten, natural flavorings, and yeast extract.

Is KFC chicken batter gluten free? ›

You probably already guessed it, but KFC chicken is NOT gluten free, none of it. Not only does the recipe contain 11 herbs and spices, but also a shed load of gluten!

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