Here’s a safe, copycat-style recipe inspired by KFC’s Original Recipe Chicken—while the exact “secret blend of 11 herbs and spices” is proprietary, this version gets very close to the iconic flavor.
KFC-Style Original Chicken (Copycat) 🍗
Ingredients (Serves 4–6)
Chicken:
- 8 pieces of chicken (legs, thighs, breasts, or drumsticks)
- 2 cups buttermilk
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Flour Coating (Approximate “11 Spices”):
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 1 tsp oregano
- 1 tsp celery salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp dried mustard
- 4 tsp paprika
- 2 tsp garlic salt
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- 3 tsp white pepper
- Vegetable oil (for frying)
Instructions
1. Marinate the Chicken
- Wash and pat dry the chicken pieces.
- In a large bowl, pour buttermilk over chicken and sprinkle with 1 tsp salt + 1/2 tsp pepper.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours (overnight for best flavor).
2. Prepare the Flour Coating
- In a large bowl, combine all the flour and spices.
- Mix well to create the seasoned flour.
3. Coat the Chicken
- Remove chicken from buttermilk, letting excess drip off.
- Dredge each piece thoroughly in the seasoned flour, pressing lightly so the coating sticks.
- For extra crunch, dip again in buttermilk and re-dredge in flour (optional double coating).
4. Fry the Chicken
- Heat vegetable oil in a deep skillet or fryer to 350°F (175°C).
- Carefully add chicken pieces in batches—don’t overcrowd.
- Fry 12–15 minutes for dark meat, 10–12 minutes for white meat, until golden brown and internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
- Drain on paper towels.
Tips for Extra Crispy Chicken
- Use skin-on chicken for best results.
- Maintain oil temperature; too low = greasy, too high = burned coating.
- Let fried chicken rest 5 minutes before serving for maximum crispiness.
Serving Suggestions
- Classic mashed potatoes and gravy
- Coleslaw
- Biscuits or cornbread
💡 Pro Tip: The “secret” KFC flavor comes from the exact balance of the 11 herbs and spices. Adjust quantities slightly to match your taste—start with less white pepper and ginger, add more gradually.
If you want, I can create a simplified “weeknight KFC-style chicken” recipe that uses the air fryer or oven for less oil and mess while keeping it super crispy.
Do you want me to do that?
