People all over the world love KFC-style fried chicken because it’s a tasty comfort food that tastes great. When you mix the secret 11 herb and spice blend with the crispy coating, you get a taste that is hard to make at home. That being said, you can make KFC-style fried chicken in your own kitchen with just a few easy tips and the right method.
The Key to KFC’s Signature Crispiness
The extreme crispiness of KFC chicken sets it apart from other fried chicken. This texture comes primarily from the cooking method KFC uses industrial pressure fryers that allow the chicken to cook fast at a high temperature. The high heat quickly browns the outside coating while keeping the interior juicy
If you don’t have a commercial pressure fryer, you can make the quick and crispy KFC fry in a heavy pot or Dutch oven filled with oil. Use a deep fry thermometer to keep the oil temperature between 350°F and 375°F as you fry the chicken in batches. The high heat will make the coating brown quickly without overcooking the inside.
How to Bread Chicken Like KFC
Breading is another essential key to recreating the KFC crispiness. Start with chicken parts rather than a whole bird so you get the right ratio of white and dark meat. Cutting up a chicken yourself can help reduce costs as well.
KFC uses a three-step breading method:
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Seasoned Flour: The flavor starts with a blend of 11 herbs and spices mixed into the flour. Use spices like salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika, oregano, and more.
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Egg Wash: Dipping the floured chicken in egg seals the spices to the meat and provides a tacky surface for the crust to stick to.
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Final Dredge: Coat again in the seasoned flour for an extra thick, super crispy crust.
Press down on the chicken as you coat it to really pack on the seasoning mix. Some cooks say that letting the chicken rest before frying makes the coating stick better, but KFC fries the chicken right away for the best crispness.
KFC Seasoning Secrets
The unique blend of 11 herbs and spices is the backbone of KFC’s distinctive flavor. While the exact recipe is a closely guarded secret, home cooks have come up with spice blends that replicate the taste. Most copycat recipes include these seasonings:
- Salt
- White pepper
- Paprika
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Mustard powder
- Celery salt
- Dried basil, oregano, and thyme
The key flavor trick is also adding MSG (monosodium glutamate). This controversial additive boosts umami flavor. A small amount of MSG makes homemade fried chicken taste just like KFC!
KFC-Inspired Side Dishes
Of course, you can’t have KFC-style fried chicken without the classic sides! Make your own versions of these to round out the meal:
- Coleslaw
- Buttery biscuits
- Mashed potatoes and gravy
- Macaroni and cheese
- Corn on the cob
Cool ranch dipping sauce and pickles also make great additions to round out your fried chicken feast.
Tips for Crispy, Juicy KFC Copycat Chicken
Follow these tips for fried chicken success:
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Use chicken on the bone for added flavor and juiciness. Thighs, drumsticks, and wings work best.
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Dry chicken thoroughly before breading to help the coating stick.
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Maintain oil temperature between 350-375°F for optimal crispness without overcooking.
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Fry in batches to keep the oil hot. Don’t overcrowd.
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Let chicken rest after frying before serving for juicier meat.
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Use thermometer to check doneness. Chicken should reach 165°F internally.
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Reheat gently in a low oven to maintain texture.
How to Make the Perfect KFC Chicken at Home
Follow this simple fried chicken recipe and method for tender, juicy meat coated in an ultra-crisp, flavorful KFC-style crust:
Ingredients:
- Chicken pieces
- All-purpose flour
- Salt
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Paprika
- Dried oregano, basil, thyme
- Ground white pepper
- Mustard powder
- Celery salt
- MSG (optional)
- Milk
- Eggs
- Canola oil for frying
Instructions:
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Cut chicken into pieces and pat dry thoroughly with paper towels.
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Make seasoned flour by whisking together flour, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, oregano, thyme, pepper, mustard powder, celery salt, and MSG in a bowl.
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Set up breading station. Place seasoned flour in one bowl, and whisk together milk and eggs in a second bowl.
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Dredge chicken pieces in flour, dip in egg wash, then back into the flour, pressing to adhere.
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Heat 2-3 inches oil to 350°F in a heavy pot or Dutch oven.
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Fry chicken in batches about 6-10 minutes until crust is deep golden brown and meat juices run clear when pierced with a fork.
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Drain fried chicken on a paper towel-lined wire rack. Let rest 5 minutes before serving.
With the right preparation and frying method, you can absolutely make insanely crispy, juicy, flavorful fried chicken just like KFC in your own kitchen. Dip chicken in the custom blend of herbs and spices, then fry up until golden and delicious. Your family will devour this homemade version of a fast food classic!
Marinating and Breading the Chicken
- 1 Cut the chicken apart into 10 pieces. Two wings, two legs (snare drums), two thighs, and two breasts are what you need. You will have 4 chicken breasts after cutting each one in half. [7] A chicken that weighs about 3 pounds (1 4 kg). [8] You can also buy chicken pieces separately. For example, you could use 10 chicken breasts. Leave the skin on the chicken pieces. This will make it nice and crispy.
- 2. Let the chicken sit in the buttermilk for 20 to 60 minutes. Twenty to thirty minutes will work if you don’t have much time. [9] A full hour would be much better however. Make sure the chicken marinates on the counter; putting it in the fridge will cool the hot oil down because of the cold meat. [10] Put plastic wrap over the dish to keep the marinade from going bad. If your kitchen is very hot, you could marinate the chicken in the fridge at first and then move it to the counter halfway through the marinating time.
- 3 Dredge the chicken through the flour-spice blend. Take a chicken piece out of the buttermilk and let the extra sauce drip off. Cover both sides of the chicken with the spice-flour mix. Transfer the chicken to a baking sheet. [11] Repeat this step for each piece of chicken. Work 1 piece at a time. Put the chicken pieces in the buttermilk until you’re ready to dredge them.
- 4. Leave the chicken on the baking sheet for about five minutes to cool down. Discard any leftover spiced flour. Because it touched raw meat, it is no longer safe to use. Remember to throw away any buttermilk marinade that you don’t use right away; it has been tainted by raw meat and can’t be used again.
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Community Q&ASearch
- What kind of oil does KFC use? wikiHow Staff Editor Staff Answer: This answer was written by one of our trained researchers, who made sure it was correct and covered all the bases. wikiHow Staff Editor Staff Answer: KFC’s website says that their food is cooked in canola oil and hydrogenated soybean oil that has citric acid and TBHQ (a preservative).
- What are the Colonel’s 11 herbs and spices? wikiHow Staff Editor Staff Answer: This answer was written by one of our trained researchers, who made sure it was correct and complete. The 11 herbs and spices were recently named in an article in the Chicago Tribune. They are salt, thyme, basil, oregano, celery salt, black pepper, dried mustard, paprika, garlic salt, ground ginger, and white pepper.
- Does KFC pressure cook their fried chicken? wikiHow Staff Editor Staff Answer: This answer was written by one of our trained researchers, who made sure it was correct and covered all the bases. wikiHow Staff Editor Staff Answer: KFC uses special pressure fryers made for businesses. These are not the same kind of pressure cookers that most people have in their kitchens, though. It will be easier to follow the recipe if you use a Dutch oven or deep fryer.
- Always use great care when working with hot oil. Thanks Helpful 5 Not Helpful 0 .
- Do not discard the hot oil down the drain. Pour it into a metal can instead. Thanks Helpful 5 Not Helpful 0 .
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How To Make KFC Fried Chicken / Recipe Secret Revealed
FAQ
How is KFC fried chicken made?
To make KFC fried chicken, chicken pieces are first marinated in a buttermilk mixture. Then, they are covered in a secret mix of 11 herbs and spices mixed with flour. Finally, the chicken is pressure-fried until it turns golden brown.
How to make KFC deep fried chicken?
Place the breaded chicken onto a wire rack over a baking sheet. Let the breaded chicken rest for 15 minutes before frying. Heat vegetable shortening to 350 degrees in a deep fryer or Dutch oven. Fry the chicken in batches until done. Drain the fried chicken on a clean wire cooling rack on a baking sheet.
What are the ingredients used in KFC style fried chicken recipe?
Other Ingredients1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour/plain flour. 1/2 cup cornflour. 2-4 tbsp breadcrumbs or crushed cornflakes optional. 1 tsp. baking powder. 1 tsp. 1 tsp. paprika powder. 1 tsp. red chilli powder or cayenne pepper. garlic powder.