Our Take On Kentucky Fried Chicken

Are you craving that legendary crispy-on-the-outside, juicy-on-the-inside chicken that only Kentucky Fried Chicken seems to deliver? Look no further! Our ultimate copycat Kentucky Fried Chicken recipe brings the magic of Colonel Sanders’ secret blend right into your kitchen. Prepare to indulge in drumsticks so perfectly fried and baked, they’ll rival your favorite takeout. Forget the drive-thru; homemade never tasted this good!

This recipe builds upon the success of classic fried chicken legs but elevates it with our meticulously crafted blend of “secret” seasonings, designed to emulate KFC’s distinctive flavor profile. It’s a culinary adventure that will delight both adults and children alike. The key to its success lies in a unique two-stage cooking method: a quick fry to lock in that golden, shatteringly crisp skin, followed by a gentle bake to ensure the meat inside remains incredibly tender and bursting with flavor.

Unlocking the KFC Mystique: Crispy Skin, Juicy Meat

For decades, KFC has captivated taste buds with its unparalleled texture and taste. Many home cooks wonder how they achieve such a magical combination of crunch and succulence. Our recipe unveils the secrets to crafting extra crispy chicken skin while guaranteeing the meat remains effortlessly fork-tender. It’s a delicate balance, but with our expert tips and techniques, you can master it in your own home. While our primary focus is on an oven-finished approach, we also explore healthier alternatives. If you own an air fryer, you might also enjoy our air fryer fried chicken sandwich recipe, offering a different take on crispy chicken without excess oil.

This isn’t just a recipe; it’s an experience. Starting with humble chicken legs, we transform them into a feast reminiscent of that iconic big red bucket. It’s an affordable, satisfying dinner idea that promises to become a family favorite. Get ready to discover how this deliciousness is achieved, from the initial seasoning to the final, golden-brown perfection!

While any cut of chicken can be used, chicken drumsticks are often preferred, especially by kids, for their ease of handling and rich flavor. They’re perfect for picking up and enjoying! When frying, a splatter screen is highly recommended to keep your kitchen clean and safe from hot oil splashes.

Essential Ingredients for Your Copycat KFC

Crafting the perfect copycat KFC starts with selecting the right ingredients. Each component plays a vital role in achieving that signature taste and texture. Here’s a detailed look at what you’ll need:

• Chicken Drumsticks: We primarily use drumsticks (also known as chicken legs) for their ideal size, bone-in juiciness, and tenderness. This recipe’s cooking times are optimized for bone-in pieces of this general size, ensuring thorough cooking while maintaining moisture. Feel free to use other chicken cuts, but adjust cooking times accordingly.
• All-Purpose Flour: This forms the foundational coating, providing the canvas for our “secret” blend of spices. Its fine texture creates an even, crisp crust when fried.
• Eggs: Eggs act as the crucial binder, helping the seasoned flour adhere firmly to the chicken. For those needing an alternative, explore methods on how to bread chicken without eggs, though eggs are traditional for this classic preparation.
• Vegetable Oil: Essential for frying, vegetable oil is chosen for its neutral flavor and high smoke point, allowing it to reach and maintain the necessary high temperatures without burning, which is critical for achieving that perfect golden crust. Other high smoke point oils can also be used.
• Blend of Spices: This is where the magic truly happens. Our unique blend of herbs and spices is designed to mimic the restaurant’s iconic flavor profile. While you can customize it to your preference, adhering to our suggested blend will transport your taste buds straight to KFC.

Deciphering the “Secret”: What is KFC’s Chicken Coating Made Of?

The precise formula for KFC’s 11 herbs and spices remains one of the world’s most closely guarded culinary secrets. However, through careful analysis and experimentation, we’ve developed a blend that tastes remarkably similar. Our recipe incorporates a delightful mix of dried thyme, basil, oregano, black pepper, mustard powder, paprika, garlic salt, and white pepper. These ingredients, when combined in the right proportions, create a complex, savory, and slightly spicy flavor that makes our copycat recipe truly stand out. While we can’t claim to have Colonel Sanders’ exact recipe, the results are astonishingly close, bringing that familiar, comforting taste right to your table.

The Frying Medium: What Oil Does KFC Use?

For those curious about the original, KFC transitioned to using soybean oil for frying their chicken in 2007. When deep-frying at home, the type of oil is important, but even more critical is the oil’s temperature. Understanding how hot the oil should be for fried chicken is paramount to achieving perfectly crispy results without undercooking or burning the chicken. Maintaining the ideal temperature ensures a crisp exterior and a thoroughly cooked interior. A Dutch oven is an excellent tool for frying, as its high sides help contain splatters and its heavy bottom provides even heat distribution, allowing the chicken legs to be perfectly submerged for consistent cooking. This is truly one of the simplest yet most rewarding meals you can make for your family.

Expert Cooking Tips for Flawless Fried Chicken

Achieving truly exceptional fried chicken involves a few key techniques. Follow these tips to ensure your copycat KFC is nothing short of perfection:

• The Double Coating Advantage: To create that signature extra crispy, craggy texture, the secret is a double dip. After an initial dredge in the seasoned flour, dip the chicken in egg, and then back into the flour mixture for a second coating. This double layer is essential for replicating KFC’s famous crunch.
• Pre-Soak for Optimal Juiciness: For the most tender and flavorful chicken, consider soaking the drumsticks in salt water (a brine) for up to 24 hours prior to cooking. This brining process helps the chicken absorb moisture and season from within, resulting in an incredibly juicy final product.
• The Two-Stage Cooking Method: Our recipe employs a brief initial fry followed by baking. This ensures the crust is perfectly golden and crispy while the interior cooks through evenly and remains succulent.
• Temperature Control is Key: Whether frying or baking, maintaining the correct temperature is crucial. Preheat your oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit (150°C) before the chicken goes in for its final bake.
• Monitor Internal Temperature: Always use a meat thermometer to ensure chicken is cooked safely. The internal temperature of the thickest part of the chicken should reach 165 degrees Fahrenheit (74°C).
• Resting Period: After baking, allowing the chicken to rest for a few minutes before serving helps the juices redistribute, resulting in even more tender and moist meat.

Oven-Baked Fried Chicken: A Crispy Alternative

If you prefer an oven-baked version that still delivers a delightful crisp, you can adapt this recipe. Utilize a base similar to our Bisquick Oven Fried Chicken technique, but incorporate our special blend of spices directly into the dry mix coating. Baking offers a less messy and often healthier alternative to deep-frying, allowing the chicken to cook evenly and crisp up beautifully in the oven.

Air Fryer Fried Chicken: The Health-Conscious Choice

For an even lighter and incredibly convenient option, the air fryer method is a game-changer. The process remains largely the same: a meticulous double-dip for each drumstick to ensure a thorough and flavorful coating. The beauty of air frying is that NO oil is necessary for the actual cooking, significantly reducing fat content while still achieving an impressive crispiness. We also share methods for air fryer fried chicken breast and making air fryer fried chicken without buttermilk, offering versatility for various preferences and cuts of chicken.

This copycat fried chicken is perfect for any occasion. Whether you’re hosting a gathering, preparing for a picnic, or simply enjoying a sunny day outdoors, these drumsticks are an ideal take-along meal. Finish them, wrap them in foil to keep warm, and they’re ready to impress. Pair them with your favorite side dishes for a complete and satisfying meal. If you’re looking for other comfort food recipe favorites, be sure to explore more of our chicken creations!

Kentucky Fried Chicken Recipe (Copycat)

By
Justine

This easy copycat Kentucky Fried Chicken recipe delivers the crispiest chicken ever. Juicy chicken drumsticks are quickly fried then baked to perfection and packed with flavor, just like the original!

Prep:

15 mins

Cook:

40 mins

Total:

55 mins

Servings:
10

Pin Recipe
Comment
Print Recipe

Equipment

• 1 Bowl
• 1 large pan or Dutch oven

Ingredients

• 10 chicken drumsticks
• 2 large eggs
• 2/3 tsp salt
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp dried thyme
• 1/2 tsp dried basil
• 1/2 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp dried mustard powder
• 4 tsp paprika
• 2 tsp garlic salt
• 3 tsp white pepper
• 7+ cups vegetable oil (for frying)

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit (150°C). Prepare a wire cooling rack placed over a baking sheet.
2. For optimal juiciness and flavor, soak the chicken legs in salt water for up to 24 hours in the refrigerator. Drain and pat dry thoroughly before proceeding.
3. In one bowl, whisk the eggs. In a separate, larger bowl, combine the flour with all the dry spices (salt, thyme, basil, oregano, black pepper, mustard powder, paprika, garlic salt, and white pepper). Mix well to ensure an even distribution of spices.
4. Dredge each chicken leg first in the seasoned flour mixture, ensuring it’s fully coated. Then, dip it into the beaten egg, allowing any excess to drip off. Finally, dredge it in the seasoned flour once more for a double coating, pressing gently to make sure the flour adheres well.
5. Place each coated drumstick onto the prepared wire cooling rack. Repeat this process for all remaining drumsticks.
6. Heat the vegetable oil in a Dutch oven or large, heavy-bottomed pan over medium-high heat. The oil should reach approximately 350-375 degrees Fahrenheit (175-190°C). Use a cooking thermometer to monitor the temperature carefully.
7. Carefully fry the chicken legs in batches of 3-4 pieces, ensuring not to overcrowd the pan. Fry each side for about 2-3 minutes, just until the coating is golden brown and crispy. This initial fry is for crust development, not full cooking.
8. Remove each partially fried leg and place it back on the wire cooling rack to drain any excess oil. Continue frying the remaining batches until all legs have a golden-brown crust.
9. Once all chicken legs are par-fried and on the cooling rack (which is on top of a cookie sheet), transfer the entire setup to the preheated oven. Bake for 35-45 minutes, or until the internal meat temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit (74°C) when measured with a meat thermometer in the thickest part of the drumstick.
10. Remove from the oven, let rest for a few minutes, and serve immediately. Enjoy your homemade copycat Kentucky Fried Chicken!

Nutrition

Serving:
5
oz

,

Calories:
1615
kcal

,

Carbohydrates:
20
g

,

Protein:
17
g

,

Fat:
165
g

,

Saturated Fat:
13
g

,

Cholesterol:
102
mg

,

Sodium:
583
mg

,

Potassium:
228
mg

,

Fiber:
1
g

,

Vitamin A:
535
IU

,

Vitamin C:
0.2
mg

,

Calcium:
20
mg

,

Iron:
2.1
mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course:
Entree, Main Course

Cuisine:
American

Tried this recipe?
Mention @thetypical_mom or tag #thetypicalmom!

Other Family-Friendly Chicken Recipes You’ll Love

Our special breading isn’t just for drumsticks! It also works wonderfully with other dark meat cuts, like in our air fryer fried chicken thighs, which offer a similarly juicy experience with a healthier twist. And for those who enjoy a heartier meal, adapting this spice blend to traditional chicken fried steak can create an unforgettable dish. If you’re a fan of crispy appetizers, discover our method on how to bake crispy chicken wings – there’s definitely a kitchen hack involved to get them perfectly crunchy in the oven!

With this comprehensive guide, you’re now equipped to create truly spectacular copycat Kentucky Fried Chicken in your own kitchen. Whether you choose the traditional frying method, the convenient oven bake, or the healthier air fryer option, you’re guaranteed a meal that’s bursting with flavor and boasts that irresistible crispy-juicy combination. Get ready to delight your taste buds and impress your family with a classic comfort food experience that truly stands the test of time!