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KFC Fried Chicken Recipe
Ash Tyrrell

KFC Fried Chicken Recipe

Have you ever bitten into a piece of crispy, flavorful fried chicken and thought, "I wish I could make this at home!"? That’s exactly how I felt after trying to recreate a KFC-style fried chicken in my kitchen.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 ½ teaspoons dried thyme
  • 1 ½ teaspoons dried basil
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 tablespoon celery salt
  • 1 tablespoon ground black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon ground yellow mustard
  • ¼ cup paprika
  • 2 tablespoons garlic salt
  • 1 tablespoon ground ginger
  • 3 tablespoons ground white pepper
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 1 egg beaten
  • 1 whole chicken 8 pieces
  • Neutral frying oil like canola or peanut oil
  • MSG optional

Method
 

  1. Start by breaking down a whole chicken into eight pieces (two wings, two thighs, two drumsticks, and two breasts). If that seems like too much work, you can ask a butcher to do it or buy pre-cut bone-in chicken.
  2. Give the chicken pieces a quick rinse under cold water and pat them dry with paper towels. This step ensures that the buttermilk marinade sticks properly.
  3. Whisk the buttermilk and beaten egg in a large mixing bowl until smooth. Submerge all the chicken pieces, ensuring they’re fully coated. Allow the chicken to marinate for at least 30 minutes. If you can, leave it overnight in the fridge to intensify the flavor and tenderness.
  4. While the chicken marinates, mix the flour, salt, thyme, basil, oregano, celery salt, black pepper, mustard, paprika, garlic salt, ginger, and white pepper in another large bowl. This spice blend will coat the chicken with flavor-packed crust.
  5. Remove a piece of chicken from the marinade, allowing any excess liquid to drip away. Dredge it in the seasoned flour mixture, pressing firmly to coat it evenly. Shake off any extra flour and move on to the next piece.
  6. Heat the oil in a Dutch oven to 350°F. Fry the chicken in batches, cooking each piece for about 12 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Flip the chicken halfway through for even cooking.
  7. After frying, place the chicken on a wire rack set on a baking sheet. This allows any excess oil to drain while keeping the chicken crispy.
  8. KFC keeps their chicken warm in ovens, and it works beautifully for home cooks too! Place your fried chicken in an oven preheated to 175°F to stay warm and crispy until served.

Notes

  • It’s affordable and lets you control the quality of your ingredients.
  • Recreating the iconic KFC flavor at home feels so satisfying.
  • The recipe is easy to customize for dietary preferences or spice levels.
  • It’s the ultimate crowd-pleaser for family dinners or parties.
  • You’ll have fun in the kitchen with this hands-on, rewarding project!