We all know about KFC, right? It’s one of the biggest restaurant chains in the world and that too for good reason. They serve chicken and food that is “finger-lickin’ good”.
As much as we’d like to, we can’t eat at KFC on a daily basis. It’s a hard pill to swallow, but you have to (swallow it with some Coke. That’s what I do). However, the good news is you can make KFC-style dishes at home whenever you want and that too, a lot cheaper. I have curated a list of KFC’s most loved recipes so you can fulfill your cravings and save your pocket at the same time.
You can jump from excitement later. Right now, it’s time to fill up your grocery cart and get prepped to cook the best-fried chicken of your life.
In case you’re wondering, I do have the list of secret herbs and spices that you need. In fact, that’ll be the first thing I’ll discuss. So, are the diaries and pens ready? Get, set, cook!
1. KFC’s 11 Herbs
For years, the 11 secret herbs and spices of KFC were a secret. A few years ago, the 11 secret herbs and spices were leaked online. They were believed to be the original list written by Colonel Sanders himself. When I put it like that, I know it sounds like a bit of a scandal.
I am blessed to know this secret, and I am here to share this blessing with you. The KFC 11 secret herbs and spices are paprika, onion salt, celery salt, rubbed sage, garlic powder, ground allspice, ground oregano, chili powder, black pepper, basil leaves, and marjoram leaves.
However, you still need the exact measurements to make the recipe. One teaspoon extra and it’ll taste nothing like KFC.
2. KFC’s Fried Chicken
Now that we’ve finished the spices, let’s move on to making delicious KFC-style Crispy Fried Chicken. Are you excited? I sure am. See, I mentioned the spices and herbs first because they are a constant in the fried chicken recipes. Yes, you are going to hear about them more than once.
To make crispy fried chicken, you obviously need chicken. Let’s say you have chicken thighs for this recipe. First, you need the KFC 11 secret spices and herbs for this recipe. Mix the secret spices and the herbs with flour, salt, and brown sugar.
3. KFC’s Chicken Drumsticks
Now, the KFC Chicken Drumsticks recipe is very similar to the KFC crispy fried chicken. The KFC fried chicken is a complete variety, of which the KFC chicken drumsticks are a part.
The process is pretty much the same. Make the seasoned flour and beat the eggs. Then dip and dredge the chicken (dip in the egg, then dredge in the flour). After that, fry it until it is beautifully golden and crispy.
Now, put them in a KFC bucket and sell them (not really! For legal purposes, this is a joke). This is all you need to make delicious, juicy fried drumsticks.
4. KFC’s Chicken Tenders
KFC’s Crispy Chicken Tenders recipe is a little different from other crispy chicken recipes. You still dip it in beaten egg and dredge it in seasoned flour. However, there’s one step before that.
You cut the chicken breast into long strips (that’s how you get the chicken tenders), then marinate them in a mixture of buttermilk and hot sauce. This makes it juicy and slightly spicy.
The tenders are marinated for about half an hour, then dipped and dredged. Once your tenders are coated in spicy, herby flour, fry them until golden and crispy.
5. KFC’s Nashville Chicken
KFC’s Nashville Hot Chicken is fiery hot fried chicken. It is completely covered in spices, from the batter to the spice oil. It is a hundred percent hot. If you think peppermint toothpaste is spicy, better not try this chicken. But if you like to taste just a little of Hellfire, then this is the chicken for you (okay! I may have gone a little overboard).
The seasoned flour also doesn’t have all the secret spices and herbs. It is made with flour, cornstarch, and baking powder along with garlic powder, chili powder, salt, dry mustard powder, and black pepper.
Also, the chicken isn’t dipped in beaten egg. It is dipped in a spicy batter instead. The spicy batter is made of buttermilk, hot sauce, egg, pickle juice, and baking powder. You can check the full recipe and try it yourself.
6. KFC’s Chicken Nuggets
If you want something to satisfy your fried chicken cravings, try making KFC’s Chicken Nuggets. They are really easy to make and get ready in no time.
All you need to do is cut the chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces. Then, dip them in a mixture of egg, milk, and hot sauce. After that, they are coated with spicy flour.
Last, deep-fry them until they are golden and crispy. That’s all you have to do to have delicious KFC-like chicken nuggets at home.
7. KFC’s Bowl
If you want something more fulfilling to satiate your hunger, my advice would be to try the KFC Bowl. This comforting food bowl has mashed potatoes topped with fried chicken, gravy, corn, and a cheese blend.
The bowl is really easy to make, and you can just make it in half an hour. If you are hungry, I feel like you can easily have two or three of these single-serving bowls.
Let me give you a brief summary of how you can make it. First, boil the potatoes until they are tender. Then, mash them with some butter, salt, and milk.
Then, you need to bake the chicken popcorn and heat your canned gravy and corn in the microwave. Lastly, all you have to do is assemble them, like the Avengers (this bowl will be your superhero ensemble in fighting the evil hunger. Too dramatic?).
8. KFC’s Potato Wedges
KFC’s Potato Wedges are delicious, lightly floured, and deeply fried. The potatoes are dipped in an egg and milk mixture and then lightly tossed in seasoned flour.
The seasoned flour is a mixture of flour, salt, pepper, paprika, and garlic powder. After that, all there’s left to do is fry them. There you have it!
Delicious potato wedges, crispy on the outside, soft on the inside. You won’t want to eat fries after these (that is a personal choice; I am just making bold assumptions here).
9. KFC’s Coleslaw
The KFC’s Coleslaw is a great summer side dish for your KFC fried chicken. This salad/side-dish is very easy to make and light as a feather (maybe not as light as a feather, but you get the point). You’ll be needing shredded cabbage, carrots, and onions. Mix them and then dress them.
The dressing is delicious and creamy. To make the dressing, mix mayonnaise, buttermilk, milk, vinegar, and lemon juice. Add flavor to the dressing with sugar, salt, and white pepper. Then, pour this tangy, sweet, and creamy dressing over the shredded vegetables and toss.
That’s all you have to do to make the KFC coleslaw. Oh! One more thing you need to do is to chill it overnight. If you can’t, chill it for at least a couple of hours (this is my way of saying 4 hours). $1
10. KFC’s Secret Sauce
What better companion to your KFC fried chicken than the hailed KFC secret sauce itself? The sauce is very flavorful and can be used with much more than just chicken. It is a blend of different spices and condiments.
The sauce has all the flavors: sweet, sour, bitter, and umami. It is so easy to make that you can make it with your eyes shut (after you have added the ingredients, though).
The sauce has a lot of ingredients, and I am just going to say them in one breath. Are you ready? The ingredients in the sauce are ketchup, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, onion juice, vinegar, tabasco sauce, mayonnaise, chili sauce, black pepper, red pepper, vegetable oil, and garlic (Phew!).
11. KFC’s Pepper Mayonnaise
The KFC’s Pepper Mayonnaise is the perfect dip to spice things up a bit. The pepper mayonnaise is so easy to make and gets ready in no time. You’ll be needing pasteurized eggs to make the mayonnaise.
Then, add lemon juice, mustard, garlic, red pepper, vegetable oil, and pepper, along with an egg, to a food processor. Blend them until everything is smooth. That’s it, and your spicy pepper mayonnaise is ready. Let it chill for some time, and you chill with it.
12. KFC’s BBQ Sauce
KFC’s Honey BBQ Sauce is the sweet-and-spicy answer to the question of the best sauce. Besides being the obvious sweet and spicy, the sauce has a smoky flavor. This gives the sauce the authentic barbecue flavor. You can use the sauce as a dip or as a glaze for your chicken wings.
The sauce is made with ketchup, molasses, honey, white vinegar, and liquid smoke. The spices in the sauce are onion powder, chili powder, and salt. The sauce is the best kind of sweet-and-spicy.
The hickory-flavored liquid smoke adds the barbecue flavor to the sauce. The only catch with this sauce is that you have to cook it.
Conclusion
These were the most popular KFC recipes. I have mentioned everything you need to know about the recipes. This should be ample information for you to make these amazing dishes.
Make these chicken, sides, and sauces at home to make the perfect KFC meal. I’ll see you next time with specially curated recipes.
