Forget the drive-thru—this homemade KFC-style fried chicken nails that iconic flavor and crunch with real ingredients and a whole lot of love. With a juicy, tender interior and a shatteringly crispy coating spiced just right, you’ll swear it came from a bucket.
The best part? You control the oil, the seasoning, and the heat—making it even better than the original.
Ingredients
For the Chicken:
- 2 lbs (900g) chicken pieces (legs, thighs, breasts, wings — skin-on, bone-in)
- 2 cups buttermilk (or 1¾ cups milk + 1 tbsp lemon juice)
- 1 tsp hot sauce (optional, for marinade kick)
For the KFC-Inspired Seasoning Blend:
This is the legendary “11 herbs and spices” twist:
- 2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp thyme
- 1 tsp basil
- 1 tsp oregano
- 1 tbsp celery salt
- 1 tbsp black pepper
- 1 tbsp dry mustard
- 2 tbsp paprika
- 2 tsp garlic salt
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- 3 tsp white pepper
For the Coating:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tbsp cornstarch (for extra crunch)
- 2 tsp of the seasoning mix (above)
For Frying:
- Neutral oil for deep frying (like vegetable, peanut, or canola)