27 Copycat KFC Recipes That Go Beyond a Bucket of Chicken (2024)

We grew up eating Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) when my mom wanted to grab a quick dinner and didn’t feel like cooking for us kids after a long day at work. We would gobble up a big bucket of fried chicken, (their chicken legs were my favorite!), mashed potatoes, gravy, coleslaw and a roll slathered in butter always felt like a treat. I believe KFC has the best-tasting buttery biscuits and their fried chicken with its secret spices is addictive and delicious!

Since the nearest KFC is about 30 minutes away from me, we enjoy our favorites at home with these without traveling with these 27 copycat KFC recipes. My daughter is a mashed potato and gravy addict and my son can eat his weight in crunchy chicken tenders.

Related: Where to Find KFC Beyond Fried Chicken

What is Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC)?

KFC is an American fast-food restaurant chain that is headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky that specializes in guess what?? Fried chicken!! Kentucky Fried Chicken is the world's second-largest restaurant chain right after McDonald's. That's a lot of fast-food restaurants.

Related: 30 Copycat Olive Garden Recipes SO Good You'll Never Have to Leave Your House

Best KFC Chicken Recipe

There's something nostalgic about a bucket of KFC Original Recipe Chicken. It's comfort food to the max. Growing up, most of us didn't have parents that were willing to fry chicken at home, so KFC became something of a special occasion food. It made an appearance at block parties, birthday parties, holiday celebrations, and end-of-season sports tournaments, wowing us with its salty, greasy, spicy and flavorful crust. Make sure to grab a piece early so you can pick a piece of white or dark meat.

The original Colonel Sanders might have hated what the restaurant became after he sold, but I still think their chicken is "finger-lickin' good." So why should anyone even attempt to make it at home? For starters, it’s way less expensive, and you can use better-quality ingredients in your kitchen. You will see how much easier it is to make fried chicken that tastes as good (if not better) than what you'll find at KFC. But, you do need to know a few secrets along to way to ensure your chicken turns out juicy on the inside and crispy on the outside.

Related:29 Healthy Fast Food Recipes That Are Skinny Riffs of the Classics

How to Make KFC Chicken

KFC's chicken recipe isn't any more complicated than most fried chicken recipes, even though it does contain more ingredients. The flavorful coating is created by combining flour with 11 herbs and spices, so get ready to load up your grocery cart with salt, dried thyme, dried basil, dried oregano, celery salt, ground black pepper, ground yellow mustard, paprika, garlic salt, ground ginger, and ground white pepper. You'll need as much as a quarter cup of some of these spices, so make sure you have plenty on the spice rack before you get started.

KFC Menu's Most Ordered Items

KFC might be known for its fried chicken, but everyone knows they do know how to make their sides. Part of what makes that crispy, crunchy chicken taste so good is serving it with the best complementary foods. It's nearly impossible to choose our one-and-only favorite on their list of homestyle sides (KFC mashed potatoes and gravy are absolutely in the running). But, it's hard to leave the drive-thru window without a side of coleslaw. It's crunchy, creamy, and delicious, and there's something about the contrast between hot chicken and cold veggies that just works. It's refreshing, especially on a hot summer day or any day.

How Many Recipes Does KFC Have On Their Menu?

Along with the fan-favorite fried chicken, there are a total of 19 recipes on the menu including mashed potatoes and gravy, biscuits, coleslaw, mac and cheese, chicken tenders, bbq chicken, sandwiches, chicken pot pie and more!

Related:KFC Is Elevating Their Menu With Several Saucy New Items

Who Invented Fried Chicken?

Believe it or not, the Scots were the ones who invented fried chicken. They began deep-frying chicken in fat and created an extra crispy texture with very juicy meat. I am so thankful that they did, it's one of my favorite meals ever!

Copycat KFC Recipes

KFC Coleslaw Recipe

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With this easy KFC coleslaw recipe, you can have restaurant-style, homemade coleslaw without having to leave the house.

Get the recipe: KFC Coleslaw Recipe

Copycat KFC Chicken

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We put the recipe from the now-famous Chicago Tribune article to the test and here’s what we found!

Get the recipe: Copycat KFC

Gluten-Free KFC-Style Fried Chicken

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With 11 not-so-secret herbs and spices, this recipe for gluten-free KFC-style fried chicken is the last fried chicken recipe you'll ever need.

Get the recipe: Gluten-Free KFC-Style Fried Chicken

KFC Honey BBQ Sauce

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KFC Honey BBQ Sauce is a delicious, tangy barbecue sauce served at KFC restaurants and easy to make at home with this copycat recipe!

Get the recipe: KFC Honey BBQ Sauce

Keto Copycat KFC Chicken Tenders

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A deliciously crispy (and guilt-free) copycat version of KFC chicken tenders.

Get the recipe:Keto Copycat KFC Chicken Tenders

Copycat KFC Seasoning Recipe

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This Copycat KFC Seasoning Recipe takes any chicken recipe from average to amazing!

Get the recipe: Copycat KFC Seasoning Recipe

Copycat KFC Biscuits

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Copycat KFC Biscuits~ Only 6 ingredients are needed to have a high risen, soft and buttery biscuit better than KFC hot out of the oven in under a 15-minutes baking time.

Get the recipe: Copycat KFC Biscuits

KFC Famous Mashed Potato Bowls

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Do you love KFC Famous mashed potato bowls?

Get the recipe: KFC Famous mashed potato bowls

Vegan KFC Fried Chicken (Copycat)

27 Copycat KFC Recipes That Go Beyond a Bucket of Chicken (10)

You won't believe it until you try it for yourself!

Get the recipe: Vegan KFC Fried Chicken (Copycat)

Copycat KFC Chicken Pot Pie

27 Copycat KFC Recipes That Go Beyond a Bucket of Chicken (11)

If you are a fan of pot pies you are going to love this CopyCat KFC Pot Pie Recipe.

Get the recipe: Copycat KFC Chicken Pot Pie

KFC Mac and Cheese

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KFC Mac and Cheese is an indulgent creamy cheddar side that pairs perfectly with crispy chicken.

Get the recipe: KFC Mac and Cheese

Related:Best Sheet-Pan Macaroni and Cheese Recipe

KFC Potato Wedges

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KFC Potato Wedges are lightly battered in a thin KFC chicken-flavored seasoning and double-fried until super crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside.

Get the recipe: KFC Potato Wedges

KFC Honey BBQ Strips

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Make these KFC Honey BBQ Strips at home with our copycat version of this recipe.

Get the recipe:KFC Honey BBQ Strips

Air Fryer Copycat KFC Chicken

27 Copycat KFC Recipes That Go Beyond a Bucket of Chicken (15)

Perfectly crispy chicken with just the right amount of spice with the perfect blend of seasonings.

Get the recipe: Air Fryer Copycat KFC Chicken

My Oven-Fried Chicken (KFC Copycat)

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My Oven-Fried Chicken is a KFC Copycat that is BAKED not fried and has a fantastic flavor that is spot on with crunch.

Get the recipe: My Oven-Fried Chicken (KFC Copycat)

Copycat KFC Macaroni Salad

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Bring back the retro days of Kentucky Fried Chicken with this copycat KFC Macaroni Salad recipe.

Get the recipe: Copycat KFC Macaroni Salad

Instant Pot Fried Chicken

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This pressure cooker fried chicken is a deep-fried battered chicken.

Get the recipe:Instant Pot Fried Chicken

Air Fryer Popcorn Chicken

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This popcorn chicken cooks up in less than 10 minutes and makes a perfect meal, family dinner, snack or appetizer.

Get the recipe:Air Fryer Popcorn Chicken

Air Fryer Copycat KFC Biscuits

27 Copycat KFC Recipes That Go Beyond a Bucket of Chicken (20)

If you have not made them yet, you need to make them really soon, and my kids absolutely loved them!

Get the recipe:Air Fryer Copycat KFC Biscuits

Air Fryer Copycat KFC Chicken

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This healthy copycat KFC southern fried chicken recipe will blow your mind!

Get the recipe:Easy KFC Air Fryer Fried Chicken Recipe

KFC Double Down

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If you can’t get it in the fast-food chain, why not figure out how to make it yourself?

Get the recipe: KFC Double Down

Homemade KFC Chicken Burger

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It’s crispy, easy and tastes so good.

Get the recipe: Homemade KFC Chicken Burger

KFC Mashed Potato

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The unique thing about KFC Mashed Potato is how it’s creamy but soft.

Get the recipe: KFC Mashed Potato

Copycat KFC Chicken Bowl Casserole

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The light version of the chicken bowl casserole.

Get the recipe: Copycat KFC Chicken Bowl Casserole

KFC Chicken Wings

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Let’s see how you can make your homemade KFC wings “finger-licking good."

Get the recipe: KFC Chicken Wings

Related:12 Best Fried Chicken Recipes

Copycat KFC Bean Salad

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This copycat of the bean salad you used to be able to get at KFC is just as good as Mom’s, if not better.

Get the recipe: Copycat KFC Bean Salad

KFC Brown Gravy Recipe

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This easy brown gravy recipe is a spot-on copycat of that famous KFC gravy!

Get the recipe: KFC Brown Gravy Recipe

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27 Copycat KFC Recipes That Go Beyond a Bucket of Chicken (2024)

FAQs

Why is KFC recipe a secret? ›

There are two separate spice mixing companies that each produce half of the "secret recipe" spice mix. These two products are then combined together at the store to bread the chicken. Each of these companies' contracts are managed by separate KFC employees, so at most, anyone could only come up with half of the recipe.

What is KFC chicken coating made of? ›

Breaded With: Wheat Flour, Salt, Spices, Monosodium Glutamate, Nonfat Milk Solids, Whey, Egg White Solids, Garlic Powder. I highlighted the two ingredients that your taste buds find oh so exciting and keep you going back for more. One chicken breast contains 1190mg of sodium, by the way.

Who knows the KFC secret formula? ›

KFC employs two different firms, Griffith Laboratories and McCormick & Company, to formulate the blend; in order to maintain secrecy, each firm is given a different half of the recipe. Once the Griffith portion has been formulated, it is sent to McCormick and combined with the remaining ingredients there.

Why does KFC pressure cook their chicken? ›

PRESSURE FRYING

Leading to a product that cooked faster and maintain more its juices, since less moisture evaporates into steam. Thus, pressure frying produces the most consistently flavorful fried chicken, and is faster than any other method when cooking in higher volumes.

What is the most unhealthy thing in KFC? ›

Worst: Extra Crispy

Here's where "crispy" is a code word for "steer clear." The extra crispy recipe is by far the least healthful of KFC's chicken options. A single breast will set you back 530 calories, 35 grams of fat, and 6 grams of saturated fat.

What is Colonel Sanders' recipe for Kentucky Fried Chicken? ›

ingredients
  1. 2 packages dried Italian salad dressing mix.
  2. 3 tablespoons flour.
  3. 2 teaspoons salt.
  4. 1 dash black pepper.
  5. 14 cup lemon juice.
  6. 2 tablespoons vegetable oil.
  7. 2 12 - 3 lbs broiler-fryer chicken pieces.
  8. 2 cups carbonated soda water.

Who was the girl disabled after eating KFC? ›

The girl in question has been identified as Monika Samaan. She was seven years of age when she contracted salmonellosis from a Twister wrap she ordered at Kentucky Fried Chicken in October of 2005.

What oil does KFC fry their chicken in? ›

KFC products are fried in oil which may contain the following: Canola Oil and Hydrogenated Soybean Oil with TBHQ and Citric Acid Added To Protect Flavor, Dimethylpolysiloxane, an Antifoaming Agent Added OR Low Linolenic Soybean Oil, TBHQ and Citric Acid Added To Protect Flavor, Dimethylpolysiloxane, an Antifoaming ...

Is KFC deep fried or baked? ›

KFC deep fries its chicken for 15 minutes and then drains the oil off for another five minutes – 20 minutes in total. If you don't have a deep fryer, heat up plenty of oil in a large saucepan and do it that way.

Which fryer does KFC use? ›

Winston Foodservice, makers of commercial KFC pressure fryers Collectramatic® Fryers and CVap® Holding Cabinets, has been a KFC partner for over 50 years. We're proud to help KFC operators around the globe to serve the world's best fried chicken.

Does KFC use egg in their breading? ›

Original Recipe® Chicken Fresh chicken. Breaded in: Wheat flour, Salt, Monosodium glutamate, Spices, Dehydrated garlic, Modified milk ingredients, Dried egg white (Egg white, Baker's yeast, Citric acid). Cooked in: Canola oil (Dimethylpolysiloxane (Antifoaming agent), TBHQ). Contains: Wheat, Milk, Egg.

What makes KFC so crispy? ›

And finally, equipment also plays a role in cracking the code on that KFC-style fried chicken crispiness. The texture we all love and crave is largely due to their method of cooking: a high-temperature, industrial-strength pressure fryer.

Why is KFC original recipe so good? ›

KFC Uses A Special Signature Blend Of Herbs And Spices

A big part of what makes KFC's chicken so tasty is its highly coveted blend of herbs and spices. The restaurant's chicken is savory and herbaceous with lingering notes of pepper. The flavoring is simple but it hits all the right notes.

Do KFC employees know the recipe? ›

“It's kept in a vault in Kentucky,” she told UK documentary Secrets of the Fast Food Giants. “Across KFC, only two or three people actually know the exact recipe.” The fast food chain has two different factories to make part of its recipe so no one company would ever know the entire formula.

Is the KFC secret menu real? ›

The KFC Secret Menu currently includes three items: the Zinger Stacker Twister, the BBQ Bacon and Cheese Twister, and the Kentucky Snack Box, but this menu changes regularly with snacks so exclusive they've never made it to the regular menu.

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