KFC has guarded its Original Recipe since 1940. In 2016, the Chicago Tribune published the famed 11 herbs and spices blend, sourced from Joe Ledington, Colonel Sanders' great-nephew. He discovered it in a family notebook once belonging to Sanders' second wife.
This popular home version lets you recreate crispy, flavorful fried chicken without leaving your kitchen. As a recipe developer with years of testing copycat classics, I've found it delivers restaurant-quality results using fresh ingredients.
- 250g of flour
- 2/3 tablespoon of salt
- 1/2 tablespoon dried thyme
- 1/2 tablespoon of dried basil
- 1/3 tablespoon of dried marjoram
- 1 tablespoon of celery salt
- 1 tablespoon ground black pepper
- 1 tablespoon of mustard powder
- 4 tablespoons sweet paprika
- 2 tablespoons of garlic salt
- 1 tablespoon of powdered ginger
- 3 tablespoons ground white pepper
- 125 g light cream
- 1 beaten egg
- 1 free-range chicken, cut into pieces (cut the whites in 2 to obtain a more homogeneous cooking)
- rapeseed oil
Cooking time: 30 mins
Marinating time: 20-30 mins
Frying time: 15-18 mins
1. Mix the flour and all the spices in a large container.
2. Mix the beaten egg and the fresh cream in another container.
3. Put the chicken pieces in the egg/cream mixture. Leave to marinate at room temperature, for 20 to 30 min.
4. Remove the chicken pieces from the egg/cream mixture. Hold them over the container for a moment to drain off any excess egg/cream mixture.
5. Dip the chicken pieces in the flour/spice mixture until completely coated.
6. Let the chicken pieces rest on a rack (like this cooling rack), for 20 min.
7. Meanwhile, prepare the oil bath to fry the chicken. Pour 7-8 cm of rapeseed oil into a casserole (or any saucepan with high and thick sides).
8. Heat the oil over medium-high heat, until it reaches a temperature of 175°C. To check the temperature, use a kitchen thermometer, like this digital thermometer.
9. Once the temperature of 175°C is reached, reduce the heat to medium.
10. Immerse 3 to 4 pieces of chicken in the oil bath until golden brown (for 15 to 18 min). Turn them only once during frying.
11. Arrange the chicken pieces in a dish and cover with paper towels.
Enjoy your homemade KFC-style fried chicken, featuring the legendary spice mix. This recipe, drawn from the Tribune's reporting, remains a closely guarded industry secret—the original handwritten version is secured in KFC's Louisville headquarters.
Serve hot for that authentic crunch and flavor. Perfect for family meals anytime.
