KFC Original Recipe Chicken

KFC Original Recipe Chicken decoded by a food reporter and republished with all 11 herbs and spices to make picture perfect KFC chicken at home! 

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2/3 tablespoon salt
• 1/2 tablespoon dried thyme leaves
• 1/2 tablespoon dried basil leaves
• 1/3 tablespoon dried oregano leaves
• 1 tablespoon celery salt
• 1 tablespoon ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon dried mustard
• 3 tablespoons paprika (original recipe calls for 4 tablespoons)
• 2 tablespoons garlic salt
• 1 tablespoon ground ginger
• 3 tablespoons ground white pepper
• 2 teaspoons Accent Seasoning , optional (I left this out)
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 large egg
• 1 chicken , cut into 10 pieces (2 wings, 2 legs, 2 thighs and 2 breasts each cut in half to make 4 breast pieces)
• vegetable oil for frying

Instructions

1. Add the spices to a small food processor until they're all uniform in size and the thyme, basil and oregano aren't larger in size anymore.
2. Add the flour in a bowl with all the herbs and spices and mix with a whisk.
3. In a second larger bowl add the buttermilk and egg together and whisk until combined.
4. Add the chicken to the buttermilk mixture for 20-30 minutes.
5. Remove chicken from the buttermilk soak and let any excess buttermilk drip off.
6. Dredge the chicken pieces in the flour mixture on all sides, then shake off the excess coating.
7. Let it rest on a cookie sheet for 20-30 minutes.
8. Add oil to a deep fryer or a large pot that is at least 5 inches high so that the chicken can be fully submerged.
9. Heat the oil to 350 degrees and fry in small batches for 15-18 minutes.
10. Remove the chicken from the oil and add to a drying rack on top of a clean cookie sheet.
11. If you add it to a paper towel or newspaper the bottom of the chicken will steam from the heat and become soft.

Note

So here it is, in all its glory. I did make a couple of adjustments in my side by side comparison during recipe testing. More details of how/why available in the post above this recipe card.

I ditched the MSG.

I reduced the paprika by 1 tablespoon.

I pulverized the thyme, basil and oregano in my small food processor.

I added more oil

Thanks so much to the awesome folks at the Chicago Tribune for this KFC Original Recipe Chicken "copycat."