Easy copycat Kentucky Fried Chicken recipe for the crispiest chicken ever. Juicy chicken drumsticks fried quickly then baked to perfection & so flavorful. OR make a healthy fried chicken in air fryer without flour version that is gluten free.
Here is an easy copycat KFC recipe similar to our fried chicken legs but with their special seasonings. You and your kids will absolutely love them. Instead of frying it is just done quickly to really crisp the skin. Then baked so the inside is super juicy. (originally published 11/17, affiliate links present)
Copycat Kentucky Fried Chicken Recipe
Ever wonder how KFC makes their chicken so crunchy yet juicy inside and packed with flavor? We have tips on how to make extra crispy chicken skin while keeping the meat fork tender. Below is in the oven, you can follow our Try our air fryer KFC fried chicken sandwich recipe too if you have that machine.
This is a great dinner idea, and really inexpensive too. This is how it starts right? With chicken legs and all of those flavors you think of when you sink your hand into that big bucket, we will share with you how this deliciousness is done!!
Now you could use any piece(s) you want but kids love this one since fried chicken legs are so easy to pick up right? A splatter screen is helpful too so you can prevent it spits the oil may give off.
Kentucky Fried Chicken Ingredients
- Chicken drumsticks or legs you may call them
- All purpose flour is the coating
- Eggs – this is how to bread chicken without eggs
- Vegetable oil for frying
- Blend of spices shared below
What is KFC chicken coating made of?
Start with some dried thyme, basil, oregano, black pepper, mustard powder, paprika, garlic salt and white pepper is what we can figure out. The specifics are guarded tightly as a secret but our recipe tastes amazingly similar to theirs.
What oil does KFC use to fry their chicken?
They use soybean oil, starting in 2007. The most important thing to remember and what you should read first is How Hot Should Oil be for Fried Chicken to perfection.
Seriously, that is really it!! It really couldn’t be much easier. If you have a dutch oven it is great for frying these as it has a high side and really submerges the legs well. If you’re looking for a cheap meal that your whole family will love you should try this.
To make really crispy chicken the key is to dip, coat, and dip again in your flavorful flour mixture. The double coating really makes it more KFC like and how they get that extra crispiness. Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Soak the chicken legs in salt water for up to 24 hrs if possible for optimal results.
How to Make Copycat KFC Chicken Legs
- Put eggs in one bowl and flour and spices mixed in another bowl.
- Beat the eggs and dredge each chicken leg in the flour, then the egg, and then flour once more.
- Put coated drumstick on a cooling rack and do this to all other drumsticks.
- Heat oil in dutch oven or large pan over medium/high heat.
- Fry each leg in batches of 3-4 for about 3 or so minutes each until coating is golden brown.
- Remove each leg and put on cooling rack to drain excess oil until all legs are done.
- Leave chicken legs on cooling rack on top of a cookie sheet and put in oven for 35-45 minutes or until the internal meat temperature reads 165 degrees F. Enjoy
Can you cook these in an air fryer?
It isn’t hard and is so worth it to dip just one more time each drumstick to really coat it well. We share here how to make air fryer fried chicken without buttermilk and air fryer fried chicken breast too. NO oil necessary for this one.
KFC’s signature blend of 11 herbs and spices is a closely guarded secret and is not available for purchase at the store. However, here we have attempted to recreate the flavor by developing copycat recipes for the breading itself.
If you’re having people over or having a picnic these are great too to bring along. Just finish them, wrap in foil and take them with you or serve outside on a sunny day with a few yummy side dishes. Looking for other comfort food recipe favorites, here are a few more:
Other family friendly chicken recipes you’ll love
- We love making this breading with dark meat too like our air fryer fried chicken thighs or traditional fried steak is great
- How to bake crispy chicken wings is shared here. There is definitely a kitchen hack to these.
Copycat Kentucky Fried Chicken Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Bowl
- 1 pan
Ingredients
- 10 chicken drumsticks
- 2 eggs
- 2/3 fsp salt
- 2 c flour
- 1/2 tsp thyme
- 1/2 tsp basil
- 1/2 tsp oregano
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp dried mustard powder
- 4 tsp paprika
- 2 tsp garlic salt
- 3 tsp white pepper
- 7+ c oil
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
- Soak the chicken legs in salt water for up to 24 hrs if possible for optimal results.
- Put eggs in one bowl and flour and spices mixed in another bowl.
- Beat the eggs and dredge each chicken leg in the flour, then the egg, and then flour once more.
- Put coated drumstick on a cooling rack and do this to all other drumsticks.
- Heat oil in dutch oven or large pan over medium/high heat.
- Fry each leg in batches of 3-4 for about 3 or so minutes each until coating is golden brown.
- Remove each leg and put on cooling rack to drain excess oil until all legs are done.
- Leave legs on cooling rack and place on top of a cookie sheet. Put in oven to bake for 35-45 minutes or until the thermometer reads 165 degrees F.
- Enjoy
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This recipe is AWESOME! My picky kids called it perfect and the only changes I made was 3 cups of flour instead of 2, and 4 eggs instead of 2. The reason I did that was because I had 12 pretty big chicken legs! What a WIN! I will be making it again-Thank You!
Oh yeah
It tastes so much like the KFC one! It was crispy and flavorful, will definitely make this again!
Love this copycat recipe!! It tastes even better than the fast food version and is more budget friendly too!
This super crispy and delicious chicken is calling my name. It’s a perfect meal on a busy weeknight.
This is so good! Even better than Kentucky Fried Chicken!
Can this recipe be adapted for the Ninja Air Fryer