{"id":188102,"date":"2025-04-16T14:14:12","date_gmt":"2025-04-16T14:14:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/peraltafinancing.com\/recipes\/category-a-b\/baking-category-a-b\/copycat-kfc-is-the-leaked-recipe-the-real-deal\/"},"modified":"2025-04-16T14:14:12","modified_gmt":"2025-04-16T14:14:12","slug":"copycat-kfc-is-the-leaked-recipe-the-real-deal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fivemor.com\/?p=188102","title":{"rendered":"Copycat KFC? Is the leaked recipe the real deal?"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Copycat KFC? Is the \u201cleaked\u201d recipe the real deal? We put the recipe from the now famous Chicago Tribune article to the test and here\u2019s what we found!<\/span><\/h2>\n
\"Copycat\"Copycat<\/p>\n

Copycat KFC<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Is this copycat KFC or is it actually much closer to the real thing? A few weeks ago, the Chicago Tribune published an article.<\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/span>\u00a0They interviewed a nephew of Colonel Harland Sanders, the founder of \u00a0the Kentucky Fried Chicken franchise. <\/span><\/p>\n

During the interview, the nephew, Joe Lexington, produced a family photo album that belonged to his aunt, Claudia. She just happened to be the second wife of the Colonel himself. <\/span><\/p>\n

They leaf through he family album and at the end is a copy of her will. Attached to that is a hand written recipe with 11 herbs and spices to be added to 2 cups of flour.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"One\"One<\/p>\n

One whole chicken cut into 8 pieces<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Food websites and bloggers went crazy at the news! Numerous articles from practically every major news outlet and food site asking the question, \u00a0\u201cIs this the actual secret KFC recipe?\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

For me the proof is always in the pudding, or in this case the fried chicken, so I set out to try the recipe for myself.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Copycat\"Copycat<\/p>\n

Copycat KFC<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Testing the Copycat KFC recipe.<\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

The first small batch I tried was a bit lacklustre because, like many, I mistook the abbreviation \u201cTs\u201d as handwritten in the recipe to be teaspoons. The lack of depth of flavour revealed that the recipe definitely must have meant tablespoons. <\/span><\/p>\n

One thing I noted from that discovery is that the total volume of herbs and spices is only a tablespoon shy of a whole 8 ounce cup. That\u2019s an incredibly high ratio (2:1) of seasonings to flour in a fried chicken recipe. <\/span><\/p>\n

Since the ingredients are pretty commonplace, I began to suspect that\u00a0the high volume of herbs and spices was actually the real \u201csecret\u201d to the recipe.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Copycat\"Copycat<\/p>\n

Copycat KFC<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

A couple of days later with a fresh chicken at the ready, I whipped up another batch of the coating and heated up my deep fryer. The result this time was much more like the\u00a0franchise produced version. The depth of flavour was definitely there but lacking punch. <\/span><\/p>\n

KFC readily admits that it does add MSG into the mix so for my 3rd attempt, I decided to try a small amount added to the regular recipe.<\/span><\/p>\n

I decided on 1 tablespoon (15 grams) to add to the mix which is less than a gram per piece of chicken. I found the flour and spice mixture sufficient to coat 2 whole chickens cut into 9 pieces each.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Copycat\"Copycat<\/p>\n

Copycat KFC<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The verdict?<\/span><\/h4>\n

I\u2019ve since had 8 people taste test this final version. They all agreed that it did indeed come very close to tasting like the chicken from a KFC franchise. <\/span><\/p>\n

Spouse says it tastes more like KFC in the states than in Canada. It\u2019s a distinction she has claimed for years, that the Canadian version is saltier. <\/span><\/p>\n

I have no idea if they tweak the recipe for geographical taste. I actually doubt it, but Spouse remains steadfast in her belief.<\/span><\/p>\n

Either way, I don\u2019t think that KFC has anything to worry about. Fast food fried chicken is ultimately convenience food. <\/span><\/p>\n

Nobody looking for a quick meal is going to forgo the KFC drive-thru to spend an hour or so at home making the alternative homemade version. <\/span><\/p>\n

Still, if your curiosity persists, either\u00a0the handwritten recipe from the Chicago Tribune article, or my tweak of adding a little MSG to it, will produce a very, very, tasty fried chicken.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Copycat\"Copycat<\/p>\n

Copycat KFC<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

UPDATES:<\/strong><\/span><\/h5>\n

March 28, 2019 UPDATE: We have continued to use this recipe many times since it was first posted to Rock Recipes. It is most often used for fried wings nowadays and the more I taste them the more I feel like this was the original recipe from back in the day. <\/span><\/p>\n

Try them out the next time you have friends over and compare notes on their opinions.<\/span><\/p>\n

NOTE: For an oven baked version of this recipe, just use the Instructions From This Recipe<\/strong><\/a><\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Copycat\"Copycat<\/p>\n

Copycat KFC Wings<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

May 2020 Update: We have turned the herbs and spices for this recipe into a KFC seasoning that you can use on roast chicken too. FIND THE KFC SEASONING MIX RECIPE HERE.<\/strong><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Copycat\"Copycat<\/a><\/p>\n

Looking for more chicken recipes?<\/span><\/h5>\n

Be sure to check out this newly updated collection of Our Top Ten Chicken Dinners<\/strong><\/a><\/span> from more than a decade online. These have been made literally millions of times and get the best reviews from our followers.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Top\"Top<\/a><\/p>\n

First published September 2016. Updated April 2020.<\/span><\/p>\n

Like this Copycat KFC recipe?\u00a0<\/span><\/h6>\n

We have over a hundred other\u00a0delicious chicken recipes in our Chicken Recipes Category<\/strong><\/a>.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s easy to keep up with the latest home style cooking & baking ideas from Rock Recipes. Be sure to follow Rock Recipes Facebook Page<\/b><\/span><\/a><\/span>\u00a0<\/b>and follow us on Instagram<\/b><\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Plus you\u2019ll see daily recipe suggestions from decadent desserts to quick delicious weekday meals too.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"Copycat\"Copycat<\/p>\n

You can also sign up for our FREE newsletter<\/strong><\/a><\/span> to know immediately when we add new recipes. You\u2019ll also get weekly suggestions for great family friendly\u00a0 meals and desserts too!<\/span><\/p>\n

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\nRock Recipes a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Our product recommendations are almost exclusively for those we currently use or have used in the past.<\/div>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Visit my Amazon Store<\/strong><\/a><\/span> for my favourite kitchen gadgets and appliances, plus recommendations from my personal cookbook collection.<\/span>\u00a0<\/div>\n
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\n\t\t\tPrep Time: <\/em>
\n\t\t\t20 minutes<\/span> <\/span>\n\t\t<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tCook Time: <\/em>
\n\t\t\t18 minutes<\/span> <\/span>\n\t\t<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tTotal Time: <\/em>
\n\t\t\t38 minutes<\/span> <\/span>\n\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Copycat KFC? Is the “leaked” recipe the real deal? We put the recipe from the now famous Chicago Tribune article to the test and here’s what we found!<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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Ingredients<\/h3>\n