Here are the secret 11 herbs and spices that make KFC’s chicken finger-licking good.
KFC’s fried chicken recipe has been able to attract people globally for its unique flavor since the late 1930s. The interesting thing is that it is rumored they have been using the same recipe as prescribed by the founder, Colonel Harland Sanders. Initially, he used to prepare tasty and moist chicken using a pressure fryer. Later, he prepared his original recipe by July 1940, and it has always remained a secret.
To maintain the secrecy of the recipe, Kentucky Fried Chicken also ships the mixed spices to its restaurants. The original handwritten recipe of Sanders is kept inside KFC’s headquarters in Louisville under strong security measures. So, it is quite impossible for us to know the original recipe. However, in 2016, a Sanders family scrapbook was leaked that showed a handwritten recipe of the 11 herbs and spices used in Kentucky Fried Chicken.
KFC claims that they use ingredients that are available on everyone’s shelf. Sanders used to make fried chicken using vegetable oil. Later, by 1993, several KFC outlets started using soybean and palm oil for economic reasons, but the recipe remained the same and unique. So, what is the secret KFC recipe? Here is what we found from the Sanders family scrapbook—
What Are the 11 Herbs and Spices in Kentucky Fried Chicken?
According to the leaked Sanders scrapbook, the secret 11 Herbs and Spices in Kentucky Fried Chicken are-
- Basil (1/2 teaspoon)
- Oregano (1/3 teaspoon)
- Salt (2/3 teaspoon)
- Celery Salt (1 teaspoon)
- Garlic Salt (2 teaspoons)
- Thyme (1/2 teaspoon)
- Black Pepper (1 teaspoon)
- White Pepper (3 teaspoons)
- Dried Mustard (1 teaspoon)
- Ground Ginger (1 teaspoon)
- Paprika (4 teaspoons).
The scrapbook also prescribes mixing these 11 ingredients with 2 cups of flour to prepare the coating, which is then used in Kentucky Fried Chicken.
Joe Ledington and the Truth Behind KFC’s Leaked Recipe
The story of KFC’s leaked recipe started in August 2016, when Joe Ledington reported to the Chicago Tribune that he found a handwritten paper of the original Kentucky Fried Chicken recipe in a scrapbook. As Joe is the nephew by marriage of Colonel Sanders, it is possible that he somehow got access to a copy of the original recipe. It is also possible that Joe wanted some fame and that is why he made up the story. So, what’s the truth? We can learn from KFC’s reply to this recipe, as they deny the authenticity of the recipe.
Even though we are not sure whether the recipe found by Ledington is the original one, we can clearly understand that these 11 herbs and spices in Kentucky Fried Chicken can make it finger-licking good. Also, if you want to prepare Colonel Sanders–style fried chicken, coat the chicken pieces heavily with the above-mentioned herbs and spices mixture and use a pressure fryer to fry the chicken.
How to Make KFC Chicken at Home?
Making KFC fried chicken at home is more about using their method than their recipe. It is essential to follow the proper method to get crispy skin as well as the taste of all the ingredients. According to Colonel Sanders’s Number Seven Rule, first, you have to dip each piece of chicken in water for seven seconds and then dry it for seven seconds. Finally, roll the chicken in the ingredient mixture seven times before frying. You should coat the chicken in dredging flour with the 11 ingredients and seasoning. In a television program, Shirley Topmiller, former secretary of Sanders, stated that Sanders used savory and sage for chicken seasoning, which he learned from his mother.
KFC applies a unique method to cook and fry the chicken to achieve a crispy skin, which is the use of a pressure fryer. By the late 1930s, the Colonel started using a pressure fryer to fry moist chicken. Since then, KFC has been following this method. You can use a pressure cooker or deep fryer to prepare KFC-style chicken at home.
So, don’t waste your time thinking about whether this is the original KFC chicken recipe or not. Just use these ingredients, mix them with flour and seasoning, fry the chicken using a pressure fryer, taste it, and thank me.






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