KFC style fried chicken recipe, how to make crispy fried chicken in KFC style at home. With time and experience we get better in cooking, day after day and this is what happened with me. After numerous trials, I felt this is one of the best and easy recipe to make KFC fried chicken at home.
How KFC makes the best tasting fried chicken is a trade secret which no one knows. But there can definitely be a no better and healthier way to enjoy a fried chicken than to prepare at home. Healthier and a deep fried chicken! Not really though.
There are no pesky ingredients like MSG / ajjinomotto or what so ever in my recipe. You can try using brown bread crumbs or pulsed oats or pulsed corn flakes for a healthier choice.
Kfc doesn’t use bread crumbs for the fried chicken. But I have used it here just for the extra crisp outcome.
For the best look, use bread crumbs or panko crumbs that are not too large. Using large crumbs makes covering look husky like the one in pictures. If using dried rosemary, crush it well and then add.
However an healthiest way is to bake the chicken, check out my baked chicken fingers to learn how to bake it.
This best fried chicken recipe can be used to fry drumsticks too. But i had a not so good experience frying them. The drumsticks were cracked and the inner part began to splash on to me while frying. I suggest drumsticks if you are experienced in choosing the right ones for deep frying. Otherwise it will mess up the oil and discolor the chicken.
You may like to check these Chicken recipes
KFC style popcorn chicken
Chicken shawarma
Chilli chicken – chinese style
Chicken 65
Chicken tikka in oven
Fried chicken recipe
KFC fried chicken
Ingredients (1 cup = 240ml )
- 500 grams chicken drumsticks or fillets (½ kg)
- Oil for deep frying
- 1 egg large
- ½ tsp. Pepper powder
- 1 tbsp. Ginger garlic paste or ginger garlic powder
- ¾ tsp. garam masala powder (or other seasoning like cajun spice or all spice)
- 1 tsp. onion powder (optional)
- ¾ to 1 tsp. paprika or Kashmiri chili powder
- Salt as needed
- 4 tbsp cornflour
- ½ to ¾ cup Bread crumbs
- 1¼ cup buttermilk (or 4 tbsps curd or yogurt)
How to make the recipe
Preparation – Brine chicken
- Pour buttermilk to a bowl. If you do not have it, add 4 tbsp curd to a bowl and pour 1 cup water. Whisk it well with ¼ tsp salt. Mix it well. Check if there is enough salt.
- Wash chicken and drain off all excess water. Add it to the buttermilk. Refrigerate overnight or at least for 4 hours. This makes the chicken turn tender and soft.
- Drain the buttermilk.
Marinate to make fried chicken
- Add pepper powder, ginger garlic, seasoning spice powder and red chilli powder.
- Beat an egg and pour it to the bowl.
- Add corn flour. Mix well. Set aside for at least 45 minutes.
- Pick up each of these pieces and roll them in the bread crumbs. or pour crumbs over and mix.
- You can leave them in the crumbs for a while.
How to make crispy fried chicken
- Pour oil to a heavy bottom pan. Heat it.
- Check if the oil is hot enough. Drop a small portion of the wet mixture to the hot oil. If it rises without browning then the temperature is right.
- Shake off the excess crumbs from the chicken. Drop one after the other to hot oil.
- Fry them on medium high heat till golden. If the flame is too high, it gets browned without getting cooked inside.
- Keep stirring often until done.
- Serve fried chicken hot with ketchup or your favorite dip.
NUTRITION (estimation only)
If you are a beginner or new to Indian cooking, I highly suggest you to check the supporting step by step photos for best results. Step by step photos with description available below after the recipe card.
How to make KFC fried chicken at home
1. Wash chicken well. You can use either large fillets or drumsticks. Drain off excess water.
2. Add salt to buttermilk and mix. Add chicken to this. Refrigerate 4 hours to over night. I do not suggest to skip this as the chicken will not cook through properly without brining.
3. Drain the chicken.
4. Beat an egg and add it to the bowl.
5. Add ginger garlic, lemon juice, red chili powder, salt, pepper powder, flour and garam masala. Marinate well.
6. Set this aside for about 45 minutes.
7. Pour the bread crumbs over the chicken. Mix well and set aside for at least 10 minutes.
8. Heat oil in a heavy bottom deep pan/kadai. Fry till golden at medium high temperature. If the oil is very hot chicken gets browned fast without getting cooked inside. The oil should be hot enough and the flame at medium high.
Enjoy fried chicken with your favorite ketchup.
Sravs says
In bread crumbs place shell Ican add oats
swasthi says
Oats soak up lot of oil and don’t turn crisp
Ash says
Hi, I just want to know that instead of buttermilk can I use maida marinated, still can be use as refrigerator, can u help me with that
swasthi says
Hi Ash
Buttermilk or yogurt is the key to get that tender yet crisp chicken. It tenderises the meat and keeps it moist after frying. I highly recommend using it. Hope this helps
karthika kumar says
Really super
swasthi says
Thanks Karthika
Ridhima says
Can I use oats instead of bread crums?
swasthi says
Hi Ridhima
Yes you can but oats will not crisp up much like bread. You can instead use cornflakes.
Madhvi says
Hi! As always yr recipe was amazing. One question can I shallow fry instead of deep fry?
swasthi says
Hi Madhvi
Thank you. Large pieces of chicken will not get cooked well if shallow fried. You can shallow fry if using thin fillets. You can also grill it in the oven.
Madhvi says
Thanks for d response Swasthi
Memoona Rubab says
I have tried the kfc style chicken once and my family loves it so much, i am always being asked to make it again on family gatherings! Making it again today! Thank you Swastiiiii!
swasthi says
Hi Memoona
Thank you so much for the comment. Very happy to know your family loves it.
🙂
Nega says
I tried this recipe last night.Since I didnt have time to marinate in brine liquid I tried using smaller pieces.Inspite of skipping the main marination step,the chicken turned out to b yum.Keeping it healthy I airfryed them.5 stars from myside for this recipe.Simply one of the best KFC chicken type recipes on the internet.
swasthi says
Hi Nega
Thank you so much for the comment. Very glad to know the recipe was useful.
🙂
Nafisa Khan says
Hello swasti thanks for the recipe but I have a doubt , the recipe makes three pics so what I have to do to make much more chicken , or can I use chicken pics instead of leg pics or drum stick so how to made it pls give suggestion.
swasthi says
Welcome Nafisa,
The recipe is for half kg chicken. I have a similar recipe of frying chicken pieces (big or small any). Please check it here Chicken burger. I have made the burger patties the same way as this kfc fried chicken. If you want to make – like 1 kg then just double the recipe. Hope this helps.
Fatima says
I do put chicken for brining but my chicken at end turns dry….it doesnt remain juicy…what should i do?
swasthi says
Hi Fatima
It depends on how long you have kept the chicken in brine liquid. For me buttermilk brine works the best when done for 4 hours or more.
Stacey says
It worths all the time preparing the chicken. I’d love eating KFC chickens with my fav spices.
Sumaya Reddi says
Amazing tasty easy receipe.. one of my favourite chicken dish
Zeba says
Hey Swasthi how to make butter milk?? Pls let me know very interested to make your recipe soon
swasthi says
Hi Zeba,
I have mentioned in the recipe card. Just stir in 1/4 cup curd or plain yogurt in 1 cup water.
Esther says
These are just beautiful and thanks for teaching me a lot. Can I have the recipe for spaghetti and pasta?
Thanks
Mrs EC. McGregor says
Good day,
Can your please email the kfc style chicken recipes to me.
Thankyou
kind rewards
Mrs EC. McGregor
Avijit says
Hi Swasthi, nice to see this type of recipe with pictures but kindly mention the oil temperature for best results. The popcorn chicken is also good.
Kindly post some more recipes of KFC type items.
Kamal says
Fantastic tempting recipes , I made 2 dishes , my entire family couldn’t believe it . Thanks
Penchalaiah. T says
Hai swasti soooo good recipes I like this v/nthanq
Huma says
Hi swasthi ur recipe is mind blowing I really like it I want some more non veg recipes plz…
Rahma says
Guess what Swasthi, iam going to try this for Idd and suprise my family , i cant really stop reading about your recipes. They are easy to make and delicious and they have ingredients that i can find in my country. Awesome buddy thanks you …..keep it up…
By the way i have tried making you cheese veg sandwich but my cheese doesn’t melt……….which type would you recommend please
Aryan Ambastha says
I tried while parents were of the city,much tasty and healthy,THANK YOU SO MUCH MA’AM
Ansh says
Not like kfc but still good
Add more salt and all the spices.
Double the amount of spices like salt,pepper,red chilli powder, coriander powder.
Keerthi says
Wow! It is delicious
Thank you ♡