Quick & Easy Homemade KFC-Style Chicken

Craving that crispy, juicy, flavorful KFC-style fried chicken at home — but fast and without a deep fryer? Here’s a quick & easy homemade version that captures the iconic 11 herbs and spices flavor, with ingredients you probably already have.

🍗 Quick & Easy Homemade KFC-Style Chicken

⏱️ Ready in: ~30–40 minutes

Works with drumsticks, thighs, breasts, or tenders — bone-in or boneless!

🧂 Ingredients (Serves 4):

Chicken:

1½–2 lbs chicken pieces (drumsticks, thighs, tenders, etc.)
1 cup buttermilk (or substitute: 1 cup milk + 1 tbsp lemon juice/vinegar)
1 tsp hot sauce (optional, for kick)

Flour Coating:

1½ cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp paprika
1 tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
½ tsp dried thyme
½ tsp dried oregano
½ tsp celery salt (optional, but very KFC-like)
½ tsp baking powder (for extra crispiness)
Pinch of cayenne pepper (optional)

🛢️ For Frying:

Vegetable or canola oil (enough to fill a skillet with ~1 inch)

👩‍🍳 Instructions:

1. Marinate the Chicken:

Combine chicken with buttermilk and hot sauce. Let it soak for at least 20 minutes, or up to overnight in the fridge.

2. Mix the Flour Coating:

In a large bowl or zip-top bag, whisk together all coating ingredients.

3. Coat the Chicken:

Remove chicken from buttermilk (let excess drip off), then dredge in flour mixture until fully coated.
For extra crispy, let the coated chicken sit on a wire rack for 10 minutes before frying.

4. Fry the Chicken:

Heat oil in a deep skillet or Dutch oven to 350°F (175°C).
Fry chicken pieces in batches for:
- 10–12 minutes for tenders or boneless
- 12–15 minutes for bone-in pieces
Turn halfway and cook until golden brown and internal temp is 165°F (74°C).

5. Drain & Rest:

Remove to paper towels or a wire rack to drain and rest 5 minutes before serving.

🍽️ Serving Ideas:

Classic: coleslaw, mashed potatoes, biscuits, or corn
Spicy twist: Serve with hot honey, spicy mayo, or pickles
Make it a sandwich with buns, lettuce, and mayo

📝 Tips:

Want that KFC extra-crunch? Double dip: dip back in buttermilk, then flour again before frying.
No buttermilk? Use plain Greek yogurt + water or milk + vinegar.
Prefer oven or air fryer? I can give you that version too!

Would you like a copycat KFC gravy or biscuit recipe to go with it? Let me know! 🍟🍞