27 Copycat KFC Recipes That Go Beyond a Bucket of Chicken
Copycat KFC Coleslaw
We grew up eating Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) when my mom wanted to grab a quick dinner and didn’t feel like cooking for us kids after a long day at work. We would gobble up a big bucket of fried chicken, (their chicken legs were my favorite!), mashed potatoes, gravy, coleslaw and a roll slathered in butter always felt like a treat. I believe KFC has the best-tasting buttery biscuits and their fried chicken with its secret spices is addictive and delicious!
Since the nearest KFC is about 30 minutes away from me, we enjoy our favorites at home with these without traveling with these 27 copycat KFC recipes. My daughter is a mashed potato and gravy addict and my son can eat his weight in crunchy chicken tenders.
Related: Where to Find KFC Beyond Fried Chicken
What is Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC)?
KFC is an American fast-food restaurant chain that is headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky that specializes in guess what?? Fried chicken!! Kentucky Fried Chicken is the world's second-largest restaurant chain right after McDonald's. That's a lot of fast-food restaurants.
Related: 30 Copycat Olive Garden Recipes SO Good You'll Never Have to Leave Your House
Best KFC Chicken Recipe
There's something nostalgic about a bucket of KFC Original Recipe Chicken. It's comfort food to the max. Growing up, most of us didn't have parents that were willing to fry chicken at home, so KFC became something of a special occasion food. It made an appearance at block parties, birthday parties, holiday celebrations, and end-of-season sports tournaments, wowing us with its salty, greasy, spicy and flavorful crust. Make sure to grab a piece early so you can pick a piece of white or dark meat.
The original Colonel Sanders might have hated what the restaurant became after he sold, but I still think their chicken is "finger-lickin' good." So why should anyone even attempt to make it at home? For starters, it’s way less expensive, and you can use better-quality ingredients in your kitchen. You will see how much easier it is to make fried chicken that tastes as good (if not better) than what you'll find at KFC. But, you do need to know a few secrets along to way to ensure your chicken turns out juicy on the inside and crispy on the outside.
Related: 29 Healthy Fast Food Recipes That Are Skinny Riffs of the Classics
How to Make KFC Chicken
KFC's chicken recipe isn't any more complicated than most fried chicken recipes, even though it does contain more ingredients. The flavorful coating is created by combining flour with 11 herbs and spices, so get ready to load up your grocery cart with salt, dried thyme, dried basil, dried oregano, celery salt, ground black pepper, ground yellow mustard, paprika, garlic salt, ground ginger, and ground white pepper. You'll need as much as a quarter cup of some of these spices, so make sure you have plenty on the spice rack before you get started.
KFC Menu's Most Ordered Items
KFC might be known for its fried chicken, but everyone knows they do know how to make their sides. Part of what makes that crispy, crunchy chicken taste so good is serving it with the best complementary foods. It's nearly impossible to choose our one-and-only favorite on their list of homestyle sides (KFC mashed potatoes and gravy are absolutely in the running). But, it's hard to leave the drive-thru window without a side of coleslaw. It's crunchy, creamy, and delicious, and there's something about the contrast between hot chicken and cold veggies that just works. It's refreshing, especially on a hot summer day or any day.
How Many Recipes Does KFC Have On Their Menu?
Along with the fan-favorite fried chicken, there are a total of 19 recipes on the menu including mashed potatoes and gravy, biscuits, coleslaw, mac and cheese, chicken tenders, bbq chicken, sandwiches, chicken pot pie and more!
Related: KFC Is Elevating Their Menu With Several Saucy New Items
Who Invented Fried Chicken?
Believe it or not, the Scots were the ones who invented fried chicken. They began deep-frying chicken in fat and created an extra crispy texture with very juicy meat. I am so thankful that they did, it's one of my favorite meals ever!
Copycat KFC Recipes
Krista Marshall
With this easy KFC coleslaw recipe, you can have restaurant-style, homemade coleslaw without having to leave the house.
Get the recipe: KFC Coleslaw Recipe
Rock Recipes
We put the recipe from the now-famous Chicago Tribune article to the test and here’s what we found!
Get the recipe: Copycat KFC
Gluten-Free on a Shoestring
With 11 not-so-secret herbs and spices, this recipe for gluten-free KFC-style fried chicken is the last fried chicken recipe you'll ever need.
Get the recipe: Gluten-Free KFC-Style Fried Chicken
Persnickety Plates
KFC Honey BBQ Sauce is a delicious, tangy barbecue sauce served at KFC restaurants and easy to make at home with this copycat recipe!
Get the recipe: KFC Honey BBQ Sauce
How 2 Do Keto
A deliciously crispy (and guilt-free) copycat version of KFC chicken tenders.
Get the recipe: Keto Copycat KFC Chicken Tenders
How 2 Do Keto
This Copycat KFC Seasoning Recipe takes any chicken recipe from average to amazing!
Get the recipe: Copycat KFC Seasoning Recipe
Moore or Less Cooking
Copycat KFC Biscuits~ Only 6 ingredients are needed to have a high risen, soft and buttery biscuit better than KFC hot out of the oven in under a 15-minutes baking time.
Get the recipe: Copycat KFC Biscuits
Kitchen Divas
Do you love KFC Famous mashed potato bowls?
Get the recipe: KFC Famous mashed potato bowls
Sweet and Simple Living
You won't believe it until you try it for yourself!
Get the recipe: Vegan KFC Fried Chicken (Copycat)
Cincy Shopper
If you are a fan of pot pies you are going to love this CopyCat KFC Pot Pie Recipe.
Get the recipe: Copycat KFC Chicken Pot Pie
Dinner Then Dessert
KFC Mac and Cheese is an indulgent creamy cheddar side that pairs perfectly with crispy chicken.
Get the recipe: KFC Mac and Cheese
Dinner Then Dessert
KFC Potato Wedges are lightly battered in a thin KFC chicken-flavored seasoning and double-fried until super crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside.
Get the recipe: KFC Potato Wedges
Copy Kat
Make these KFC Honey BBQ Strips at home with our copycat version of this recipe.
Get the recipe: KFC Honey BBQ Strips
Pink When
Perfectly crispy chicken with just the right amount of spice with the perfect blend of seasonings.
Get the recipe: Air Fryer Copycat KFC Chicken
Kevin is Cooking
My Oven-Fried Chicken is a KFC Copycat that is BAKED not fried and has a fantastic flavor that is spot on with crunch.
Get the recipe: My Oven-Fried Chicken (KFC Copycat)
The Kitchen is my Playground
Bring back the retro days of Kentucky Fried Chicken with this copycat KFC Macaroni Salad recipe.
Get the recipe: Copycat KFC Macaroni Salad
The Pressure Cooker
This pressure cooker fried chicken is a deep-fried battered chicken.
Get the recipe: Instant Pot Fried Chicken
Budget Delicious
This popcorn chicken cooks up in less than 10 minutes and makes a perfect meal, family dinner, snack or appetizer.
Get the recipe: Air Fryer Popcorn Chicken
Fork To Spoon
If you have not made them yet, you need to make them really soon, and my kids absolutely loved them!
Get the recipe: Air Fryer Copycat KFC Biscuits
Pink When
This healthy copycat KFC southern fried chicken recipe will blow your mind!
Get the recipe: Easy KFC Air Fryer Fried Chicken Recipe
Recipe Fairy
If you can’t get it in the fast-food chain, why not figure out how to make it yourself?
Get the recipe: KFC Double Down
My Morning Mocha
It’s crispy, easy and tastes so good.
Get the recipe: Homemade KFC Chicken Burger
Recipe Tin Eats
The unique thing about KFC Mashed Potato is how it’s creamy but soft.
Get the recipe: KFC Mashed Potato
The Pound Dropper
The light version of the chicken bowl casserole.
Get the recipe: Copycat KFC Chicken Bowl Casserole
Recipe Fairy
Let’s see how you can make your homemade KFC wings “finger-licking good."
Get the recipe: KFC Chicken Wings
Related: 12 Best Fried Chicken Recipes
Life’s a Tomato
This copycat of the bean salad you used to be able to get at KFC is just as good as Mom’s, if not better.
Get the recipe: Copycat KFC Bean Salad
The Soccer Mom Blog
This easy brown gravy recipe is a spot-on copycat of that famous KFC gravy!
Get the recipe: KFC Brown Gravy Recipe
Up next: McDonald’s Fan-Favorite Frozen Oreo Treat Is Back for the Summer