KFC ORIGINAL SECRET CHICKEN

Preparation Time: 15 minutes
Marinating Time: 4 hours to overnight
Cooking Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 4 hours 35 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients:

For the Marinade:

• 8 pieces of chicken (mix of drumsticks and thighs)
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 tablespoon paprika
• 1 tablespoon dried thyme
• 1 tablespoon dried basil
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon celery salt
• 1 teaspoon dried mustard

For the Coating:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon paprika
• 1 tablespoon dried thyme
• 1 tablespoon dried basil
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon celery salt
• 1 teaspoon dried mustard
• Vegetable oil for frying

Instructions:

Marinating the Chicken:

1. Prepare Marinade: In a large bowl, mix buttermilk with paprika, dried thyme, dried basil, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, black pepper, celery salt, and dried mustard. This creates the marinade.
2. Coat Chicken: Add the chicken pieces to the marinade, ensuring they are fully coated. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight.

Frying the Chicken:

1. Prepare Coating Mixture: In a separate bowl, combine flour with paprika, dried thyme, dried basil, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, black pepper, celery salt, and dried mustard. This creates the coating mixture.
2. Coat Chicken with Flour Mixture: Remove each piece of chicken from the marinade, allowing excess to drip off, and coat thoroughly with the flour mixture. Press the coating onto the chicken to ensure it adheres well.
3. Heat Oil: In a large, deep skillet or Dutch oven, heat about 2 inches of vegetable oil to 350°F (175°C).
4. Fry Chicken: Carefully place the coated chicken pieces into the hot oil, a few at a time, and fry until golden brown and crispy. This usually takes about 15-20 minutes, depending on the size of the chicken pieces.
5. Drain and Rest: Once cooked, transfer the fried chicken to a wire rack to drain any excess oil. Allow it to rest for a few minutes before serving.

Serving:

1. Serve Hot: Serve the homemade KFC-style Original Secret Chicken hot with your favorite sides, such as coleslaw, mashed potatoes, or biscuits.
2. Enjoy: Enjoy the crispy, flavorful goodness of your homemade KFC-style chicken!

While this recipe isn’t an exact replica of KFC’s secret recipe, it incorporates common ingredients often associated with the original flavor. Adjustments can be made based on personal taste preferences.