✔ Updated · 26 KFC copycat recipes: chicken, sandwiches, bowls, sides and sauces
These 26 KFC copycat recipes bring the bucket home, from crispy fried chicken and tenders to gravy, coleslaw, biscuits and the Famous Bowl. My full recipes are linked on the cards, and the rest get a quick how-to.
The most popular KFC copycat recipes are Original Recipe-style fried chicken, chicken tenders, popcorn chicken, the Zinger burger, the Famous Bowl, mashed potatoes and gravy, coleslaw and biscuits. For the closest flavor, soak the chicken in buttermilk, use a peppery seasoned flour with white pepper, fry at 325°F to 350°F, and cook it to 165°F inside.
- Easiest: coleslaw, gravy, corn on the cob, the dipping sauce and the Famous Bowl.
- Best for a crowd: a big batch of fried chicken or tenders with mashed potatoes, gravy, slaw and biscuits.
- The flavor trick: plenty of white pepper, salt and paprika in the flour.
KFC Fried Chicken Copycats
The heart of the menu. I keep a wire rack over a sheet pan right by the stove when I fry, so every piece drains and stays crisp. Fry at 325°F to 350°F and check the thickest piece reads 165°F.
1. Original Recipe-Style Fried Chicken
Bone-in pieces in a peppery, herby flour coating, fried in a Dutch oven until shatter-crisp and juicy at 165°F.
Get the recipe →
2. Chicken Tenders
Buttermilk-soaked strips in a crunchy seasoned crust. They fry in about 5 minutes and disappear even faster.
Get the recipe →
3. Popcorn Chicken
Bite-size chicken pieces in a light, spicy coating, made for dunking and snacking on movie night.
Get the recipe →
4. Chicken Wings
Crispy fried wings with a buttermilk and garlic marinade, plus the option to toss them in a hot or honey BBQ glaze.
Get the recipe →
5. Double Down
Two fried chicken fillets standing in for the bun, with bacon, cheese and sauce in the middle. Messy and proud of it.
Get the recipe →
6. Copycat KFC Seasoning
My take on the 11 herbs and spices, heavy on white pepper, paprika and celery salt. Mix a jar and use it on everything fried.
Get the recipe →7. Hot and Spicy Chicken
Original-style chicken with a cayenne and hot sauce kick in both the buttermilk soak and the flour.
How: Add 2 tbsp cayenne to the seasoned flour and 1/4 cup hot sauce to the buttermilk. Fry at 325°F until 165°F inside.
8. Nashville Hot Chicken
Fried chicken brushed with a glossy cayenne and brown sugar oil, served on white bread with pickles.
How: Whisk 1/2 cup hot frying oil with 3 tbsp cayenne, 1 tbsp brown sugar, paprika and garlic powder, then brush it over just-fried chicken.
9. Honey BBQ Strips
A fan favorite from the old menu: crispy tenders tossed in sticky honey barbecue sauce right before serving.
How: Fry the tenders, toss them with warm honey BBQ sauce (number 26) in a big bowl and serve straight away so they stay crunchy.
Sandwiches and Wraps
Same crispy chicken, new shape. Toast the buns and keep the lettuce cold so everything stays crunchy.
10. Zinger Burger
A spicy crispy chicken fillet on a sesame bun with lettuce and creamy mayo. My pick when I want heat.
Get the recipe →
11. Twister Wrap
A crispy tender rolled up in a warm tortilla with lettuce, tomato and peppery mayo. Retired from the menu, alive in my kitchen.
Get the recipe →12. Chicken Little
A mini crispy chicken slider with pickles and mayo on a soft roll. Kid-sized, which means I make three each.
How: Cut a tender in half, fry it to 165°F, and tuck it into a toasted slider bun with 2 pickle chips and a swipe of mayo.
13. Classic Chicken Sandwich
An extra-crispy fillet on a buttery brioche bun with thick pickles and mayo or spicy sauce.
How: Pound a chicken breast to an even 1/2 inch, double-dip in buttermilk and seasoned flour, fry to 165°F and stack on a toasted brioche bun.
Bowls and Pot Pie
The cozy end of the menu, and both are great for using up leftover fried chicken (reheat it to 165°F).
14. Famous Bowl
Creamy mashed potatoes, sweet corn, popcorn chicken, gravy and a handful of cheese, layered in one cozy bowl.
Get the recipe →
15. Chicken Pot Pie
Tender chicken and vegetables in a creamy sauce under a flaky golden crust. Pure cold-night comfort.
Get the recipe →KFC Sides
Honestly, the sides are half the reason I make a KFC night at home. Most of them can be made ahead while the chicken fries.
16. Mashed Potatoes
Smooth, buttery mashed potatoes that are basically a landing pad for gravy.
Get the recipe →
17. Gravy
Rich, peppery brown gravy made from a toasted roux and chicken stock, smooth in about 15 minutes.
Get the recipe →
18. Coleslaw
Finely chopped cabbage and carrot in a sweet, tangy, creamy dressing. Make it a few hours ahead for the best flavor.
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19. Mac and Cheese
Creamy, cheesy elbow macaroni, the side my family fights over at the table.
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20. Biscuits
Flaky, buttery biscuits with tall layers. Cold butter and a gentle hand are the whole trick.
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21. Corn on the Cob
Sweet corn cooked until just tender and brushed with plenty of melted butter.
Get the recipe →
22. Potato Wedges
Thick, seasoned wedges with a crispy coating and fluffy inside. Gone from the US menu, still great at home.
Get the recipe →23. Seasoned Fries
Crispy fries tossed in a savory, peppery seasoning while they are still hot.
How: Fry or air-fry the fries, then toss right away with 1 tsp of the copycat KFC seasoning per big handful.
24. Macaroni Salad
A creamy, slightly sweet deli-style macaroni salad with mayo, a splash of vinegar and crunchy celery.
How: Toss 8 oz cooked, cooled elbows with 3/4 cup mayo, 1 tbsp sugar, 1 tbsp vinegar, diced celery and carrot. Chill 2 hours.
KFC Sauces
Two 5-minute sauces for dunking. Keep homemade mayo-based sauces covered in the fridge and use them within 5 days.
25. KFC-Style Dipping Sauce
A smoky, tangy mayo-based dipping sauce with a little sweetness, great with tenders and fries.
How: Stir 1/2 cup mayo with 1 tbsp brown sugar, 1 tsp Dijon, 1 tsp white vinegar and a few drops of liquid smoke. Chill 30 minutes.
26. Honey BBQ Sauce
A sweet, sticky honey barbecue sauce for dipping or tossing wings and strips.
How: Simmer 1/2 cup ketchup, 1/4 cup honey, 2 tbsp brown sugar, 1 tbsp cider vinegar and a pinch of smoked paprika for 5 minutes.
KFC Copycat Basics
A few habits get you most of the way to that drive-thru taste.
- Soak in buttermilk: soak chicken 4 to 24 hours in the fridge in buttermilk with a little salt and hot sauce. It seasons the meat and helps the flour cling.
- Season the flour hard: white pepper, black pepper, salt, paprika, garlic and onion powder, celery salt and dried herbs. I sniff every spice jar before it goes in, a habit from my mum.
- Double dip for crags: flour, buttermilk, flour again, then let the pieces sit 10 minutes so the coating hydrates and stays on in the oil.
- Control the oil: use a heavy pot with a clip-on thermometer, keep it at 325°F to 350°F, and fry in small batches. Bone-in pieces take 12 to 15 minutes, tenders 4 to 6.
- Check the temperature: chicken is done at 165°F in the thickest part, not touching bone.
- Reheat in the oven or air fryer: 375°F to 400°F until the chicken reaches 165°F. The microwave makes the crust soggy.
KFC Copycat Menu Table
Every recipe on this page at a glance. Planning a party instead of cooking? See my KFC catering menu guide.
| Menu item | Category | Our recipe |
|---|---|---|
| Original Recipe-Style Fried Chicken | Fried chicken | Full recipe |
| Chicken Tenders | Fried chicken | Full recipe |
| Popcorn Chicken | Fried chicken | Full recipe |
| Chicken Wings | Fried chicken | Full recipe |
| Double Down | Fried chicken | Full recipe |
| Copycat KFC Seasoning | Fried chicken | Full recipe |
| Hot and Spicy Chicken | Fried chicken | Quick how-to |
| Nashville Hot Chicken | Fried chicken | Quick how-to |
| Honey BBQ Strips | Fried chicken | Quick how-to |
| Zinger Burger | Sandwiches and wraps | Full recipe |
| Twister Wrap | Sandwiches and wraps | Full recipe |
| Chicken Little | Sandwiches and wraps | Quick how-to |
| Classic Chicken Sandwich | Sandwiches and wraps | Quick how-to |
| Famous Bowl | Bowls and pot pie | Full recipe |
| Chicken Pot Pie | Bowls and pot pie | Full recipe |
| Mashed Potatoes | Sides | Full recipe |
| Gravy | Sides | Full recipe |
| Coleslaw | Sides | Full recipe |
| Mac and Cheese | Sides | Full recipe |
| Biscuits | Sides | Full recipe |
| Corn on the Cob | Sides | Full recipe |
| Potato Wedges | Sides | Full recipe |
| Seasoned Fries | Sides | Quick how-to |
| Macaroni Salad | Sides | Quick how-to |
| KFC-Style Dipping Sauce | Sauces | Quick how-to |
| Honey BBQ Sauce | Sauces | Quick how-to |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best KFC copycat recipe?
Original Recipe-style fried chicken is the one most people want, and it is my favorite too. Soak bone-in chicken in buttermilk, coat it in a peppery seasoned flour, and fry at 325°F until it reaches 165°F inside. Serve it with mashed potatoes, gravy, coleslaw and biscuits.
What are the 11 herbs and spices in KFC chicken?
KFC has never confirmed its blend, so every copycat, mine included, is a best guess. Most home versions use salt, white pepper, black pepper, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, celery salt, ground ginger, mustard powder, thyme, basil and oregano. White pepper is the flavor most people notice.
How do you get KFC-style crispy chicken without a pressure fryer?
Use a heavy Dutch oven with a thermometer, keep the oil at 325°F to 350°F, and fry in small batches. Double dip the chicken in flour and buttermilk, rest it 10 minutes before frying, and drain it on a wire rack instead of paper towels.
Can I make KFC copycat chicken in the air fryer?
Yes. Coat the chicken as usual, spray it well with oil on all sides, and air fry at 380°F for about 20 to 25 minutes for bone-in pieces or 10 to 12 for tenders, turning halfway, until it reaches 165°F. It is crisp, just less craggy than fried.
What sides go with KFC copycat chicken?
The classics are mashed potatoes and gravy, coleslaw, buttermilk biscuits, mac and cheese and corn on the cob. All of them have full recipes on this page, and the gravy and slaw can be made a few hours ahead while you fry.
