✔ Updated · fixed amounts, how to use it + chip seasoning
My copycat KFC seasoning mixes 11 everyday herbs and spices into a peppery, paprika-red blend for fried chicken that tastes like the bucket favorite. One batch seasons 2 cups of flour, enough for a whole chicken.
At a glance
The one tip that matters: White pepper is the flavor most people miss, and it's my favorite part. It gives the blend its warm, lingering heat, so don't swap it all for black pepper.
Why You'll Love This Seasoning
- Pantry spices only, no special ordering, mixed in 5 minutes.
- Make once, use often: it keeps for months and works on chicken, wedges and fries.
- Easy to tweak: turn the heat up or down, or add MSG for an extra savory hit.
What's in Copycat KFC Seasoning?
The famous recipe is a trade secret, so this is a copycat built on a widely shared 11 herbs and spices list. Paprika and white pepper do most of the work, the salts season, and mustard, ginger and herbs round it out.
- Paprika: sweet flavor and the golden-red color of the crust.
- White pepper: the warm, slow heat that defines the flavor.
- Garlic salt, salt and celery salt: season the coating and add savory depth.
- Black pepper, dry mustard and ground ginger: extra warmth and a subtle tang.
- Thyme, basil and oregano: the herby background notes.
Step-by-Step Photos
Here's how it comes together. Exact amounts, times and temperatures are in the recipe card below.
Tips for Success
- Use fresh spices. Ground spices fade after about a year. If your paprika smells dusty rather than sweet, replace it. My mum taught me to sniff every jar before it goes in, and I still do.
- Season the flour, not just the chicken. The blend works best whisked into flour for the coating, so every crunchy bit carries the flavor.
- Watch the salt. Garlic salt and celery salt already add salt. Taste a pinch of the finished blend before adding more.
- Add MSG if you like. 1 teaspoon of MSG gives the savory, crave-worthy taste of many fast-food coatings. Leave it out if you prefer.
- Fry at a steady 325 to 350°F and check the chicken with a thermometer: 165°F in the thickest part, not touching the bone.
Copycat KFC Seasoning (11 Herbs and Spices)
16
teaspoons (about 1/3 cup)5
minutes0
minutes5
minutesA copycat KFC-style seasoning blend of 11 herbs and spices, heavy on paprika and white pepper with garlic salt, celery salt, mustard, ginger and dried herbs. Makes about 1/3 cup, enough to season 2 cups of flour for one whole chicken.
Ingredients
- For the Seasoning Blend
4 teaspoons paprika
3 teaspoons ground white pepper
2 teaspoons garlic salt
2 teaspoons fine salt (2/3 tablespoon)
1 teaspoon celery salt
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon dry mustard powder
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/3 teaspoon dried oregano
- To Coat One Chicken (optional)
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 large egg beaten with 1 cup milk
Directions
- Make the Seasoning
- Measure all 11 herbs and spices into a small bowl.
- Whisk or stir with a fork until the color is even, crushing the dried herbs between your fingers as you go.
- Store in a small airtight jar in a cool, dark cupboard for up to 6 months.
- Use It for Fried Chicken
- Whisk the whole batch into 2 cups of flour. Dip 8 to 10 chicken pieces in the egg and milk, let the excess drip off and press them into the seasoned flour to coat.
- Fry in oil heated to 325 to 350°F, in batches, until deep golden and the thickest part reads 165°F on a thermometer, about 12 to 15 minutes for bone-in pieces. Drain on a rack.
Recipe Video
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KFC-Style Chip Seasoning (Chicken Salt)
The seasoning shaken over fries at some KFC locations outside the US is a fine, savory salt, not the chicken coating. This copycat-style mix gets close.
- 2 tablespoons fine salt
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground white pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon chicken bouillon powder
- 1/4 teaspoon MSG (optional)
Ways to Use It
- Fried chicken: our KFC-style original chicken walks through brining and pressure-style frying.
- Popcorn chicken and tenders: season the flour for popcorn chicken or chicken tenders.
- Potato wedges: toss oiled wedges with 1 to 2 teaspoons before baking, as in our KFC-style potato wedges.
- Beyond chicken: rub it on pork chops, roast vegetables or popcorn.
- More copycats: browse all our KFC copycat recipes.
KFC Mashed Potatoes and Gravy (Copycat)
Cooks in 35 minutesDifficulty: EasyCopycat-style KFC mashed potatoes: russet potatoes boiled until falling-apart soft, riced and stirred with hot butter, cream and milk for an extra-smooth, creamy mash, then served with a peppery brown KFC-style gravy.
Copycat KFC Popcorn Chicken
Cooks in 35 minutesDifficulty: EasyA copycat-style KFC popcorn chicken recipe: bite-size pieces of chicken marinated in buttermilk, tossed in a peppery paprika and garlic seasoning, double-coated in seasoned flour and breadcrumbs, then fried until golden, crunchy and cooked to 165°F.
Copycat KFC Chicken Pot Pie
Cooks in 100 minutesDifficulty: EasyA copycat-style take on the Kentucky Fried Chicken pot pie: individual pies with a creamy filling of shredded chicken, potatoes, carrots and peas, baked under a flaky, buttery homemade top crust until golden.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the 11 herbs and spices in KFC seasoning?
The real blend is a closely guarded trade secret. This copycat uses a widely shared list of 11: paprika, white pepper, garlic salt, salt, celery salt, black pepper, dry mustard, ground ginger, thyme, basil and oregano. It tastes very close to the classic coating.
How much seasoning do I use for fried chicken?
Use the whole batch, about 1/3 cup, whisked into 2 cups of flour. That coats 8 to 10 pieces of chicken, roughly one 3 to 4 pound bird. For a single breast or a few tenders, use about 1 tablespoon per 1/2 cup of flour.
How do I make KFC-style chip seasoning?
Mix 2 tablespoons fine salt, 1 tablespoon paprika, 1 teaspoon each garlic and onion powder, 1/2 teaspoon white pepper and 1/2 teaspoon chicken bouillon powder. Add 1/4 teaspoon MSG if you like, then shake it over hot fries.
Is chicken salt the same as KFC seasoning?
Not quite. Chicken salt is a fine, savory salt blend for fries, usually made with chicken bouillon, salt, paprika and garlic. The 11 herbs and spices blend is for coating chicken. The chip seasoning above is a chicken-salt style mix.
How long does homemade KFC seasoning last?
Stored in an airtight jar in a cool, dark cupboard, the blend keeps its best flavor for about 6 months. It is still safe after that, but the paprika and herbs lose their color and aroma.
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