🍗 Homemade KFC Chicken (Oven-Baked Version)
🕒 Prep Time: 15 minutes
⏳ Marinate Time: Optional 1–4 hours
🔥 Cook Time: 45–55 minutes
🍽️ Serves: 4–6
✅ Ingredients:
Chicken:
-
8 pieces of bone-in, skin-on chicken (legs, thighs, breasts, etc.)
-
1 cup buttermilk (or milk + 1 tbsp lemon juice)
-
1 tsp hot sauce (optional, for marinade)
Seasoned Flour (KFC-style blend):
-
2 cups all-purpose flour
-
1 tbsp paprika
-
1 tsp black pepper
-
1 tsp salt
-
1 tsp dried basil
-
1 tsp dried oregano
-
1 tsp celery salt
-
1 tsp garlic powder
-
1 tsp onion powder
-
½ tsp dried thyme
-
½ tsp white pepper
-
½ tsp ground ginger
-
½ tsp mustard powder (optional)
-
Pinch of cayenne pepper (for heat, optional)
-
Cooking spray or melted butter/oil for brushing
🥣 Instructions:
1. Marinate the Chicken (Optional but highly recommended):
-
Mix buttermilk and hot sauce in a bowl.
-
Add chicken pieces, toss to coat, and cover.
-
Marinate in the fridge for 1–4 hours (or overnight for extra juicy results).
2. Preheat & Prep:
-
Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
-
Line a baking sheet with a wire rack (or parchment if you don’t have one). Spray or brush lightly with oil.
3. Seasoned Coating:
-
In a large bowl, mix all the flour and spice blend ingredients.
4. Coat the Chicken:
-
Remove chicken from marinade, let excess drip off.
-
Dredge each piece well in the seasoned flour, pressing to coat thoroughly.
-
For extra crispy coating, double-dip: dip back into buttermilk, then again into the flour mixture.
5. Bake:
-
Arrange chicken pieces on the rack.
-
Lightly spray with cooking spray or brush with melted butter or oil (this helps it crisp and brown).
-
Bake for 45–55 minutes, flipping once halfway through.
-
Chicken is done when golden, crispy, and internal temp hits 165°F (74°C).
🍽️ Serve With:
-
Mashed potatoes and gravy
-
Coleslaw
-
Corn on the cob
-
Biscuits or cornbread
-
Pickles for that KFC crunch
🔥 Tips:
-
No buttermilk? Use regular milk with 1 tbsp lemon juice or vinegar — let sit for 5–10 minutes.
-
Extra crispy trick: Toast ½ cup panko breadcrumbs and add to flour mix.
-
Reheating? Use oven or air fryer to keep it crispy, not soggy.
Want a version using an air fryer or boneless tenders instead? Just say the word.