The Ultimate Copycat KFC Chicken Recipe - PinkWhen (2024)

Published November 25, 2019 by Jennifer / 4,439 Comments.
This post may contain affiliate links. Your cost is the same //*but it helps support this site and the fun freebies we share. See our full disclosures here.

I LOVE a good chicken recipe, and one of the things I love about this Copycat KFC Chicken Recipe (with instructions on how to make this Keto friendly below!) is that there is a secret way to make it! Did you know this isn’t actually fried at all? Read more to find out our secret to the most amazing copycat KFC Chicken Recipe, EVER!

You might also enjoy our Air Fryer Copycat KFC Chicken Recipe.

If you have been following me on Instagram you have probably seen my attempts at my copycat Kentucky Fried Chicken recipe. You would probably also know that I finally figured it out! After numerous attempts, I have finally ended up with a delicious and authentic tasting copycat KFC chicken recipe. It’s so deliciously amazing, and I can’t wait to share it with you!

Get your shopping list ready, because this is going to be dinner tonight!

WANT TO KNOW WHAT’S FOR DINNER EVERY NIGHT? CHECK OUT OUR FREE WEEKLY MEAL PLANNER.

Baked and Not Fried Copycat KFC Chicken Recipe

Why do I love this copycat KFC chicken recipe so much? What’s the BIG SECRET behind making the most delicious chicken? It’s BAKED. No need for a deep fryer or hot oil.

I am not much for frying things, and while this isn’t the highest on the “healthy” list, it is a bit healthier than the fried versions.

But does this taste just as good if it is baked? Well yes, it does! In fact, this is so close to authentic KFC original recipe chicken that my youngest is always asking for it. We have this on our family meal plan at least once every other month.

It’s relatively simple, and if I can do this, you can, too.

What Ingredients Do I Need for the Copycat KFC Chicken Recipe?

I can’t promise you that this is the actual original fast food KFC recipe because obviously, that’s a secret recipe. 🙂 However, we use our own secret blend of 11 ingredients including herbs and spices to make what we think is the best hand-breaded copycat recipe you will find.

Here is a list of ingredients needed on hand:

• bone in chicken breasts and assorted pieces
• flour (coconut flour is Keto friendly)
• panko
• salt
• black pepper
• white pepper
• paprika
• oregano (optional)
• cayenne (optional)
• cup butter (melted)
• butter milk
• spray butter

How Do I Make a Copycat KFC Chicken Recipe?

I personally love how easy it is to make this copycat chicken recipe.

Instructions:

• Heat oven to 400.
• In a bowl mix well the flour, panko, salt, 1 tsp black pepper, 1/2 tsp white pepper, paprika, cayenne, and oregano.
• In a second bowl pour in buttermilk.
• Pour 1/2 cup melted butter into a prepared 9 x 13 baking dish.
• Take chicken breasts and dip into buttermilk. Then dip into flour mixture (use coconut flour if you are making this Keto friendly), coating both sides well.
• Once coated, place into the 9 x 13 baking dish.
• After all of the chicken is placed into the dish, cover with the remaining tsp of pepper.
• Place in the preheated oven and bake for 15 minutes. Open oven and using spray butter, coat the top of the chicken.
• Place back into the oven and bake another 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, open the oven and spray another coat of butter over the chicken.
• Bake for an additional 10 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through thoroughly.

*UPDATE: There will be a lot of butter and juices. If you want to make sure this is extra crispy baked chicken, flip and turn the chicken regularly while baking or consider cooking the chicken on a rimmed baking sheet and place the chicken on a cooling rack so it is above the juices and nothing is soft.

Remove from the oven and place on a paper towel to absorb any extra juiciness.

Allow to cool and serve with your favorite sides!

Don’t forget, you can skip below and print out the FULL recipe card with all of our ingredients, steps, and any additional notes to make this recipe the best it can be.

Would you make any changes to this recipe? If so, we would love it if you left us a comment below. We are always updating our posts and love to use reader suggestions when they fit with the content we’re sharing.

I tried so many different versions of this recipe and I finally ended up with what I think is the most delicious copycat KFC Chicken recipe there is! I can’t wait for you to give it a try, you will be happy you did!

NEED MORE COPYCAT RECIPES?

You might also enjoy these other Copycat Recipes!

• Copycat Chick Fil A Chicken Sandwich
• Copycat Chick Fil A Nuggets
• Copycat Chick Fil A Sauce

You might also like these other oven baked recipes:

• Oven Baked Chicken Parmesan
• Oven Baked Chicken Thighs

I hope you enjoy this finger-lickin’ chicken! Did you make this recipe? If you did, would you do us a big favor and leave us a recipe rating below? It lets other readers know what you think of this recipe and lets us know what we should share more of.

Are you on Instagram? If you are and you’re making this recipe, snap a picture and tag us at @pinkwhenjen and with the hashtag #pinkwhenjen so we can see it. We love to see our readers’ recreating these fun recipes.

Copycat KFC Chicken Recipe

Jennifer West

A deliciously moist and authentic copycat KFC Chicken recipe.

3.60 from 223 votes

See Also

Apple Fritters Recipe - Simple to Make - Better than any Bakery

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 35 minutes mins

Total Time 45 minutes mins

Course dinner

Cuisine American

Servings 4

Calories 331 kcal

Ingredients

• bone in chicken breasts
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1/2 cup panko
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 tsp pepper
• 1/2 tsp white pepper
• 1 tsp oregano optional
• 1/2 tsp cayenne optional
• 1/2 cup butter melted
• 1 cup butter milk
• spray butter

Instructions

• Heat oven to 400.

• In a bowl mix together well the flour, panko, salt, 1 tsp black pepper, 1/2 tsp white pepper paprika, cayenne, and oregano.

• In a second bowl pour in butter milk.

• Pour 1/2 cup melted butter into a prepared 9 x 13 baking dish.

• Take chicken breasts and dip into butter milk. Then dip into flour mixture, coating both sides well. Once coated, place into the 9 x 13 baking dish. Once all of the chicken is placed into the dish, cover with the remaining tsp of pepper.

• Place in the preheated oven and bake for 15 minutes. Open oven and using spray butter, coat the top of the chicken. Place back into the oven and bake another 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, open oven and spray another coat of butter over the chicken. Bake for an additional 10 minutes, or until chicken is cooked thoroughly through.

• Place chicken on a paper towel to remove any excess drippings before serving.

• Allow to cool and serve with your favorite sides!

Notes

1. Make this Keto friendly by substituting regular flour for coconut flour.
2. The secret to extra crispy chicken is to spray butter and rotate/turn over the chicken often while baking.
3. There will be a lot of butter and juices. If you want to make sure this is extra crispy baked chicken, flip and turn the chicken regularly while baking, or consider cooking the chicken on a rimmed baking sheet and place the chicken on a cooling rack so it is above the juices and nothing is soft.

Nutrition

Calories: 331kcalCarbohydrates: 21gProtein: 4gFat: 25gSaturated Fat: 15gCholesterol: 67mgSodium: 902mgPotassium: 125mgFiber: 1gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 900IUCalcium: 98mgIron: 1.3mg

*Nutritional information is a calculated guesstimate. Please note that this can change with different brands and modifications you may make to the recipe. For the most accurate information, use a nutritional calculator with the exact brands and measurements you’re using with each recipe.

©PinkWhen 2023

Share this recipe! Follow @PinkWhen on Pinterest.