🍗 Homemade KFC-Style Chicken (Oven Baked & Crispy!)
Crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside — this oven-baked version gives you that classic KFC-style flavor without deep frying!
🛒 Ingredients
For the Chicken:
8–10 chicken pieces (drumsticks, thighs, or mixed)
2 cups buttermilk
1 egg
1 tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
For the Coating:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tbsp paprika
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp dried basil
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp white pepper
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp salt
½ tsp cayenne pepper (optional for heat)
1 tsp baking powder (helps crispiness!)
Other:
Cooking spray or 4–5 tbsp melted butter
👩🍳 Instructions
1️⃣ Marinate the Chicken
In a large bowl, whisk together buttermilk, egg, salt, and pepper.
Add chicken pieces, cover, and refrigerate for at least 4 hours (overnight is best for juicy chicken).
2️⃣ Prepare the Coating
In another bowl, mix flour and all the spices thoroughly.
3️⃣ Coat the Chicken
Remove chicken from buttermilk (let excess drip off).
Dredge in the flour mixture, pressing firmly so it sticks well.
For extra crunch: dip back into buttermilk briefly and coat again in flour (double coating!).
4️⃣ Bake to Crispy Perfection
Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and place a wire rack on top (helps air circulate).
Place coated chicken on rack.
Lightly spray with cooking spray OR brush with melted butter.
Bake for 40–50 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden brown and internal temp reaches 75°C / 165°F.
🔥 Extra Crispy Tip
For even more crunch, broil for the last 3–5 minutes (watch carefully so it doesn’t burn!).
🍽 Serve With
Mashed potatoes & gravy
Coleslaw
Biscuits
Corn on the cob
If you’d like, I can also give you a spicy KFC version 🌶️ or an air fryer version!
