5 Fried Chicken Copycat Recipes for a Takeout-Style Dinner

Recipe by Sabrina Snyder at Dinner, then Dessert

Sabrina Snyder’s KFC-inspired chicken, not a confirmed secret formula.

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2/3 tablespoon salt
• 1/2 tablespoon dried thyme leaves
• 1/2 tablespoon dried basil leaves
• 1/3 tablespoon dried oregano leaves
• 1 tablespoon celery salt
• 1 tablespoon ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon dried mustard
• 3 tablespoons paprika , (original recipe calls for 4 tablespoons)
• 2 tablespoons garlic salt
• 1 tablespoon ground ginger
• 3 tablespoons ground white pepper
• 2 teaspoons Accent Seasoning, optional
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 large egg
• 1 chicken , cut into 10 pieces (2 wings, 2 legs, 2 thighs and 2 breasts each cut in half to make 4 breast pieces)
• vegetable oil for frying

The seasoning target and the final crust are separate things to notice. If you compare this with another version, write down your observations about each instead of giving one overall similarity score.

Recipe by Nagi Maehashi at RecipeTin Eats

A KFC-seasoned interpretation with a deliberately craggy crust.

Ingredients

• 1.8 kg/ 3.6lb bone in, skin on small thighs (< 200g/7oz), drumsticks, whole wings, breast (< 200g/7oz) (Note 1)

Buttermilk Marinade

• 1 cup buttermilk (Note 2 for sub)
• 1 tbsp salt
• 1 egg

Fried Chicken Breading (Note 9)

• 2 1/4 cups flour , plain / all purpose
• 3/4 cup corn flour / cornstarch

Kfc 11 Secret Herbs And Spices (Note 9)

• 3 tsp salt
• 3/4 tsp celery salt
• 1.5 tbsp black pepper (Note 2)
• 1.5 tsp sweet paprika (ie. not hot or smoked)
• 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper, optional
• 1.5 tsp onion powder
• 3 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp mustard powder
• 3/4 tsp ginger powder
• 1.5 tsp dried thyme
• 1.5 tsp dried oregano

To Fry

• 1.5 – 2 litres / quarts vegetable oil (or canola or peanut, Note 8 for re-use)

This is the crunchy alternative in the list, not a claim to reproduce KFC Extra Crispy exactly. Choose it for that texture goal and read the advance marinating notes before starting.

Recipe by Food Network Kitchen at Food Network

Publisher total time

30 min

Active time

30 min

Yield

4 sandwiches

Publisher details recorded October 21, 2026. Follow the source recipe for timing notes and current details.

A sandwich-format copycat rather than bone-in fried chicken.

Ingredients

• 2 skinless, boneless chicken breasts (about 6 ounces each)
• Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• Peanut oil, for frying
• 1 large egg
• 1/2 cup nonfat milk
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup whole-wheat flour
• 1 tablespoon malted milk powder
• 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon confectioners' sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon dry mustard
• 1 sour pickle, cut into 8 slices, plus 1 tablespoon pickle juice from the jar
• 2 teaspoons white vinegar
• 4 soft hamburger buns, split
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, softened

Choose this for a smaller menu with a familiar sandwich at its center. Buy buns that fit the planned portions, and set out the toppings before the chicken is ready.

Recipe by Food Network Kitchen at Food Network

Publisher total time

40 min

Active time

30 min

Yield

32 fries

Publisher details recorded October 21, 2026. Follow the source recipe for timing notes and current details.

A cheese-coated take on the chicken-fries snack.

Ingredients

• Nonstick cooking spray, for spraying the baking dish
• 6 cups crispy cheese puffs, such as Cheetos®
• 1 pound all white meat ground chicken
• 1 teaspoon chicken bouillon powder or crumbled cube
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• Vegetable oil, for frying
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 3 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 1/2 cup ranch dressing

This is a separate snack project, not an extra side to squeeze in while cooking another fried main. The source’s shaping and cooking directions matter more than an ingredient list suggests.