These KFC Oven Fried Chicken Tenders are my KFC copycat recipe!! Made in the oven, tastes like KFC, nice and crunchy but with just a fraction of the calories! These are Baked Fried Chicken Tenders are a total crowd pleaser!
Confession: I love KFC. I have it maybe three times a year. I don’t crave it regularly (thankfully) but I’d say every few months, I have the urge to splurge. And my bottom hates me for it.
I do the drive through because I’m too ashamed to risk being seen inside KFC. And though I savour every bite while I’m consuming it, I always regret it afterwards. Always. It’s heavy and excessively greasy and I don’t feel great.
And yet, there’s a repeat performance every few months.
I contemplated about the ridiculousness of craving something that makes me feel not-so-crash-hot afterwards. Then I realised – well, it’s like champers. SO much fun, so enjoyable while it’s being consumed. But the next morning? Ugh. Not so fun! (Unless you’re drinking real French champagne, in which case, you’ll be headache free! Did you know that? It’s true!!)
I’ve been on a mission to make the “best” oven baked KFC since early this year. I’ve had around 10 goes, using recipes I’ve found online and trying my own variations.
Here’s the thing that I’ve come to accept. You will never, ever be able to make “fried chicken” in the oven that tastes as good as chicken that’s been deep fried. You can make truly crispy oven baked wings, but it only works really well with wings using a very unique technique discovered by America’s Test Kitchen. (Have you tried my Truly Crispy Baked Buffalo Wings and Truly Crispy Baked Wings with Honey Garlic Sauce?)
But to make chicken with the proper thick, craggy crust that you get with KFC and Southern Fried Chicken, you need to…well, fry it. In oil. Lots of it. There needs to be enough oil so the chicken floats in it, not just a thin layer in a skillet.
So I have conceded defeat.
BUT! There’s a silver lining to every cloud! Just because an exact KFC copycat can’t be made in the oven, it doesn’t mean that you can’t make something similar!
And that’s what I have here for you today. This chicken really does taste like KFC! It’s a mash up of two genius recipes I discovered by 2 very talented bloggers.
1. The “11 Secret Herbs & Spices” from the Homemade KFC recipe by Jo from Every Nook and Cranny. I tried a whole bunch of spice mixes and I think hers is the closest!
2. The coating mixture from Carlsbad Cravings‘ Best Baked “Fried” Chicken. I think Jen’s nailed the coating ratios of flour, panko and cornmeal (polenta / yellow corn). It’s the crunchiest I have tried!
So I made a mash up of these 2 recipes with a few tweaks of my own. You know me. I have “my way” of doing things.:-)
I hope you love it! I am seriously obsessed with this and was VERY happy making it over and over and over again to get it “right” before I shared it with you! – Nagi x
PS I served these with my “go to” Honey Mustard dipping sauce. Recipe also below!
PPS One more look at how crunchy they are? YES!
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KFC Oven Baked "Fried" Chicken Tenders
Ingredients
KFC Spice Mix
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tbsp celery salt (Note 1)
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp dried thyme
- 1/2 tsp dried basil
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- 1/2 tbsp coarsely ground black pepper
- 1 tbsp mustard powder
- 2 tbsp paprika (not smoked, use sweet or plain)
- 1 tsp ground ginger
- 1 tsp cayenne pepper or ground pure chili (optional - for KFC "Zinger" flavour!)
Chicken
- 1.2 - 1.4 lb / 600 - 700 g chicken tenderloin (10 - 12 pieces) (Note 2)
- 1 cup buttermilk OR 1/3 cup plain yoghurt + 2/3 cup milk (Note 3)
- 1 cup flour
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup cornmeal (Note 4)
- 2 tbsp butter (unsalted)
- 1 tbsp vegetable or canola oil
- Oil spray
Instructions
- Combine the Spice Mix in a bowl.
- Place 1 tbsp of Spice Mix in a ziplock bag with the chicken and buttermilk. Set aside to marinate for at least 2 hours, preferably 3 but ideally overnight.
To Cook
- Preheat oven to 400F/200C.
- Place the butter and oil on a large rimmed baking tray. Place in the oven for a few minutes until the butter is just melted. Remove and tip the tray to spread the oil and butter all over.
- Combine the remaining Spice Mix, flour, panko and cornmeal in a bowl and mix. Place half in a large ziplock bag.
- Drain the chicken of excess marinade using a colander.
- Transfer half the chicken into the ziplock bag, seal in air so it is puffed like a balloon, then shake to coat the chicken in the seasoning. Press through the bag so the coating is firmly stuck onto the chicken. Place the chicken onto the baking tray.
- Place the remaining coating into the ziplock bag and repeat with remaining chicken.
- Spray the top with oil and place in the oven. Bake for 12 minutes, then turn, spray and bake for a further 8 to 10 minutes or until golden. Don't bake more than 25 minutes, otherwise the chicken will dry out!
- Serve with your favourite dipping sauce. I used Honey Mustard Sauce (Note 7).
Recipe Notes:
Nutrition Information:
I have to admit I never had KFC! But these chicken tenders look so so good. And I need to try this asap!
Shinee! What?! OMG!! I wish I were you!!! Life would be so much easier if I had never ever discovered fast food!!!
I have never been a fan of KFC, probably because it was so greasy. But my husband and a friend from Mexico both enjoy it, so I would try this. Actually my Hungarian grandmother used to make a very nice fried chicken. I guess that’s a dish that should be in everyone’s repertoire. Thanks for doing the hard work to make fried chicken possible (I have another recipe but don’t like it much).
Hungarian fried chicken? *Ears perked up!* I once joked that I should do a “around the world with fried chicken” series 🙂 I am yet to meet a fried chicken from anywhere that I don’t love!
Hi Nagi! So I’m just *a little* bit excited that you’ve blogged about my recipe! I’ve had a very challenging day at work and seeing your post on FB as I was scrolling through, ironically waiting for our KFC chicken to cook (spooky timing!) it made my day. Thanks so much for sharing and as always, love reading through your blog 🙂
Thanks so much Jo, for sharing an amazing recipe!! I really think you nailed the 11 secret herbs and spices 🙂 Honestly, I’ve tried many many combinations over the years, yours is by far the closest and most authentic!! 🙂
My husband loves KFC as well, Nagi. I bought chicken tenders on sale last week so will defrost and marinate right away. I never deep fry stuff (to his dismay), and look forward to surprising him tonight with this version. I’ll report back tomorrow!
Ooh! Marlene! I am holding my breathe in anticipation!! I have never shared this recipe with anyone before, I’m kinda nervous! <3
Well, no need to be nervous, Nagi! This was easy and yummy. Mr. Fussy loved it. I made a honey sriracha sauce with it. I baked it at 375 in a convection oven. A few minutes at 400 would have made it crispier and even better. Another winner that I will make again. This would also be good cut in smaller pieces and served as an appetizer.
Ooh! I’m so glad!! I made this 3 times in ONE WEEK, I’m obsessed with this!!
Thanks Nagi!! I cannot wait to try this!
As one of your biggest fans from KY I’m sure it is just as delish as everything else of yours I have made!
We here in KY do love the colonel’s chicken too but the greasy part not so much ;-). So excited to have this recipe. Will let you know how it goes.
Hi Jan! Thank you so much for your lovely message! 🙂 I do hope you love this!! Keen to hear what you think! 🙂
Hi Nagi! I really hate frying food because it is so messy and it almost always upsets my stomach. Plus by “oven frying” there is no need to constantly watch it! I am addicted to honey mustard dip/dressing! Some addictions are a good thing! 🙂
I must admit, I LOVE fried food! For me, it’s the mess I hate. 🙂 And I always feel like using so much oil is such a waste!
OMG Nagi, this is beyond amazing! I like KFC but always find it too greasy so I can’t stand their fried chicken anymore. This recipe is awesome and saving my trip to KFC 🙂
Thanks Linda! I forgot to mention that added benefit – no need to make the trek to KFC to get your fix!!! 🙂
Oh this looks amazing. So crispy and delicious!!!
I kid you not, today I have been playing about trying to perfect a method for baking my popcorn chicken recipe.
It is an occasional treat I make for the boys as it does really have to be deep fried to get the KFC style puff and crunch.
I came to the same conclusion as you that it is impossible to do it with a small amount of oil. I will have to try you crumb mix with my popcorn herb and spice blend. It could be the answer to my popcorn prayers 😉
So pinning this!!!!!!!! My boys are going to love you. Well love you a little bit more as your apple pie bites are one of their utter favs!!!
OMG! Shriek! We are TOTALLY in sync, I have been trying to make popcorn chicken in the oven too! I’ll email you about it – it would be soooo fun if we could come up with a collaborated recipe! Ha ha! <3
YES!!! In sync as we are both cheese nibbling, fried chicken gobbling, carb loving foodies 🙂
That would be amazing 🙂
I emailed you about your fabulous photography book 🙂 x