An individual claiming to be Colonel Sanders’ great-great-great nephew has allegedly revealed the ‘authentic’ KFC secret recipe.
Colonel Sanders launched the first Kentucky Fried Chicken franchise in Salt Lake City, Utah in 1952.
Jump ahead to 2025, and KFC boasts over 30,000 outlets globally, spanning more than 150 nations.
The American fast-food behemoth consistently promises a ‘finger lickin’ good’ taste, yet its 11 secret herbs and spices have been a closely guarded secret for years.
Now, someone using the social media alias @realcolonelsanders has allegedly disclosed the ingredients used by KFC. Allegedly…
In a TikTok post, he details the 11 herbs and spices, their quantities, and their binding agents in a now-viral video lasting two minutes.
This isn’t the only recipe that claims authenticity.
In 2016, Joe Ledington, the Colonel’s genuine nephew, disclosed that the recipe was discovered written on the back of his aunt Claudia’s last will and testament.
It appears both alleged recipes differ significantly, with only a few shared ingredients.
According to the latest version from the great-great-great nephew on TikTok, KFC’s 11 spices include sage, garlic powder, cayenne, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, coriander, ginger, white pepper, black pepper, and the ‘secret ingredient’ cardamom.
Salt, MSG, and cake flour are used as binding agents.
In the comments section, one of the video’s 8.2 million viewers humorously remarked: “Got the KFC recipe before GTA 6.”
“I knew there was cinnamon and cardamon!” one user commented, while another added: “Can we get the biscuits and mashed potato too?”
However, according to the note Joe Ledington found, the recipe actually comprises different spices.
His version includes salt, thyme, basil, oregano, celery salt, black pepper, dried mustard, paprika, garlic salt, ground ginger, and white pepper.
Ledington casually mentioned: “That is the original 11 herbs and spices that were supposed to be so secretive.” He later seemed to retract, stating: “It could be; I don’t know for sure.”
Comparatively, the great-great-great nephew’s recipe emphasizes warm spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, cardamom, and sage, whereas the 2016 version highlights classic savory herbs such as thyme, basil, oregano, paprika, celery salt, and mustard.
One way to possibly determine the true recipe is to try both recipes and compare them to your local KFC – if you have the time and patience.
However, it’s unlikely these recipes are the exact formulation, so it’s wise to take them with a grain of salt…
KFC has been contacted for commentary.