KFC attributes its irresistible chicken flavor to a unique mix of 11 herbs and spices. Yet, Colonel Sanders likely never imagined that his own nephew would one day disclose the secret recipe.
With homemade versions of popular fast food items becoming more common, many people are eager to replicate the Colonel’s chicken at home.
The fast food giant’s promise of ‘finger lickin’ good’ is well-guarded, with staff tight-lipped to prevent competitors from copying their recipe. The only clue KFC has hinted at involves following six people named Herb and all the Spice Girls on X.
Founded in 1952, KFC kept its recipe under wraps for years until Joe Ledington, the nephew of Colonel Harland David Sanders, revealed it.
Sanders had always been candid that the seasonings were everyday ingredients, but despite numerous attempts with salt, pepper, and garlic, the homemade versions never quite matched up to KFC’s original.
This changed when reporter Jay Jones from the Chicago Tribune met with Ledington, who revealed the full recipe. The secret wasn’t kept in a vault but was written in a family scrapbook on the back of Ledington’s aunt Claudia’s last will and testament.
The handwritten note, penned in blue ink, is titled: “11 Spices — Mix With 2 Cups White Fl.”
Ledington mentioned: “That is the original 11 herbs and spices that were supposed to be so secretive.”
Since then, Ledington has appeared to reconsider his statement, saying: “It could be; I don’t know for sure.”
The essential ingredients of the recipe are four tablespoons of paprika, three tablespoons of white pepper, and two tablespoons of garlic salt.
“The main ingredient is white pepper,” Ledington disclosed. “I call that the secret ingredient. Nobody (in the 1950s) knew what white pepper was. Nobody knew how to use it.”
Additional herbs and spices include thyme, basil, oregano, and different types of salt—regular, garlic, and celery salt. Dried mustard and pepper contribute to the slight spiciness, with ground ginger rounding out the flavors.
After gathering the ingredients, the Chicago Tribune recreated the recipe and confirmed it was indeed ‘finger lickin’ good’.
Still, there’s something special about enjoying the original KFC, isn’t there?