This copycat KFC seasoning blend is just the recipe you need when you're craving the unmistakable flavor explosion of the Colonel's secret blend of 11 herbs and spices. It's a quick and easy savory spice mix that's totally customizable, and beyond delicious on everything.
I've been making this KFC fried chicken seasoning blend for years, and finally I'm adding the recipe to my DIY spice collection!
With this copycat KFC spice blend, you have the power to recreate that familiar KFC taste on everything from vegan chicken nuggets, oven baked tofu, pan fried tofu, air fryer tofu, and vegan fried chicken to French fries and grilled veggies. Let's get into the details.
Reasons to Love DIY KFC Seasoning
I love to make my own custom spice blends at home. Here's some of the many reasons:
- Customizable: It's so easy to switch up the spices according to your taste preferences.
- Basic Pantry Items: You probably have everything in your spice cupboard right now!
- Allergy and Special Diet Friendly: Gluten free, vegan, keto, paleo, egg free, dairy free, soy free, nut free, oil free, sugar free, low sodium.
- Healthy: No preservatives, no MSG, no fillers or additives!
- Cheap and Easy
KFC Spice Mix Ingredients
Although no one knows the exact blend of 11 herbs and spices, this copycat version of KFC's top secret fried chicken seasoning has all the savory flavors you've come to expect from the original recipe. It's as close as I could get without the Colonel actually leaning over and whispering his secret recipe in my ear!
For this KFC spice blend, you'll need the following ingredients:
- paprika (not smoky or hot)
- dried oregano, thyme & basil
- dry mustard powder & ground ginger
- garlic powder & onion powder*
- coarse ground black pepper
- celery salt & kosher salt
Ingredient Substitutions
If you don't have one of the ingredients or prefer a spicier or more garlicky flavor, feel free to adjust the ingredients and proportions to suit the tastes and dietary needs of your family. Here's a few options:
- Italian spice blend: Don't have all the individual Italian spices (basil, oregano, thyme) on hand? No worries, sub for an equal amount of an Italian spice blend (~4 ½ tablespoons).
- Onion powder: My research shows the original recipe calls for white pepper, but I don't enjoy white pepper so I sub in onion powder. I realize this is not a typical substitution, but the flavor works for our family. Feel free to use white pepper instead.
- Brown sugar: Sugar didn't come up in my research, but I like how the kiss of sweetness balances the savory notes in the seasoning.
- Heat: For a subtle hit of heat, add a pinch or two of cayenne or red pepper flakes.
- Salt: If you are on a reduced salt diet, decrease the amount of salt or leave it out all together and sub the celery salt for crushed celery seeds.
How to Make KFC Spice Blend
Super quick and easy to make:
- To make the seasoning blend: Measure all the ingredients into a bowl or jar, stir or shake together. Taste then adjust the flavor as needed. Add a label and a lid to the jar.
- How to store KFC spice blend: Store in an air-tight container/jar in the pantry away from heat and light. This DIY KFC spice blend will stay fresh for up to 6 months.
Recipe Tips
- Reduced salt: If you follow a sodium free diet or are watching your salt intake, leave the salt out this spice blend or reduce the amount. As well I use onion powder and garlic powder not onion salt and garlic salt so I have better control over the amount of salt in the spice blend.
- MILLION DOLLAR TIP: Of course KFC fried chicken has the additional flavor of fried chicken which vegan recipes don't. So when I'm using homemade KFC seasoning to make vegan fried chicken or a crispy tofu recipe, I include some nutritional yeast and/or a sprinkle of vegan chicken in a mug powder in the spice blend to boost the poultry flavor.
- Spice variations: This DIY spice blend turns out slightly different every time, ie. the paprika is a different brand, the oregano is from a different source, etc. So be sure to taste and adjust the seasoning blend once you've mixed everything together.
- Building favor: Keep in mind that not only the spices you add, but also whatever you are cooking factor into the final flavor of your dish. For example, if you are making a recipe that includes soy sauce, the dish will naturally be saltier. The opposite is true with bland food like tofu, cauliflower or couscous which are flavor erasers - they will need additional spice and maybe an extra pinch of salt. So you may need to adjust the amount of seasoning added depending what you are cooking.
How to Use it
This KFC savory seasoning recipe is a really simple way to spice up more than just vegan fried chicken! Here's a few of our favorite ways to use it:
- as a dry rub: Delicious on tofu recipes, seitan, and tempeh too.
- to season veggies: Sprinkle over sheet pan vegetables (eg. cauliflower, broccoli, carrots, sweet potatoes, parsnips, etc.) before roasting or grilling.
- on crispy potatoes: Swap out the sage and onion seasoning on crispy oven roasted potatoes.
- as a sprinkle: Over crispy chickpeas, French fries or sweet potato fries before going into the oven or air fryer.
- popcorn seasoning: The kids love a sprinkle of KFC seasoning and nutritional yeast on hot buttered popcorn!
- as a compound butter: Sprinkle some KFC spice blend into softened vegan butter then smear on grilled corn on the cob or whatever else you're grilling.
More Vegan Pantry Recipes
If you like to make your own spice blends from scratch, here's a few other recipes to try:
- homemade taco seasoning
- sage and onion seasoning
- southwest spice blend
- madras curry blend
- vegan parmesan cheese recipe
Did you make this KFB copycat seasoning recipe? I appreciate your feedback! Let me know below how you use this savory spice. Tag me in your photos on Instagram.
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KFC Seasoning Recipe (copycat)
Rate this recipe!
INGREDIENTS
- 1 ½ tablespoons black pepper, coarse ground
- 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt (more or less to taste)
- 1 - 1 ½ tablespoons celery salt
- 2 teaspoons ground ginger
- 1 tablespoon dry mustard
- 1 ½ teaspoons dry thyme
- 1 ½ teaspoons dry oregano
- 1 ½ teaspoons dry basil
- 1 ½ teaspoons onion powder*
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 3-4 tablespoons sweet paprika
Optional Ingredients
- 1-2 tablespoons brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon cayenne or red pepper flakes
INSTRUCTIONS
- Measure all spices into a jar or container. Start with the lower quantities, mix together, taste and add more to taste.
- Whisk or shake up the spices to thoroughly combine. Add a label to the jar or container then store in a cool dark spot like the pantry.
NOTES
- Customize: Feel free to add more or less of any ingredient. If you follow a sugar free diet, leave it out. Any spice or herb can be adjusted to suit your taste: saltier, more garlic, less pepper, etc. (See the post for more suggestions.)
- Salt free KFC Seasoning: If you follow a salt free or reduced sodium diet, skip the addition of salt and be sure to use onion powder and garlic powder not salt. For the celery salt, sub with celery seed instead of celery salt. Start with ~1 - 1 ½ teaspoons celery seed (as it's more concentrated than celery salt) and grind with with a mortar and pestle before adding.
- Storage: Store your KFC seasoning blend in the pantry in a jar or container with a lid. I like to add a label with the spice blend name and date. Spices naturally start to lose potency over time, but this blend will stay fresh for at least 6 months.
- Storage Tip: Don't store your spices (or oils) over the stove or near heat. Keep them in a cool, dark spot like the pantry.
Sandy
You Nailed It! I have tried a few different concoctions professing to mimic the iconic KFC seasoning. None of them quite delivered.
Your seasoning is a must-have staple in the pantry Love !