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KFC Grilled Chicken Recipe
KFC Grilled Chicken
By Todd Wilbur

Recipe Type: Entree
Calories: 278
Cook Time: 1 hour
Recipe Rating: 5.0 (11 reviews)
 
It took chefs several years to develop what would eventually become KFCs most clucked about new product launch in the chains 57-year history. With between 70 to 180 calories and four to nine grams of fat, depending on the piece, the new un-fried chicken is being called "KFCs second secret recipe," and "a defining moment in our brands storied history" in a company press release. The secret recipe for the new grilled chicken is now stored on an encrypted computer flash drive next to the Colonels handwritten original fried chicken recipe in an electronic safe at KFC company headquarters. Oprah Winfrey featured the chicken on her talk show and gave away so many coupons for free grilled chicken meals that some customers waited in lines for over an hour and half, and several stores ran out and had to offer rain checks. Company spokesperson Laurie Schalow told the Associated Press that KFC has never seen such a huge response to any promotion. "Its unprecedented in our more than 50 years," she said. "It beats anything weve ever done."
When I heard about all the commotion over this new secret recipe I I'mmediately locked myself up in the underground lab with a 12-piece bucket of the new grilled chicken, plus a sample I obtained of the proprietary seasoning blend, and got right to work. After days of nibbling through what amounts to a small flock of hens, I'm happy to bring you this amazing cloned version of the latest fast food phenomenon so that you can now reproduce it in your own kitchen. Find the smallest chicken you can, since KFC uses young hens. Or better yet save some dough by finding a small whole chicken and cut it up yourself. The secret preparation process requires that you marinate brine your chicken for a couple hours in a salt and MSG solution. This will make the chicken moist all of the way through and give it great flavor. After the chicken has brined its brushed with liquid smoke-flavored oil that will not only make the seasoning stick to the chicken, but will also ensure that the chicken doesnt stick to the pan. The liquid smoke in the oil gives the chicken a smoky flavor as if it had been cooked on an open flame barbecue grill. The grilled chicken at KFC is probably cooked on ribbed metal plates in specially designed convection ovens - that's how it gets those grill marks. I duplicated that process using an oven-safe grill pan, searing the chicken first on the stovetop to add the grill marks, then cooking the chicken through in the oven. If you don't have a grill pan or a grill plate, you can just sear the chicken in any large oven safe saute pan. If you have a convection function on your oven you should definitely use it, but the recipe will still work in a standard oven with the temperature set just a little bit higher. After baking the chicken for 20 minutes on each side, you're ready to dive into your own 8-piece bucket of delicious indoor grilled chicken that's as tasty as the fried stuff, but without all the fat.

Check out the video demonstration of this recipe by clicking here.
Marinade
8 cups water
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Michelle Borofka  
Submitted on 11/18/11
tasted wonderful, exactly the same as if I had it at KFC
Butta  
Submitted on 03/23/11
I'm not sure how KFC Grilled chicken is supposed to taste like as we dont have it here in Toronto, But I love this recipe. The seasoning is GREAT!, I've made enough to put in a shaker to season other meats. For a Different twist.. Try soaking the chicken in buttermilk!.. It wont be a clone of KFC.. but definitely a different milder sweeter taste to it.!!
Aimee Lawrence  
Submitted on 03/21/11
I used a George foreman grill....they turned out Delicious! I do suggest making a little more of the seasoning depending on how big your pieces of Chicken are....I will make this again =)
Mark Mitchell  
Submitted on 01/27/11
I did this and swapped out the vegetable oil for Olive oil and its excellent
Janet  
Submitted on 02/03/10
Do yourself a favor and make a LARGE batch of the spices. Then you can just sprinkle on the goodness any time you want. I baked the chicken on a broiler pan so that the grease could drip off. Great recipe!
Marie  
Submitted on 12/02/09
Very delicious and true to taste! I used the hickory liquid smoke and it turned out great! I will definitely use this recipe again.
Kat  
Submitted on 10/30/09
OMG. This is awesome. Used the George grill for 3 min on boneless chicken breasts. Sprayed them with High Heat cooking spray (not using oil to save calories) and them popped them in the oven for 20 min. Hubby rated them 9/10 and he eats the real ones on the road all the time! Thanks Todd!!!
Tish  
Submitted on 07/24/09
Only had KFC's grilled chicken once. Unfortunately, the taste was not memorable, so I don't remember if this clone tastes exactly like it or not. However the clone is DELICIOUS! It just replaced my new favorite grilled chicken recipe. Thanks, Todd!
Denise  
Submitted on 06/07/09
We made this for company and are living in Hamburg, Germany. It was a GREAT hit. Haven't tasted the original, but this is a great recipe. There wasn't anything left.
Lisa  
Submitted on 06/04/09
Great recipe! The only thing I would change is to make double the recipe of the seasoning to coat chicken better. Otherwise, it was true to taste!!
Barbara  
Submitted on 05/28/09
Delicious! I put the dry spice mixture in my electric coffee grinder to make a fine powder. Worked great. I used just chicken thighs and after the first 20 minutes of baking switched them to a different pan as there was quite a bit of grease accumulating. Will make this again.