Go Back Email Link
kfc grilled chicken recipe

KFC Grilled Chicken Recipe

Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 40 minutes
Cook Time 16 minutes
Total Time 56 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 2 tsp kosher salt
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • ½ tsp dried thyme
  • ½ tsp dried basil
  • ½ tsp ground black pepper
  • ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
  • 1 tbsp neutral oil
  • 1 tsp MSG (optional)

Method
 

  1. Combine the 1 cup buttermilk, 1 tsp kosher salt, ¼ tsp garlic powder, and ¼ tsp black pepper in a bag or dish. Add the 4 chicken thighs, coat well, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
  2. Stir together the remaining 1 tsp kosher salt, 1 tsp smoked paprika, remaining ¾ tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp onion powder, ½ tsp dried thyme, ½ tsp dried basil, remaining ¼ tsp black pepper, ¼ tsp cayenne, and 1 tsp MSG (if using) in a small bowl.
  3. Remove chicken from buttermilk, pat lightly dry, brush all over with the 1 tbsp neutral oil, and press the spice rub firmly onto every surface.
  4. Heat a grill pan or grill to medium-high (about 400°F / 200°C). Grill chicken skin-side down for 7 minutes, flip, and grill 7 to 9 minutes more until the internal temperature reads 165°F (74°C).
  5. Transfer to a plate, rest for 3 minutes, arrange skin-side up, dust with a pinch of smoked paprika, and serve with lemon wedges.

Notes

You can mix the spice rub the night before and keep it in a small jar, which makes this recipe genuinely fast on a weeknight. If you're using boneless skinless breasts instead, check the temperature at the 12-minute mark total, as they reach 165°F (74°C) faster than bone-in thighs. A little char on the edges is normal and expected — that slight bitterness at the crust is part of what makes it taste like the real thing.