Off The Record

KFC’s Famous Top Secret ’11 Herbs And Spices’ Leaked To The Public

Published on August 13, 2024

Colonel Sanders certainly never expected his own nephew to share the secret to his delicious chicken, which KFC has long attributed to a masterful blend of 11 herbs and spices.

Fakeaways are becoming almost as popular as takeout, so many people must be trying to figure out how to make Colonel’s chicken at home.

Although the fast food restaurant frequently advertises that its food is “finger-lickin’ good,” it is clear that the staff members are hesitant to share the recipe for fear of falling behind rival restaurants.

All we’ve ever been told is that they follow all six Spice Girls members, plus a guy named Herb on X.

KFC has kept its operations a secret since its founding in 1952, but a few years ago Joe Ledington—the nephew of Colonel Harland David Sanders—leaked them to the public.

Sanders has previously told consumers up front that a variety of seasonings could be found in their kitchens, but regardless of how much salt, pepper, or garlic someone tried to add, it never tasted quite as good as the genuine thing.

That is, until Chicago Tribune reporter Jay Jones set up a meeting with Ledington, during which he revealed the information (naturally flavored with barbecue sauce) along with the fries and all the other ingredients of a quality KFC meal.

It was discovered that the recipe was not locked away but rather kept in a family scrapbook, scribbled on the back of Ledington’s aunt Claudia’s final will and testament.

The list is titled “11 Spices — Mix With 2 Cups White Fl.” and is handwritten in blue ink.

Ledington casually explained: “That is the original 11 herbs and spices that were supposed to be so secretive.”

He seems to have tried to retract his statement since then, stating, “It could be; I don’t know for sure.”

Four teaspoons of paprika, three tablespoons of white pepper, and two tablespoons of garlic salt are the recipe’s major ingredients.

“The main ingredient is white pepper,” Ledington revealed. “I call that the secret ingredient. Nobody (in the 1950s) knew what white pepper was. Nobody knew how to use it.”

Add some more herbs and spices, including oregano, basil, and thyme, along with some high-quality salt.

The “11 herbs and spices” contain three different types of salt, according to the handwritten note: normal, garlic, and, unexpectedly, celery.

The mildly spicy kick comes from the dried mustard and pepper, along with some ground ginger added for good measure.

Once they obtained the ingredients, the news organization replicated the recipe as instructed in the note and verified that it was “finger lickin’ excellent”.

Nevertheless, isn’t it good to treat oneself to the actual thing once in a while?