KFC Chicken Littles Copycat Recipe (2024)

KFC Chicken Littles Copycat Recipe (1)

There is a big cult following for the REAL Chicken Littles from KFC. As you may know, KFC brought back this throwback sandwich a few years ago. But these are nothing more than a Chicken Snacker using a classic name. There is actually a Facebook petition page you can find here. The Chicken Little is supposed to be on a super soft roll, rather than a seeded slider bun. It was also a chicken patty, reminiscent of a school cafeteria lunch. And it had a good dollop of mayo, no lettuce. Big differences. This imposter sandwich has been outcasted by the true lovers of the Chicken Little and we are all asking the question, why can’t they just bring back the original??

KFC Chicken Littles Copycat Recipe (2)

Well, in the meantime, I have tried to replicate this sandwich at home to try and satisfy my cravings for this old school love. No, it’s not exactly like the classic, and I did add pickles, because I do love the combination it gives the sandwich, but trust me, this is a ton better than the new wannabe“chicken little” chicken snacker!

KFC Chicken Littles Copycat Recipe (3)

There are a few keys to making this sandwich similar to the original…

  1. Use the softest/pillowy-est dinner rolls you can find in the bakery section of your super market
  2. Slightly toast the bun on the stove first.
  3. Don’t skimp on the mayo, it needs a good lather
  4. Flash fry the chicken, then bake it. It needs more of a soft crunch rather than an extra crispy coating like the snacker has.
  5. Pickles = optional. They aren’t in the original but I do love adding them.KFC Chicken Littles Copycat Recipe (4)

If you want to make this sandwich even more similar to the classic, you can buy chicken patties in the frozen section of your super market. Of course you will lose a little on the quality, but it will give you more of that true chicken patty feel.

Do you remember this sandwich? Try this and tell me in the comments how this version measures up to your memory!

KFC Real Chicken Littles Copycat Recipe

Print recipe

Serves12 mini sandwiches
Prep time15 minutes
Cook time20 minutes
Total time35 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons paprika
  • 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon seasoned salt
  • 2 teaspoons ground black pepper
  • 3 eggs, beaten with 1/4 cup water
  • Duke's mayonnaise (full fat version)
  • 48 pickle slices (optional)
  • 12 Old fashioned dinner rolls
  • oil for frying (enough for 3-4 inches in the frying pot)
  • 4 chicken breasts

Directions

Prepare chicken breasts by cutting into 3" pieces (mimicking the size of your rolls) and pounding with a mallet or rolling pin to ensure even cooking and tenderness. Set aside.
Heat the oil (in a fry-safe pot) to 400* (medium-high to high). Preheat oven to 400 degrees and prepare a pan lined with parchment paper or foil.

In a deep dish or plastic bag, combine the flour and all seasonings. In a bowl, add the eggs and water together and beat well.

Toss the chicken pieces in the flour, then into to egg mixture, and back into the flour mixture. Repeat with all remaining pieces of chicken.

Flash fry the chicken, a bunch of pieces at a time, for about 2 minutes. Make sure to move them around to prevent sticking. Remove the chicken, place onto a stack of paper towels and rest while you repeat with remaining chicken.
When all chicken is fried, place onto the baking sheet lined with parchment or foil and bake for about 15 minutes, or until internal chicken temp reaches 165.
While the chicken is baking, prepare the sandwiches. Slightly toast both sides on the bun in a skillet on medium, sprayed with nonstick spray.

When buns are cooled slightly, liberally add mayo to each side of the rolls, place four pickle slices (optional) on each bottom half.

When the chicken is done, place a piece of warm chicken on each sandwich and enjoy!

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4 Comments

  • KFC Chicken Littles Copycat Recipe (16)

    Reply

    chris

    October 4, 2018 at 6:11 pm they seriously need to brong back the old school chicken littles.. i miss them so much lol an those snackers aren't the original. please bring them back

  • KFC Chicken Littles Copycat Recipe (17)

    Reply

    Erin

    October 30, 2018 at 6:27 pm I was just talking to my 12 yr old about these! I'm excited to make them at home now.

  • KFC Chicken Littles Copycat Recipe (18)

    Reply

    Carol Face

    October 19, 2019 at 10:02 pm I miss those little sandwich s so much. They were about 45 cents and I would by them for my little girl and myself. We were so disappointed when they were no longer available. The best little chicken sandwich ever!

    • KFC Chicken Littles Copycat Recipe (19)

      Reply

      badbatch

      November 3, 2019 at 4:10 pm Carol - this is such a cute story, thank you for sharing. They always remind me of my mom, they were her favorite and she shared a similar story about the cheap price. I hope you get a chance to make them!

    Leave a Reply

    KFC Chicken Littles Copycat Recipe (2024)

    FAQs

    Does KFC have a secret formula? ›

    KFC employs two different firms, Griffith Laboratories and McCormick & Company, to formulate the blend; in order to maintain secrecy, each firm is given a different half of the recipe. Once the Griffith portion has been formulated, it is sent to McCormick and combined with the remaining ingredients there.

    How does KFC get their chicken so crispy? ›

    KFC deep fries its chicken for 15 minutes and then drains the oil off for another five minutes – 20 minutes in total. If you don't have a deep fryer, heat up plenty of oil in a large saucepan and do it that way.

    What flavor chicken littles does KFC have? ›

    Choose from 4 flavors: Smoky Mountain BBQ, Extra Crispy, Nashville Hot, and Georgia Gold. Capisce?

    Why are Kentucky fried chicken pieces so small? ›

    A KFC spokesperson said its chicken producers, Tegel and Inghams, cut each chicken into nine pieces, which had to fall within weight ranges set by the restaurant. “On occasion the lower or upper weight range of these specifications can be supplied.”

    What is the unhealthiest item in KFC? ›

    Worst: Extra Crispy

    Here's where "crispy" is a code word for "steer clear." The extra crispy recipe is by far the least healthful of KFC's chicken options. A single breast will set you back 530 calories, 35 grams of fat, and 6 grams of saturated fat.

    What is KFC chicken coating made of? ›

    Copycat KFC Original Recipe Chicken EXACTLY how the Colonel makes it 🔥 Secret Herb & Spice Mix: - 2.5 cups of flour - 2 teaspoons of Salt - 3 teaspoons of Paprika - 2 teaspoons of Dried Mustard - 2 teaspoons of Garlic Powder - 1.5 teaspoons of Onion Powder - 1 teaspoon of Dried Thyme - 1 teaspoon of Dried Basil - 1 ...

    Does KFC use egg in their batter? ›

    Original Recipe® Chicken Fresh chicken. Breaded in: Wheat flour, Salt, Monosodium glutamate, Spices, Dehydrated garlic, Modified milk ingredients, Dried egg white (Egg white, Baker's yeast, Citric acid). Cooked in: Canola oil (Dimethylpolysiloxane (Antifoaming agent), TBHQ). Contains: Wheat, Milk, Egg.

    Is KFC chicken breaded or battered? ›

    Our iconic fried chicken is freshly prepared and hand-breaded by our trained cooks in restaurant every single day, using the type of ingredients you'd find in your kitchen at home.

    What oil does KFC fry their chicken in? ›

    KFC products are fried in oil which may contain the following: Canola Oil and Hydrogenated Soybean Oil with TBHQ and Citric Acid Added To Protect Flavor, Dimethylpolysiloxane, an Antifoaming Agent Added OR Low Linolenic Soybean Oil, TBHQ and Citric Acid Added To Protect Flavor, Dimethylpolysiloxane, an Antifoaming ...

    Does KFC still make chicken littles? ›

    Thankfully, the Chicken Littles Sandwiches returned to the menu permanently in 2012—and with additional flavors in recent years. KFC is definitely known for some interesting—albeit delicious—food combinations.

    What did KFC take off their menu? ›

    In an effort to add new items to menus, the fast food chain is removing five items that have become mainstays — Kentucky fried chicken wings, Nashville hot sauce, strawberry lemonade, chocolate chip cookies and popcorn chicken, according to USA Today.

    What was the old KFC chicken little? ›

    The Chicken Little that KFC introduced around 1987 was more like a White Castle slider of a sandwich with a small medallion of breaded bird with mayo and lettuce.

    Why is KFC chicken stringy? ›

    The reason so many places serve rubbery chicken is not because it's overcooked. It's undercooked. Collagen tissue, which can make meat tough or rubbery, and which chickens have a lot of, doesn't melt at 165°F.

    Is Kentucky Fried Chicken healthier than Mcdonald's? ›

    While chicken is an obvious Men's Health staple, KFC's reliance on greasy oils and subsequent sky-high calorific content makes Maccy's an unlikely victor. The more varied menu and healthy options, as well as classic, gut-busting fare, make it the ideal spot to play fast and loose with your nutrition plan.

    Is Kentucky Fried Chicken the same as Southern fried chicken? ›

    Kentucky fried chicken is cooked in a “pressure fryer”, which uses little oil. Southern fried chicken is usually fried in a deep fryer. Pan fried chicken is cooked in a pan containing a small amount of oil. Southern fried chicken is sometimes cooked in a pan.

    Does the FDA know the KFC formula? ›

    No. The FDA knows the ingredients, but not the percentages and blends that create the recipe. Think of it like making a cake: eggs, flour, oil, etc. Each cake recipe isn't the same even if they contain the same essential ingredients.

    How many people know KFC secret formula? ›

    “It's kept in a vault in Kentucky,” she told UK documentary Secrets of the Fast Food Giants. “Across KFC, only two or three people actually know the exact recipe.” The fast food chain has two different factories to make part of its recipe so no one company would ever know the entire formula.

    What companies have secret formula? ›

    Coca-Cola is one of the most famous trade secrets in business history. The company has kept its formula a closely guarded secret for over 100 years. The formula is said to be locked away in a vault in Atlanta, Georgia, and only a few people know the exact ingredients.

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