Colonel Sanders’ Nephew Reveals KFC’s Secret Recipe, Unveiling the Famous 11 Herbs and Spices

KFC’s long-guarded secret recipe of 11 herbs and spices was unexpectedly revealed by Colonel Sanders’ nephew, Joe Ledington. During an interview, Ledington disclosed the ingredients, previously hidden for decades, allowing fans to recreate the iconic chicken at home with remarkable accuracy.

Colonel Sanders' Secret Recipe Leaked by Nephew, Revealing KFC’s Famous 11 Herbs and Spices

Colonel Sanders likely never envisaged that his secret recipe of 11 herbs and spices, which KFC has long credited for its delectable chicken, would be disclosed to the public. Nevertheless, the Colonel's nephew, Joe Ledington, unexpectedly disclosed the closely guarded secret a few years ago.

In an age where "fakeaways" are becoming almost as famous as traditional takeaways, many people are eager to replicate the Colonel's famous chicken at home. While KFC has consistently promised a "finger-lickin' good" experience, the exact recipe has remained a closely guarded secret. The only playful hint ever given was their social media following of six men named Herb and all the members of the Spice Girls.

Since its founding in 1952, KFC has kept its recipe under wraps for decades. However, Ledington, nephew of Harland David Sanders, casually disclosed the secret during an interview with Jay Jones, a reporter from the Chicago Tribune.

Handwritten Recipe Discovered in Family Scrapbook Reveals KFC’s Secret 11 Herbs and Spices Blend

The recipe, handwritten in blue ink, was surprisingly found in a family scrapbook on the back of Ledington's aunt Claudia's last will. Titled "11 Spices — Mix With 2 Cups White Fl.," the list of ingredients was openly shared with the reporter.

Ledington revealed that the recipe includes the following:

• Four tablespoons of paprika.

• Three tablespoons of white pepper.

• Two tablespoons of garlic salt.

In a report by Unilad, he identified white pepper as the "secret ingredient" that made the chicken unique, mainly because it was a little-known spice in the 1950s. The blend also includes thyme, basil, oregano, and three types of salt—regular, garlic, and celery—along with dried mustard, pepper, and ground ginger for a hint of spice.

Following the recipe, the news outlet recreated the famous chicken and confirmed it was indeed "finger lickin' good." Despite the ease of recreating the recipe at home, there's still something special about indulging in the original KFC experience.