This is a recipe for Gluten Free KFC, however the chicken is baked not fried! It is also a take on Buttermilk Fried Chicken but is 100% Dairy Free too. So if a Baked, Buttermilk Style Dairy Free & Gluten Free KFC is something that tickles your taste buds, listen up.. its really simple & tastes super authentic! Let’s create something gluten free & dairy free that the Colonel never managed to do!
When I was younger and had the ability to eat KFC before my gluten intolerance took hold… I never actually ate KFC! As a child I rarely ever had fast food… a McDonalds Happy Meal might have been a yearly treat & we had a Burger King on the way home from our summer holiday at the airport; other than that fast food chains were never places I went. I think that kind of rolled on to when I was a teenager as I don’t really remember going to McDonalds with my friends, and definitely never to KFC. We often ended up in Pizza Hut instead, at the buffet! The only KFC I have actually ever consumed is Popcorn Chicken… I loved it! But seeing as KFC do not do Gluten Free KFC that’s as much as I have ever had!
Over the past five years of not being able to eat gluten, I think I probably would have had KFC if I could have. I mean, in that time period I was at university so I definitely would have enjoyed a KFC after a night out!! On the other hand, over my university years I became quite a health conscious person so the idea of eating battered deep fried chicken wasn’t something I would have really appreciated. That’s why the recipe I am going to share with you today is so great.
Buttermilk Style Chicken has been quite the trend in the last few years for any type of fried chicken recipe. Obviously we cannot use buttermilk, as we were not only looking to make this a gluten free KFC, but, a dairy free buttermilk style chicken too. Instead of marinading or dipping the chicken in a buttermilk we made our own ‘coconut buttermilk’ by combining coconut milk and lemon juice. This definitely did the job in terms of tenderising the chicken leg meat as well as helping the seasoning mix to stick to the chicken. I would actually recommend using coconut milk & lemon juice as a substitute for buttermilk even if you can consume dairy. For me, it is much easier.. we always have coconut milk and lemons in the house & it works great!
You might also think that baking chicken in the oven will just not give the chicken that crisp coating that deep frying it does. I must inform you however that you are wrong if you think that. The chicken seriously came out amazingly crispy. The coating was as good, if not better than any fried chicken I have ever seen & it was 100% baked. Baking chicken like this in the oven is so much easier and so much better for you. Not only is it healthier but you just feel so much better after eating it… that greasy food feeling in your stomach just doesn’t occur with the baked gluten free KFC.
Each time we have done this recipe so far we have used chicken legs. Every time but one we have done the chicken legs with the skin on. This was done mainly for ease but I must admit, I think you can make this using chicken legs with the skin on or off and it works out lovely and crispy. Taking the skin off the chicken legs definitely didn’t make the meat dry (the coconut ‘buttermilk’ always ensures that!), so really its just personal preference. For me I think I’ll stick with skin on but try it however you like.
Next time we make the spice/seasoning blend for this gluten free KFC, I have decided that I am going to try out using some other parts of the chicken. I think this mix would work great on some chicken wings and of course thighs & drumsticks would also work a treat. What I am most excited to try however, is to coat a large chicken breast and make it into a baked gluten free KFC burger! I want to make my own gluten free KFC Zinger Burger! I might even take a look on the menu and try to recreate some of their chicken burgers but in a healthier baked way and with a gluten free / dairy free ‘buttermilk’ twist! If you ever consider doing this I would highly recommend using burger buns from Just: Gluten Free Bakery. They do amazing gluten free and dairy free burger buns and white rolls that are seriously to die for and work great for this.
In terms of accompaniments for this burger… the world is your oyster! We have got into the awesome habit of serving our gluten free KFC with a big creamy portion of mashed potato & gravy… with maybe a little mustard mayo on the side! You might not think of this as the best accompaniment straight off but trust me, I’ve seen it served like this is America and it tastes insanely good!
If mashed potato and gravy isn’t your thing then maybe a portion of sweet potato fries might work better (click here for a great gluten free baked recipe) or even regular fries or wedges. Basically this baked gluten free KFC will go well with everything and I guarantee you will make it again and again. All hail KBC!
- 4 large chicken legs
- 1 tin of coconut milk
- 1 lemon
- 240g gluten free plain flour
- 2 tsp oregano
- 2 tsp chilli flakes
- 2 tsp basil
- 2 tsp sage
- 2 tsp black pepper
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp marjoram
- 3 tsp salt
- 4 tsp paprika
- Preheat your oven to 200 degrees fan
- Grease a baking tray by spraying or drizzling a small amount of oil on the tray.
- Place your chicken legs into a dish and pour in the coconut milk and the juice from your lemon.
- Allow to marinade in the fridge for a minimum of 30 minutes, longer would be great though.
- In a bowl measure out and combine the flour and all the spice/herb seasonings.
- Take one of your chicken legs, and place it into the seasoning mix, making sure it is well covered.
- Once covered, return the chicken leg to the coconut milk to soak briefly again.
- After the brief soaking in the coconut milk, return to the seasoning mix and cover once more.
- Place your seasoned chicken leg on the greased baking tray & repeat with your other chicken legs.
- Once all your legs are done, place in your preheated oven for about 15 minutes.
- After 15 minutes turn the chicken legs over and bake for a further 15-20 minutes (until they are looking crisp and golden.. like the picture!)
- Remove from the oven & serve with whatever you fancy.. we went proper Kentucky style & served ours with a large helping of mashed potato & gravy! Fries or wedges would work great too. Baked beans.. BBQ sauce, Mayo.. anything you fancy!
- Enjoy!
Thanks for reading,
Becky xxx
RECIPE: Gluten Free KFC - Kentucky Baked Chicken
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