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    Home » Recipes » Main Course

    The Best Fried Chicken Burger (KFC-Inspired)

    Published: Mar 12, 2021 · Modified: Dec 19, 2024 by Izzah Khan · 31 Comments

    Jump to Recipe

    This is my KFC-inspired Zinger Burger that's crispy, tender and so DELICIOUS! If you love Southern-style KFC Zinger burger, you will absolutely LOVE this recipe! The crisp on this fried chicken is out of this world. The best part? No need for buttermilk or egg binding—just a simple recipe that guarantees the best chicken burger every time.

    Crispy deep fried Chicken Zinger Burger inspired by KFC

    Key Ingredients for the Best Fried Chicken Burger:

    • Chicken: Boneless, skinless chicken breasts. I will fight anyone who says you can't make fried chicken with breast. Some of your favorite fried chicken is made with chicken breast. Just look at Howlin' Ray's "The Sando", Shake Shack's Chicken Shack and even the famous Hattie B's.
    • Flour: All-purpose flour for the dredging.
    • Seasoning: A mix of spices to flavor the chicken. This is where you can go absolutely crazy 🙂
    • Buns: Brioche buns are elite but we'll keep things simple with regular buns. You pick.
    • Toppings: Lettuce, cheese, and mayonnaise. You can customize this in a number of ways. I add slaw and hot peppers for some crunch and heat.

    Why This Fried Chicken Burger Is the Best

    This fried chicken burger is everything you want from a crispy chicken sandwich: crunchy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and packed with flavor. It's inspired by the KFC Zinger Burger that I've literally grown up eating as a child because the nearest KFC was 3 mins from my house!

    Secret to Extra Crispy Chicken. Shhh

    One of the secrets to achieving the perfect crispy coating is to dunk your chicken in cold water during the dredging process. This trick ensures that the flour sticks better to the chicken, creating a crispy crust that’s just like the KFC Zinger. After I posted this on my Instagram, some KFC employees did confirm this trick too! I believe the cold water as it hits the hot oil instantly crisps up the coating.

    Crispy deep fried Chicken Zinger Burger inspired by KFC

    How to make the best Fried Chicken

    1. Marinate the Chicken

    If your chicken breast is too thick, slice it down to keep it about ½ inch thick. Season your chicken with the spices listed. This will be a drier spice rub. Let the chicken marinate for at least 15-20 mins.

    2. Prepare the Dredging Station

    In one bowl, add your all-purpose flour. In another bowl, add cold water (throw in some ice cubes in there). Dredge the marinated chicken in the flour first really well for about 15 seconds, then dunk it in the cold water for 5 seconds, then finally press it into the flour for the second time. This is where you need to coat the chicken thoroughly by pressing and rotating it in the flour for at least 60 seconds—this step is key for achieving that perfect crunch. The flour coating should develop crumbs and crannies.

    3. Fry the Chicken

    Heat oil in a pan to medium-high heat between 350-375F. Fry the chicken breast for 2 mins per side until beautifully golden brown. Chicken breast cooks VERY quickly if your pieces are thinly sliced, so be careful not to overcook them otherwise they can dry out. If using thighs, you need to cook this longer (I would go for 7-10 minutes depending on the thickness).

    4. Rest the Chicken

    Once fried, rest the chicken on a grill and not a paper towel. Paper towel tends to make anything crispy a bit soggy.

    5. Assemble the Burger

    To make the best fried chicken imaginable, lightly toast your buns and spread some mayonnaise (chipotle or herb mayo is fire!), followed by a leafy romaine lettuce, the fried chicken and cheese. I also add some sliced cabbage for crunch and fresno pepper or pepperoncini for a kick.

    Crispy Zinger Burger

    Is buttermilk needed for southern fried chicken

    While many Southern fried chicken recipes do use buttermilk to marinate the chicken, I'm skipping that step because my chicken comes out absolutely moist and tender, plus it saves so much time.

    Tip to get the chicken CRISPY with the classic KFC Zinger crumb texture

    • Cut of chicken: While this recipe calls for chicken breast, you can substitute thighs if preferred. However, note that chicken breast results in a less chewy, more tender bite after frying.
    • Flour Coating: Pressing the chicken into the flour and making sure it’s FULLY coated is crucial for getting that crispy exterior. Seriously, the crumbs should look jagged and almost forced when you're done coating.
    • Frying Temperature: Maintain a medium-high heat for the oil. If the temperature is too high, the chicken may burn before cooking through. If it’s too low, the coating may get soggy and the chicken will look and taste oily.
    Crispy deep fried Chicken Zinger Burger inspired by KFC

    KFC Zinger Burger

    Izzah Khan
    Crispy fried chicken reminiscent of KFC Zinger burgers in Pakistan! You won't be disappointed.
    4.89 from 18 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 minutes mins
    Cook Time 5 minutes mins
    Course dinner, lunch
    Cuisine Pakistani American

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 chicken breast

    Seasoning

    • ¾ teaspoon red chili powder increase to 1 teaspoon if you like really hot chicken
    • ¾ teaspoon salt
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    • 1 teaspoon ginger powder optional
    • ½ tsp paprika
    • ½ teaspoon mustard powder optional
    • ½ teaspoon black pepper

    Coating

    • all-purpose flour
    • ice-cold water

    Instructions
     

    • Rinse and pat the chicken dry before dividing it into three pieces, keeping them ½ inch in thickness
    • Add the seasoning to the chicken and massage really well. Let the chicken marinate for a couple hours if possible, but at least 20 minutes.
    • To coat the chicken, add a cup or more of flour in a large bowl and coat the chicken really well for about 15 seconds.
    • Next dunk the chicken pieces in ice water (or just really cold water) for 3 seconds and then dip back into the flour for the final coating. Really work in the flour in a rotating motion for at least 60 seconds and up to 2 minutes. You will begin to see crumbs form on the chicken.
    • Fry the chicken pieces in medium high heat for only 3-5 minutes depending on the thickness of the piece. For ½ inch pieces, 4 minutes is max. Don't overcook because chicken breast will dry out.
    • To assemble the Zinger burger, toast buns and smear both sides with some herb mayo (or any mayo). Lay lettuce leaves on one side and place the fried chicken piece. Top with sliced cabbage (sprinkled with lemon juice), some jalapeno/fresno peppers and more herb mayo.
    • Enjoy this classic crispy Zinger burger with some French fries!

    Notes

    • DO NOT overcook because chicken breast has a very short cooking window.
    • Plain flour is all you need for coating because there is plenty of spice in the chicken. However, you can season the flour if you want.
    • If you don't see crumbs form after the final coat at all, you can dip it again in water and repeat. I have not done this because two coats are all I need.

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    Reader Interactions

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Aden fatima

      December 15, 2024 at 1:09 pm

      5 stars
      tried the fried chicken recipe....loved it .. especially the instructions about the type of meat..I am a convert, chicken breast it is

      Reply
      • Rookie With A Cookie

        December 16, 2024 at 5:25 am

        Yes! Chicken breast if cooked just right is the best cut for fried chicken!

        Reply
    2. Mahvish Shah

      December 15, 2024 at 7:36 am

      5 stars
      I have tries this recipe many time and always it's to hit that Karachi zinger flavor love it a must and easy try

      Reply
      • Rookie With A Cookie

        December 16, 2024 at 5:29 am

        Thank you for trusting this recipe!

        Reply
    3. Theresa

      June 18, 2024 at 11:25 pm

      I just got everything prepped and noticed there’s no mention of oil. Is it just vegetable/canola oil?

      Reply
      • Rookie With A Cookie

        June 20, 2024 at 10:38 pm

        Yes, any neutral oil will work here.

        Reply
    4. shaheen

      November 26, 2023 at 3:30 pm

      5 stars
      Thanks for the recipe,the chicken fillet, perfectly seasoned and breaded, offers a satisfying crunch with each bite.

      Reply
    5. Komal

      August 08, 2023 at 4:56 am

      5 stars
      Tried this recipe tonight and it was delicious on the first try!

      I just wonder how to avoid burning the flour coating. The oil darkened quite a bit.

      Reply
    6. Titiksha Fernandes

      April 30, 2022 at 8:53 pm

      4 stars
      I could not believe that I made super crispy fried chicken. I’m still not a fan of breast, but I love that I can crisp chicken up so easily! Will try this with thighs and bone in chicken next. Thank you so much Izza! Also trying your karahi mutton tonight. Will post soon!

      Reply
    7. Fathima

      July 02, 2021 at 11:57 pm

      5 stars
      I absolutely love this recipe. It turns out just like KFC's zinger burger. I was wondering if the chicken can be made in the air fryer instead of deep frying? Can it? Thank you. Love all your recipes. They're a hit with my family and friends.

      Reply
      • Rookie With A Cookie

        July 10, 2021 at 5:55 am

        Hi thank you for appreciating! I have personally not made this in an air fryer and don't recommend this recipe because of the amount of flour coating that is needed to get a good crisp. If you lightly coat the chicken (it wouldn't be a KFC chicken), then I recommend using a ton of cooking spray when you air fry.

        Reply
    8. seesee

      June 18, 2021 at 9:58 pm

      5 stars
      The most perfect and easiest recipe I have ever tried that came out amazing on my first try

      Reply
      • Rookie With A Cookie

        June 20, 2021 at 5:41 am

        So happy to hear you found it easy and delicious. thanks for the review:)

        Reply
    9. Saman

      June 16, 2021 at 6:03 pm

      5 stars
      Easy to make and turned out perfect!!!

      Reply
    10. Urooba

      June 08, 2021 at 6:57 am

      5 stars
      Absolutely amazing! The crunchiest chicken I have ever made!

      Reply
    11. Hira Salman

      June 08, 2021 at 4:42 am

      5 stars
      Fool proof and simple but absolutely delicious

      Reply
    12. Zubair

      June 08, 2021 at 3:50 am

      This recipe was so simple and quick to make...and it was bang on! Loved it!

      Reply
    13. Ayesha

      June 08, 2021 at 3:10 am

      5 stars
      Love this recipe! Delicious!

      Reply
    14. Amna Naeem

      June 07, 2021 at 9:30 pm

      5 stars
      Soooo easy and absolutely delicious !

      Reply
    15. Sheza umar

      June 07, 2021 at 8:33 pm

      5 stars
      Hands down the best recipe be tried out. I’ll easily give it a 10/10! I just reviewed it but mistakenly gave it 4/5 stars so reviewing it a again lol 😂

      Reply
      • Rookie With A Cookie

        June 07, 2021 at 8:48 pm

        omg thank you you're so kind! I'm so happy you loved it!

        Reply
    16. Sheza umar

      June 07, 2021 at 8:31 pm

      4 stars
      The easiest and most delicious burger recipe I’ve tried out as yet. Definitely a 10/10. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED🙌🏼

      Reply
    17. Muhammad Nawaz

      June 07, 2021 at 8:05 pm

      Perfect recipe. We have it more often than what we thought we’d have it. There’s a fine balance in all the flavours. We however prefer to also season the flour, adds to the taste. Thanks for sharing this.

      Reply
      • Rookie With A Cookie

        June 07, 2021 at 8:22 pm

        thanks for sharing your feedback!

        Reply
    18. Neeela

      June 07, 2021 at 7:23 pm

      5 stars
      This sandwich is amazing. I have made it twice already. The best part is you don’t need to use butter milk and the chicken breast cooks so fast and is so juicy. Use a brioche bun.

      Reply
      • Rookie With A Cookie

        June 07, 2021 at 8:35 pm

        Yes! It's just too easy when you don't have to fuss with buttermilk and eggs. Thank you for the picture; it's perfect!

        Reply
    19. Madiha Shabbir

      May 30, 2021 at 3:33 am

      5 stars
      New fan here ! Loving your recipes , this one was so simple yet so delicious.

      Reply
      • Rookie With A Cookie

        May 31, 2021 at 5:29 am

        Ah thank you so much for sharing your recreation! This looks like straight up KFC!

        Reply
    20. Amna

      May 27, 2021 at 10:21 pm

      5 stars
      It was amazing! I tried the recipe in Ramadan and it made for a very filling iftar. Cant wait to try this again.

      Reply
    21. aailns

      May 27, 2021 at 10:14 pm

      5 stars
      This is honestly the easiest recipe, and with such incredible results! I never cook, I’m only starting to now, so this was the best baby-step I could take. Kinda shocked my mom with how nicely it turned out— lowkey regret it though because she’s now constantly pushing me into the kitchen, more than ever haha. I’m gonna enjoy following this recipe for years to come.

      P.S. I wish I had better pictures but I was occupied with shoving it in my face.

      Reply
      • Rookie With A Cookie

        May 29, 2021 at 1:44 am

        This burger picture makes me so happy! It looks phenomenal. Thank you for sharing your review with my readers 🙂

        Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Izza!

    I’m a Program Manager in Big Tech and the creator of this blog. My recipes are tried and true dishes inspired by my Pakistani roots and frequent travels. I live in Los Angeles with my husband and occasionally do private dinners.

    Learn more...

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