KFC, Fried Chicken, EXTRA CRISPY, Thigh, meat and skin with breading
Whole food · Fast Foods
Photo: Wikipedia
This is a single, bone-in chicken thigh, coated in KFC's signature 'Extra Crispy' breading and deep-fried to a deep golden-brown. The experience is a loud, shattering crunch from the thick, seasoned crust giving way to the juicy, dark meat and rendered skin beneath. It's a calorie-dense, high-fat cut, packing over 22 grams of fat and 17 grams of protein per 100 grams.
💚 Why it's loved
People crave the intense savory flavor and the textural contrast between the ultra-crispy, seasoned coating and the succulent, tender meat inside. It's a beloved comfort food and a cultural icon of American fast food, often enjoyed as a satisfying, indulgent meal.
⚠️ Watch-outs & how to enjoy it better
The high fat, sodium, and calorie content make it a poor choice for low-fat diets or those monitoring blood pressure. The refined flour breading can cause a rapid blood-sugar spike. To counteract, pair it with a fiber-rich side like coleslaw or green beans, practice portion control, and consider removing some of the breading before eating.
Key benefits
- Excellent source of complete protein for muscle maintenance
- Rich in iron and zinc from dark poultry meat
- Provides energy-dense calories from fat and protein
- Contains B vitamins like niacin and B6 from chicken
- The skin adds flavor and helps retain moisture during cooking
🍽️ Popular dishes
🌍 Where it's eaten
💡 Did you know?
The 'Extra Crispy' recipe was developed by KFC in 1971 specifically to counter Popeyes' growing popularity for crunchier chicken, using a different blend of 11 herbs and spices and a double-dredging process.
Full nutrition (scales with serving)
| Water | 48.0 g |
| Energy | 309 kcal |
| Energy | 1293 kj |
| Protein | 17.2 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 22.1 g |
| Ash | 2.4 g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 10.3 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 30.0 mg |
| Iron, Fe | 0.83 mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 20.0 mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 189 mg |
| Potassium, K | 225 mg |
| Sodium, Na | 682 mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 1.3 mg |
| Copper, Cu | 0.51 mg |
| Manganese, Mn | 0.17 mg |
| Selenium, Se | 20.5 ug |
| Thiamin | 0.04 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.17 mg |
| Niacin | 4.5 mg |
| Pantothenic acid | 1.1 mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.21 mg |
| Vitamin B-12 | 0.45 ug |
| Retinol | 23.0 ug |
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 4.9 g |
| SFA 4:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 6:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 8:0 | 0.01 g |
| SFA 10:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 12:0 | 0.01 g |
| SFA 14:0 | 0.07 g |
| SFA 15:0 | 0.01 g |
| SFA 16:0 | 3.7 g |
| SFA 17:0 | 0.02 g |
| SFA 18:0 | 1.0 g |
| SFA 20:0 | 0.04 g |
| SFA 22:0 | 0.04 g |
| SFA 24:0 | 0.02 g |
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated | 7.7 g |
| MUFA 14:1 | 0.02 g |
| MUFA 15:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 16:1 | 0.83 g |
| MUFA 16:1 c | 0.83 g |
| MUFA 17:1 | 0.01 g |
| MUFA 18:1 | 6.7 g |
| MUFA 18:1 c | 6.6 g |
| MUFA 20:1 | 0.08 g |
| MUFA 22:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 22:1 c | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 24:1 c | 0.01 g |
| Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated | 7.7 g |
| PUFA 18:2 | 7.2 g |
| PUFA 18:2 n-6 c,c | 7.1 g |
| PUFA 18:2 CLAs | 0.03 g |
| PUFA 18:3 | 0.36 g |
| PUFA 18:3 n-3 c,c,c (ALA) | 0.34 g |
| PUFA 18:3 n-6 c,c,c | 0.02 g |
| PUFA 18:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:2 n-6 c,c | 0.02 g |
| PUFA 20:3 | 0.03 g |
| PUFA 20:3 n-3 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:3 n-6 | 0.03 g |
| PUFA 20:4 | 0.06 g |
| PUFA 20:5 n-3 (EPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:4 | 0.02 g |
| PUFA 22:5 n-3 (DPA) | 0.01 g |
| PUFA 22:6 n-3 (DHA) | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total trans | 0.14 g |
| Fatty acids, total trans-monoenoic | 0.07 g |
| TFA 16:1 t | 0.01 g |
| TFA 18:1 t | 0.06 g |
| TFA 22:1 t | 0.00 g |
| TFA 18:2 t not further defined | 0.07 g |
| Fatty acids, total trans-polyenoic | 0.07 g |
| Cholesterol | 91.0 mg |
| Tryptophan | 0.13 g |
| Threonine | 0.57 g |
| Isoleucine | 0.50 g |
| Leucine | 1.0 g |
| Lysine | 0.74 g |
| Methionine | 0.25 g |
| Cystine | 0.20 g |
| Phenylalanine | 0.66 g |
| Tyrosine | 0.53 g |
| Valine | 0.63 g |
| Arginine | 0.97 g |
| Histidine | 0.41 g |
| Alanine | 0.98 g |
| Aspartic acid | 1.2 g |
| Glutamic acid | 4.0 g |
| Glycine | 1.4 g |
| Proline | 1.4 g |
| Serine | 0.67 g |
| Hydroxyproline | 0.45 g |
FAQ
Is the 'Extra Crispy' coating different from the 'Original Recipe'?
Yes. The Extra Crispy chicken is double-dredged in the seasoned flour mixture before frying, creating a thicker, crunchier crust compared to the Original Recipe's single coating.
Why is the thigh meat juicier than the breast?
Thigh meat is dark meat with more fat and connective tissue. During cooking, this fat renders and bastes the meat, keeping it moist and flavorful, which is ideal for the high-heat frying method.
How much sodium is in a typical serving?
A single KFC Extra Crispy thigh can contain over 800mg of sodium, which is a significant portion of the daily recommended limit. The breading and seasoning are major contributors.