KFC, Fried Chicken, ORIGINAL RECIPE, Drumstick, meat and skin with breading
Whole food · Fast Foods
Photo: Wikipedia
This is the iconic KFC Original Recipe drumstick, a single, bone-in piece of chicken leg coated in Colonel Sanders' secret blend of 11 herbs and spices and pressure-fried to golden perfection. The skin is shatteringly crisp and savory, giving way to tender, juicy meat that pulls cleanly from the bone. Nutritionally, it's a protein-dense option, with over 22 grams of protein per 100 grams, though the breading and frying add significant fat.
Calorie split: 37% protein · 9% carbs · 54% fat
↓ Full nutrition💚 Why it's loved
People love it for the unmistakable, savory crunch of the seasoned breading and the juicy, flavorful meat underneath—a taste deeply tied to American fast-food culture and comfort. Its versatility as a handheld snack, part of a meal, or even cold from the fridge makes it a perennial favorite.
⚠️ Watch-outs & how to enjoy it better
The deep-frying process makes it high in fat and calories, and the breading can be high in sodium, which may concern those monitoring heart health or blood pressure. To counteract, pair it with a fiber-rich side like coleslaw or green beans, practice portion control by choosing one drumstick, and drink water to help manage sodium intake.
Key benefits
- High-quality complete protein source
- Rich in B vitamins like niacin and B6
- Provides minerals like selenium and phosphorus
- Convenient, ready-to-eat protein
- Satisfying combination of fat and protein
🍽️ Popular dishes
🌍 Where it's eaten
💡 Did you know?
The Original Recipe's 11 herbs and spices are famously known only to two people at any given time, and the spice blend is said to be mixed in a secure room at KFC's headquarters in Louisville, Kentucky.
Full nutrition (USDA data · scales with serving)
| Water | 55.6 g |
| Energy | 239 kcal |
| Energy | 999 kj |
| Protein | 22.3 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 14.2 g |
| Ash | 2.5 g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 5.4 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 29.0 mg |
| Iron, Fe | 0.97 mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 23.0 mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 211 mg |
| Potassium, K | 250 mg |
| Sodium, Na | 625 mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 2.0 mg |
| Copper, Cu | 0.08 mg |
| Manganese, Mn | 0.14 mg |
| Selenium, Se | 25.5 ug |
| Thiamin | 0.04 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.21 mg |
| Niacin | 5.0 mg |
| Pantothenic acid | 1.2 mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.22 mg |
| Vitamin B-12 | 0.54 ug |
| Retinol | 22.0 ug |
Fat & fatty acid profile (per 100g)
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 3.2 g |
| SFA 4:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 6:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 8:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 10:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 12:0 | 0.01 g |
| SFA 14:0 | 0.05 g |
| SFA 15:0 | 0.01 g |
| SFA 16:0 | 2.4 g |
| SFA 17:0 | 0.01 g |
| SFA 18:0 | 0.68 g |
| SFA 20:0 | 0.02 g |
| SFA 22:0 | 0.02 g |
| SFA 24:0 | 0.01 g |
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated | 5.1 g |
| MUFA 14:1 | 0.02 g |
| MUFA 15:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 16:1 | 0.67 g |
| MUFA 16:1 c | 0.66 g |
| MUFA 17:1 | 0.01 g |
| MUFA 18:1 | 4.4 g |
| MUFA 18:1 c | 4.3 g |
| MUFA 20:1 | 0.05 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 | 4.3 g |
| PUFA 18:2 | 3.9 g |
| PUFA 18:2 n-6 c,c | 3.9 g |
| PUFA 18:2 CLAs | 0.01 g |
| PUFA 18:3 | 0.19 g |
| PUFA 18:3 n-3 c,c,c (ALA) | 0.18 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 | 0.01 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 | 0.08 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 | 0.08 g |
| Fatty acids, total trans-monoenoic | 0.04 g |
| TFA 16:1 t | 0.00 g |
| TFA 18:1 t | 0.04 g |
| TFA 22:1 t | 0.00 g |
| TFA 18:2 t not further defined | 0.04 g |
| Fatty acids, total trans-polyenoic | 0.04 g |
| Cholesterol | 117 mg |
Amino acid profile (per 100g)
| Tryptophan | 0.17 g |
| Threonine | 0.73 g |
| Isoleucine | 0.65 g |
| Leucine | 1.3 g |
| Lysine | 0.96 g |
| Methionine | 0.32 g |
| Cystine | 0.26 g |
| Phenylalanine | 0.84 g |
| Tyrosine | 0.68 g |
| Valine | 0.80 g |
| Arginine | 1.2 g |
| Histidine | 0.53 g |
| Alanine | 1.3 g |
| Aspartic acid | 1.5 g |
| Glutamic acid | 5.2 g |
| Glycine | 1.9 g |
| Proline | 1.8 g |
| Serine | 0.86 g |
| Hydroxyproline | 0.60 g |
FAQ
How is KFC Original Recipe chicken cooked?
It is pressure-fried, a method that cooks the chicken quickly in oil while sealing in moisture, which is key to its distinctive juicy texture and flavor.
Is the skin the main source of fat and calories?
Yes, the skin and the breading absorb most of the frying oil, contributing the majority of the fat and calories. Removing the skin significantly reduces both.
What makes the breading crispy?
The crispiness comes from a combination of the seasoned flour coating and the pressure-frying process, which rapidly dehydrates the surface to create a crunchy texture.
Nutrient density (calculated · NRF9.3)
Nutrient Rich Foods index: beneficial nutrients (protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals) minus saturated fat, added sugar & sodium, per 100 kcal.
NRF9.3 index — Fulgoni, Keast & Drewnowski, 2009. Computed from USDA nutrients.
Weight-loss friendliness (composite index)
Energy density 2.39 kcal/g · 37% calories from protein · 0.0 g fiber · 0.0 g sugar per 100 g.
Composite of energy density (Rolls et al., 1999), protein & fiber satiety, minus sugar. A calculated heuristic — ranks satiety-per-calorie, not a clinical measure.
Dietary load (calculated from USDA values)
Potential renal acid load. Positive = acid-forming, negative = alkaline-forming.
Sodium-to-potassium ratio: 2.50 (lower is better — aim for ≤ 1)
Sodium:potassium per WHO potassium guidance. Computed from USDA nutrients.