KFC Style Mashed Potato Bowl

Trying to duplicate fast food is easy, if you know the secrets.

Tender bites of spicy, boneless chicken on top of creamy, homemade mashed potatoes, corn (who doesn't mix their corn with mashed potatoes?), gravy and cheese.
I got the spices in the coating for the chicken right, but the gravy was another story. Most of the copycat recipes included a mixture of chicken and beef stock to make the gravy. One recipe just used a can of Campbell's Beef Gravy.
After doing a little more digging, someone posted a comment about this gravy. They had worked at KFC and knew the secret. Taken from a 1968 KFC Manual, the gravy consisted of  Powdered Chicken Gravy Mix and Cracklings (bits of flour and skin left over from cooking the chicken). Big secret huh?
Let's deal with the chicken first: 1-1/2 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breasts 1 cup buttermilk 2 cups flour 2 tsp. paprika 1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper 2 tsp. chili powder 2 tsp. garlic powder 2 tsp. onion powder 1/2 tsp. oregano 1/2 tsp. sage 1/2 tsp. thyme 2 tsp. salt 1 tsp. black pepper
Cut chicken into 1" cubes.  Pour buttermilk over chicken and let marinate at least 30 minutes. Combine flour and spices in a zip-lock or brown paper bag.
Heat about 1" of canola or peanut oil in a cast iron or heavy skillet over medium heat. Remove chicken from buttermilk and toss in flour mixture. Fry chicken pieces about 3-4 minutes on each side until cooked through and crisp. Drain on paper towel.

Cook up about 2-1/2 lbs. of mashed potatoes. 2 cups of whole kernel corn (canned or frozen) heated 1 cup grated cheddar cheese.
For the Cracklin Gravy:
2 Tbsp. oil (from pan drippings) 4 Tbsp. all-purpose flour 1 Tbsp. browned flour and cracklins from frying chicken 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth Salt and pepper to taste Pinch of sage
Heat oil over medium heat in a heavy duty skillet. Add flour and cook until golden.  Mixture will be thick.

Add cracklins and stir to combine.

Add chicken broth, bring to a boil and whisk until smooth. Lower to a simmer.   Add salt, pepper and sage to taste.
While Cracklin Gravy is simmering, whip up some biscuits.

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