Main Dishes

Making Jollibee Fried Chicken and Spaghetti | But Better

It’s going to be a JOY to take on Jollibee with the perfect homemade fried chicken.

Prep
1 hour
Cook
45 minutes
Total
1 hour, 45 minutes
Serves
4
people
Making Jollibee Fried Chicken and Spaghetti | But Better
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Ingredients

Gravy:

  • 10 cloves garlic, peeled
  • 1 cup (240ml) vegetable oil
  • 2 Tbsp (28g) unsalted butter
  • 2 Tbsp (28g) chicken fat or vegetable oil 
  • 4 Tbsp (43g) all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups (480ml) chicken stock
  • 1-2 Tbsp (29g) Silver Swan soy sauce
  • Kosher salt, to taste 
  • ½ tsp (3g) MSG, optional 

Spaghetti:

  • 2-3 Tbsp (29-44ml) vegetable oil
  • 8 oz (250g) smoked ham, diced 
  • 5 homemade or store bought hot dogs, sliced into ½” (12mm) rounds
  • 5 cloves garlic, finely chopped 
  • ½ cup (120g) tomato paste
  • 1.5 cup (350ml) chicken stock
  • 28 oz (793g) can of crushed tomatoes
  • ¼ cup (24g) granulated sugar
  • Kosher salt, to taste
  • 1lb (453g) dried spaghetti
  • Grated cheddar cheese for garnish

Chicken Marinade:

  • 2 cups (480ml) buttermilk
  • 2 tsp (5g) garlic powder
  • 1 tsp (2g) ground white pepper
  • 1 tsp (0.5g) ground coriander
  • 2.5 Tbsp (36g) Silver Swan soy sauce
  • Pinch of MSG, optional
  • 4 chicken drumsticks
  • 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs

Fried Chicken:

  • 2 cups (375g) all-purpose flour
  • 1.5 Tbsp (14g) kosher salt
  • 2 tsp (12g) MSG
  • 1 tsp (1g) ground coriander 
  • 2 tsp (8g) garlic powder
  • 1 tsp (4g) ground white pepper
  • ¼ tsp (1g) onion powder
  • 1 tsp (1g) ground ginger
  • 3.5 quarts (3.3L) vegetable oil

Directions

Gravy:

  1. In a medium saucepan over medium heat add the garlic cloves and vegetable oil. Heat until the oil is at a bare simmer and cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until the garlic turns golden brown and softens.
  2. Carefully pour the oil through a fine mesh strainer into a bowl. Let the oil cool and then safe in an airtight container for another use. 
  3. Place the garlic cloves on a cutting board and use the flat side of your knife to schmear the garlic against the board. Chop the garlic until it becomes a paste and set aside. 
  4. In a separate saucepan over medium heat add the butter and chicken fat or vegetable oil. Let the butter melt and then whisk in the flour to form a roux. Cook for 45 seconds, whisking occasionally, until the roux thickens and the flour cooks. While whisking, pour in the chicken stock, and continue whisking until the sauce thickens into a gravy consistency. Remove from heat. 
  5. Season the gravy with the soy sauce, garlic paste, salt to taste and MSG, if using. Pass your gravy through a fine mesh strainer and keep warm until ready to serve.

Spaghetti:

  1. In a 4 quart (3.7L) saucepan over medium heat, add enough vegetable oil to coat the bottom of the pan. Once the oil is hot add the ham and hot dogs and cook, stirring occasionally, until the meat starts to brown. 
  2. Lower the heat to medium and stir in the garlic. Cook for about 30 seconds, or until fragrant.  
  3. Stir in the tomato paste and cook until it softens, coats the ham and hot dogs and begins caramelize on the bottom of the pan, about 1 minute. 
  4. Stir in the chicken stock, crushed tomatoes and sugar until combined. Bring the sauce to a boil, reduce to a simmer and let simmer for 15 minutes or until slightly thickened. Season with salt to taste. 
  5. When ready to serve, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta to al dente, drain and serve with the tomato sauce and grated cheddar cheese to garnish. 

Marinade:

  1. In a large bowl whisk together the buttermilk, garlic powder, white pepper, coriander, soy sauce, and MSG, if using. 
  2. Add the chicken drumsticks and thighs and toss to coat in the marinade. Marinate for at least 5 minutes, but ideally in the fridge overnight. 

Fried Chicken:

  1. In a large bowl whisk together the flour, salt, MSG, coriander, garlic powder, white pepper, onion powder and ground ginger until evenly combined. 
  2. For the best texture on your fried chicken, dip your hand into the marinade and flick the marinade into the flour mixture and toss to coat. Repeat this 2-3 more times until you see balls of flour dispersed throughout. 
  3. Have a baking sheet dusted with flour next to your marinated chicken and flour dredge bowl. Remove a piece of chicken from the marinade and place in the flour dredge. Press the flour all over the chicken, making sure it gets under the skin and in all the crevices of the chicken. Remove, shaking off any excess flour, and place on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with the rest of the chicken pieces. 
  4. Fill a 7-8 quart (6.6-7.5L) heavy bottomed pot just over halfway with oil. Heat to 350℉ (175℃). Line a baking sheet with a cooling rack and place that next to the hot oil.
  5. Fry your chicken, in batches, for 8-10 minutes or until the chicken is golden brown and crispy on the outside and the internal temperature reads 165℉ (74℃). Remove and drain on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining pieces of chicken, making sure to allow the oil to come back to temperature before adding the next batch. 
  6. Add a chicken thigh and drumstick to a plate with the spaghetti, topped with sauce and grated cheddar cheese, as well as the gravy. Serve.