KFC didn't mess up, as they've kept their fried chicken recipe hidden for over 80 years, but it's possible that the Colonel's nephew might have just spilled the beans on exactly how the chicken is made.

The Chicago Tribune's Jay Jones had an interview with Joe Ledington, Colonel Sanders' nephew, and within the interview with Ledington, he casually handed Jones an old family scrapbook containing a list of 11 herbs and spices.

KFC's secret recipe revealed? Tribune shown family scrapbook with 11 herbs and spices https://t.co/k0ieLSbcPI pic.twitter.com/gg3NygwFqN

— Chicago Tribune (@chicagotribune) August 19, 2016

It all sounds silly, really.

Why would his nephew just willingly fork over one of the most precious and top secret recipes in the food world?

Jones said that while Ledington was excited to show him old family photos and tell him stories about Uncle Colonel Sanders, within these photo albums and scrapbooks was a handwritten note with a list of 11 herbs and spices.

When Jones asked if those were THE 11 herbs and spices, the very ones that have been kept under wraps for so long, Ledington didn't hesitate in confirming. Ledington even said when he was younger, he used to help blend those ingredients in the Colonel's garage.

What are those ingredients, exactly? According to the handwritten note, from a living relative of the man who created the recipe, they're:

1.   2/3 teaspoon of salt

2.   1/2 teaspoon of thyme

3.   1.2 teaspoon of basil

4.   1/2 teaspoon of oregano

5.   1 teaspoon of celery salt

6.   1 teaspoon of black pepper

7.   1 teaspoon of dried mustard

8.   4 teaspoons of paprika

9.   2 teaspoons of garlic salt

10.  1 teaspoon of ground ginger

11.  3 teaspoons of white pepper

Mixed with 2 cups of flour

KFC wouldn't confirm if that is the original recipe and just deflected, giving the Tribune a generic, "Everyone thinks they have the secret" type of response, but this isn't just any guy, or some YouTube reverse-engineer, it's the freakin' Colonel's nephew!

The Trib tried the recipe for themselves and said it was pretty spot-on.

This has to be legit. It's coming from family. KFC will never admit it, but the cat is out of the bag, and the world now knows how their chicken is made.