Crispy Southern Fried Chicken Recipe for Soul-Warming Comfort
Crispy, golden fried chicken brings memories of Sunday gatherings around our family table.
Generations of home cooks have perfected this classic comfort dish through careful techniques and love.
Spices dance across tender meat, creating a symphony of flavors that make taste buds sing.
Marinating transforms ordinary poultry into an extraordinary meal everyone craves.
Southern kitchens have long celebrated this crowd-pleasing favorite with secret seasoning blends.
Perfect crunch and juicy interior await those ready to master this beloved recipe.
You won’t believe how simple creating restaurant-quality fried chicken can be with these foolproof steps.
What Makes This Fried Chicken Special
Ingredients for Fried Chicken Recipe
Chicken and Marinade:Seasoning:Flour Coating:Frying Elements:How to Fry Chicken Perfectly
Step 1: Marinate and Flavor the Chicken
Grab a large mixing bowl and create a zesty buttermilk bath for your chicken.
Pour in buttermilk, splash of hot sauce, sprinkle of salt, and crack of black pepper.
Submerge chicken pieces completely, ensuring every inch gets coated.
Cover and let the magic happen in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours or overnight for maximum flavor explosion.
Step 2: Create Magical Coating Mix
In a wide shallow dish, combine your dry ingredients to create the ultimate crispy armor:Whisk these ingredients together until they’re perfectly blended and ready to transform your chicken.
Step 3: Prepare Frying Station
Heat oil in a deep skillet or Dutch oven until it reaches a sizzling 350°F.
Pull chicken from its buttermilk bath, letting excess drip away.
Roll each piece generously in the seasoned flour mixture, pressing firmly to create a thick, crunchy coating.
Step 4: Rest and Set Coating
Place flour-coated chicken on a wire rack.
Let it sit for 15-20 minutes.
This crucial resting period helps the coating stick like a dream and ensures ultimate crispiness.
Step 5: Fry to Golden Perfection
Gently lower chicken pieces into hot oil, being careful not to overcrowd.
Fry for 12-15 minutes, turning occasionally.
Watch for a gorgeous golden-brown exterior and ensure internal temperature hits 165°F.
Use a slotted spoon to transfer crispy pieces onto paper towels to drain excess oil.
Step 6: Serve and Savor
Plate your magnificent fried chicken alongside classic Southern sides like creamy mashed potatoes, tangy coleslaw, or fluffy buttermilk biscuits.
Step 7: Spice It Up (Optional)
Craving extra heat?
Amp up the cayenne or splash additional hot sauce into your flour mixture for a fiery kick.
Key Tips for Crispy Fried Chicken
How to Store Fried Chicken Right
Pair With Fried Chicken
Fried Chicken Twists to Explore
FAQs
Buttermilk helps tenderize the chicken, making it juicier and more flavorful. The acidic nature breaks down proteins, creating a softer texture and enhancing overall taste.
All-purpose flour works best for this recipe. However, you can substitute with rice flour or cornstarch for a crispier coating, though traditional wheat flour provides the most classic texture.
Use a cooking thermometer to ensure the oil is exactly 350°F. If you don’t have one, drop a small piece of flour into the oil – if it sizzles immediately and rises to the top, the oil is ready for frying.
Let the coated chicken rest for 15-20 minutes before frying. This allows the flour to stick better and creates a crunchier exterior when fried.
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Fried Chicken Recipe
- Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes
- Yield: 6 1x
Description
Crispy, golden Fried Chicken elevates comfort food to an art form, blending Southern hospitality with irresistible flavor. Perfectly seasoned and crunchy, this classic dish promises a satisfying meal that brings friends and family together around the table.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients:
- 3–4 pounds (1.36–1.81 kilograms) chicken pieces (drumsticks, thighs, wings, or breast pieces)
- 2 cups (480 milliliters) buttermilk
- 2 cups (240 grams) all-purpose flour
- Vegetable oil for frying
Seasoning and Spices:
- 1 tablespoon hot sauce (optional)
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Salt and Pepper:
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Immerse chicken pieces in a zesty buttermilk bath infused with hot sauce, salt, and black pepper. Refrigerate for 4-8 hours to enhance flavor and tenderize meat.
- Create a robust seasoning blend by combining flour with paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne, salt, and black pepper in a wide container.
- Heat cooking oil to 350°F in a deep skillet, preparing for crispy transformation.
- Extract chicken from marinade, allowing excess liquid to drip away. Thoroughly coat each piece in the spiced flour mixture, pressing gently to ensure complete coverage.
- Position flour-dusted chicken on a wire rack for 15-20 minutes, enabling coating to set and adhere perfectly.
- Gently lower chicken pieces into hot oil, maintaining space between them. Fry for 12-15 minutes, rotating occasionally to achieve uniform golden-brown exterior.
- Monitor internal temperature, ensuring chicken reaches 165°F for safe consumption.
- Transfer fried pieces to paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil, allowing chicken to rest briefly.
- Plate alongside classic accompaniments like creamy mashed potatoes or tangy coleslaw.
- For adventurous palates, amplify heat by increasing cayenne or incorporating additional hot sauce into flour mixture.
Notes
- Use boneless chicken for quicker cooking and easier eating, perfect for those who prefer convenience.
- Buttermilk is the secret weapon for tenderizing meat, creating incredibly juicy and flavorful chicken every single time.
- Let chicken come to room temperature before frying to ensure even cooking and prevent cold spots in the meat.
- Pat chicken completely dry before dredging to help the flour coating stick better and create a crispier exterior.
- Double-dredge chicken by dipping back into buttermilk and flour for an extra thick, crunchy coating that stays crisp longer.
- Opt for neutral oils like vegetable or peanut oil with high smoke points to prevent burning during deep-frying.
- Monitor oil temperature carefully; consistent 350°F ensures crispy exterior without greasy or undercooked chicken.
- Prep Time: 4 hours (or overnight)
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 37g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 24g
- Cholesterol: 100mg
Olivia Bennett
Recipe Developer & Culinary Educator
Expertise
Education
Schoolcraft College
With an Associate Degree in Culinary Arts from Schoolcraft College and a natural knack for teaching, Olivia Bennett’s all about making home cooking feel possible, even on your busiest day.
Her thing? Recipes that are budget-friendly, season-forward, and full of Southern warmth. Whether it’s a roasted veggie bowl or a five-ingredient skillet bake, Olivia makes sure it’s simple, satisfying, and something you’ll want to make again tomorrow.
When she’s not shooting step-by-step videos or testing spice blends, she’s out foraging, flipping through old cookbooks, or throwing laid-back dinner parties with a BYO-mason-jar theme.