Description
Crispy fried chicken is a Southern favorite, featuring a crunchy, golden coating and juicy, tender meat. Perfect for family dinners or gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4–6 pieces of chicken (legs, thighs, breasts, or wings)
- 2 cups buttermilk
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
- 4 cups vegetable oil (for frying)
Instructions
- Marinate the chicken by placing it in a bowl and pouring the buttermilk over it. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or overnight for deeper flavor.
- Prepare the dredging coating by combining flour, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and cayenne in a bowl.
- Coat the marinated chicken pieces by dredging them in the seasoned flour mixture. Press the flour onto the chicken to create a thick coating and shake off excess flour.
- Heat the vegetable oil in a deep skillet or frying pot over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot (a pinch of flour sizzles), carefully add the chicken pieces, frying in batches to avoid overcrowding.
- Fry the chicken for 12-15 minutes, turning occasionally, until golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 165°F (75°C). Remove and drain excess oil on a wire rack or paper towels.
Notes
- If you don’t have buttermilk, substitute with 2 cups of milk and 2 tablespoons of vinegar or lemon juice.
- For a gluten-free option, use a gluten-free all-purpose flour blend.
- Make sure not to overcrowd the pan to maintain oil temperature and ensure crispy chicken.
- Use a cooking thermometer to check the oil temperature for perfect frying.
- Let the chicken rest after frying to redistribute juices for better flavor.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 piece (about 100g)
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 0g
- Sodium: 700mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 15g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
Keywords: crispy fried chicken, southern fried chicken, fried chicken recipe, golden fried chicken, easy fried chicken