Ohhh yes 🍗🔥 Fried Chicken—crispy, golden, juicy inside, and the ultimate comfort food. Here’s a classic, foolproof recipe that gives you that perfect crunch and flavor.
🍗 Classic Fried Chicken
Ingredients (serves 4–6)
For the chicken:
- 2–3 lbs (900–1,400 g) bone-in chicken pieces (legs, thighs, breasts, wings)
- 2 cups buttermilk
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
For the coating:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper (optional for heat)
- Salt & pepper, to taste
For frying:
- Vegetable oil or peanut oil, for deep frying
Instructions
1️⃣ Marinate chicken
- In a large bowl, combine chicken with buttermilk, 1 tsp salt, and 1 tsp pepper.
- Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours, preferably overnight for maximum juiciness.
2️⃣ Prep coating
- In a shallow dish, mix flour, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne, salt, and pepper.
3️⃣ Coat chicken
- Remove chicken from buttermilk, letting excess drip off.
- Dredge chicken in flour mixture, pressing lightly to adhere.
- Optional: double-dip for extra crispy crust—dip back in buttermilk and then flour again.
4️⃣ Fry chicken
- Heat oil in a deep skillet or Dutch oven to 350°F (175°C). Enough oil to submerge at least half the chicken pieces.
- Fry chicken in batches, 12–15 min for thighs/drumsticks, 8–10 min for wings/breasts, turning occasionally until golden brown and cooked through (internal temp 165°F / 74°C).
- Drain on a wire rack or paper towels.
5️⃣ Serve
- Let rest 5 min, then serve hot with your favorite sides—mashed potatoes, coleslaw, or cornbread.
Pro Tips
- Crispy crust: keep oil at steady temperature; too hot burns crust, too low makes it greasy.
- Juicy meat: marinating in buttermilk tenderizes chicken.
- Extra flavor: add smoked paprika or dried herbs to flour mix.
- Make ahead: fry chicken partially, finish in oven at 350°F (175°C) for 10–15 min when ready to serve.
I can also give a “ultra-crispy, double-coated Southern fried chicken” version that stays crunchy for hours and has a perfectly seasoned crust 😏.
Do you want me to do that?
