Southern Fried Chicken Recipe
Pieces
Make your own juicy and crispy homemade Southern fried chicken with just a few easy steps and ingredients. It tastes just the way mom made it!
Pieces
Ingredients
- 12 pieces chicken thighs and drumsticks
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon coarse black pepper
- 2 teaspoon coarse sea salt
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 ½ cups buttermilk
- Vegetable Oil for frying
Instructions
- Heat at least 3” of oil in a Dutch oven or deep cast iron skillet until it reaches 350°F. You want the oil deep enough to cover as much of the chicken as possible. Submerging the chicken all the way in the oil will produce the most even cooking.
- Prepare a dredging station to batter the chicken while the oil is heating. In one bowl, pour the buttermilk. In a second bowl, mix together smoked paprika, black pepper, sea salt, onion powder, and flour. Whisk until combined evenly.
- Batter the chicken pieces by dipping them first into the flour mixture, then into the buttermilk mixture, and one more time into the flour mixture. Set the battered chicken on a separate plate.
- When the oil has reached 350°F, place several pieces of battered chicken into the oil. Cook for approximately 12 minutes, turning once halfway through cooking if the chicken is not fully submerged in the oil. Cook until the chicken is deep golden brown and the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Lift the chicken from the oil with a slotted spoon and place on a paper bag or paper towels to soak up the excess oil. Continue cooking the chicken in batches.
- Serve hot.
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Notes
- If you like being adventurous, add spices and seasoning to the tenderizing buttermilk. I know some people like to add their chili powders and sauces into the buttermilk to intensify and change the flavor.
- Another method to finish cooking your chicken is to transfer it to the oven after browning it in the oil. This method works well if you are cooking thicker pieces such as chicken breast. However, should you want to only fry the chicken breasts, remember they will take a little longer to cook through because of their thickness.
- Juicy, delicious drumsticks and wings are my favorite parts of the chicken, plus they are extremely budget-friendly and both cuts of meat cook for the same amount of time. You could also fry similar-sized chicken pieces together because of the cooking time factor.
- There are different methods to drain your fried chicken pieces including draining on brown paper, paper towels, parchment paper, waxed paper, or on a wire rack. It’s really up to you and what you have available.
- If you don't have a Dutch oven, use a cast iron skillet that's deep enough to submerge the chicken pieces in oil.
Nutrition
Calories: 258kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 11g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 4mg | Sodium: 420mg | Potassium: 72mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 134IU | Vitamin C: 0.04mg | Calcium: 39mg | Iron: 1mg
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