Description
Southern Fried Chicken delivers crispy, golden happiness straight from your kitchen skillet. Seasoned, battered, and fried to perfection, this classic comfort dish guarantees smiles around your dinner table.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 4 chicken thighs
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 4 cups vegetable oil
Liquid Components:
- 2 cups buttermilk
- 1 large egg
Seasonings:
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 2 teaspoons black pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
Instructions
- Rinse your chicken thighs under cold water, then thoroughly pat them dry using paper towels to ensure a crispy exterior.
- Whisk 1 large egg into 2 cups buttermilk in a medium bowl until completely blended.
- Submerge the chicken thighs in the buttermilk mixture, then refrigerate for 4-6 hours to tenderize and infuse flavor.
- Mix 2 cups all-purpose flour with 1 tbsp salt, 2 tsp black pepper, 1 tsp paprika, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp onion powder, and ½ tsp cayenne pepper in a large shallow dish.
- Lift each chicken thigh from the buttermilk, letting excess liquid drip away.
- Press each thigh into the seasoned flour, ensuring every inch gets an even, thick coating.
- Pour 4 cups vegetable oil into a deep heavy-bottomed skillet and heat to exactly 350°F.
- Gently place coated chicken thighs into the hot oil, keeping them from touching each other.
- Fry the chicken for 12-15 minutes at 350°F, flipping once midway to achieve an even golden-brown crust.
- Check that internal temperature reaches 165°F using a meat thermometer.
- Transfer chicken to a wire rack lined with paper towels to drain excess oil.
- Allow chicken to rest for 5-10 minutes so the juices redistribute, creating a more tender result.
Notes
- Pat chicken completely dry before marinating to ensure a super crispy exterior that won’t become soggy.
- Let chicken sit at room temperature for 30 minutes after marinating to help it cook more evenly and prevent cold spots.
- Use a cast-iron skillet for the most consistent heat distribution and crunchiest coating, which helps create that perfect golden-brown crust.
- Check oil temperature with a thermometer to guarantee crispy chicken that doesn’t absorb too much oil or become greasy.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12-15 minutes
- Category: Fried
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 670 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 900 mg
- Fat: 45 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 33 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 130 mg