Description
Copycat Fried Chicken brings southern comfort right to your kitchen with crispy, golden perfection that rivals any restaurant’s signature recipe. Grab some buttermilk, seasonings, and your favorite skillet to recreate this classic crowd-pleaser that’ll have everyone asking for seconds.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 cup buttermilk
Seasoning Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon hot sauce
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
Cooking Ingredients:
- Vegetable oil for frying
Instructions
- Submerge 4 chicken breasts in 1 cup buttermilk mixed with 1 teaspoon hot sauce. Seal the bowl and refrigerate for 60 minutes to infuse deep flavor.
- Combine 1 ½ cups flour with 1 tablespoon paprika, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper, and ½ teaspoon cayenne in a wide container.
- Remove chicken from buttermilk, letting excess liquid cascade off. Press each piece firmly into seasoned flour mixture, ensuring complete and even coating.
- Pour ½ inch vegetable oil into a large skillet. Heat to 350°F, watching carefully to maintain consistent temperature without smoking.
- Gently slide coated chicken into hot oil, spacing pieces to prevent overcrowding. Fry first side for 5-6 minutes until deep golden brown.
- Flip chicken and cook opposite side for another 5-6 minutes. Confirm internal temperature reaches 165°F using a meat thermometer.
- Transfer chicken to paper towel-lined plate, allowing excess oil to drain for 2-3 minutes before serving. Sprinkle with extra salt if desired.
Notes
- Marinate the chicken overnight for maximum flavor and tenderness, ensuring the buttermilk thoroughly penetrates the meat.
- Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature, which guarantees perfectly cooked chicken without drying out the meat.
- Let the coated chicken rest for 5-10 minutes before frying to help the breading adhere better and create a crispier exterior.
- For a gluten-free version, replace all-purpose flour with cornstarch or a gluten-free flour blend, which can create an equally crispy coating.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10-14 minutes
- Category: Fried
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 460 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 40 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg