Description
Southern Fried Chicken delivers crispy, golden comfort straight from Grandma’s kitchen to your dinner plate. Perfectly seasoned, this classic Southern recipe brings home-cooked happiness with each crunchy, juicy bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 4 pound chicken
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 quarts vegetable oil
Supporting Ingredients:
- 1 cup buttermilk
Seasoning:
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- salt
- pepper
Instructions
- Strip excess skin from your chicken pieces, ensuring a clean surface for seasoning.
- Mix 2 cups of all-purpose flour with 1 tsp paprika, 1 tsp salt, and ½ tsp black pepper inside a large plastic bag.
- Pour 1 cup of buttermilk into a shallow bowl and submerge each chicken piece completely.
- Transfer buttermilk-coated chicken directly into seasoned flour bag, seal, and shake until every surface is evenly covered.
- Let coated chicken rest on a wire rack for 10 minutes, allowing flour to transform into a slightly tacky coating.
- Heat 2 quarts of vegetable oil in a large cast-iron skillet to 350°F, checking temperature with a cooking thermometer.
- Carefully place 3-4 chicken pieces into hot oil, maintaining a consistent temperature between 325-350°F.
- Fry chicken for 12-15 minutes, turning once, until golden brown and internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Transfer fried chicken to a paper towel-lined baking sheet to drain excess oil.
- Keep first batches warm in a 200°F oven while completing subsequent frying rounds.
- Allow chicken to rest 5-10 minutes before serving to help juices redistribute and maintain crispiness.
Notes
- Let the chicken sit in the seasoned flour for 15-20 minutes to develop a thick, crispy coating that adheres perfectly.
- Use a cast-iron skillet for even heat distribution and that classic golden-brown crust that makes fried chicken irresistible.
- Check oil temperature with a thermometer to ensure it’s around 350°F, preventing greasy or undercooked chicken.
- For a gluten-free version, swap wheat flour with rice flour or cornstarch for an equally crispy exterior.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Fried
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4 to 6
- Calories: 680 kcal
- Sugar: 0 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 40 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 25 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 50 g
- Cholesterol: 130 mg