southern fried chicken
Southern Fried Chicken is the crispy, golden dish that captures the comfort and soul of real home cooking. Tender from a buttermilk marinade and fried to crunchy perfection, it's a timeless favorite that brings people together over honest flavor.
Equipment
- Deep Fryer or Heavy Pot
- Wire Rack or Plate
- Tongs
Ingredients
Chicken
- 1 whole chicken cut into pieces
Seasoning & Marinade
- 2 tsp salt plus extra for sprinkling
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 2 cups buttermilk
- 1 tbsp hot sauce optional
Coating
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup cornstarch
- 1 tsp paprika
Frying
- peanut oil for deep frying
- flaked salt optional, for garnish
Instructions
- Season chicken pieces with salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and pepper in a large bowl.
- Add buttermilk and hot sauce. Stir to coat and marinate in the fridge for at least 2 hours or overnight.
- In a separate bowl, whisk flour, cornstarch, paprika, salt, and black pepper.
- Remove chicken from buttermilk, let excess drip, then coat in flour mixture. Shake off excess. Rest on a rack for 10 minutes.
- Heat peanut oil to 325°F in a deep fryer or heavy pot.
- Fry chicken in batches until golden brown and internal temp reaches 165°F. Turn occasionally for even cooking.
- Drain on paper towels. Sprinkle with flaked salt while hot, if desired.
Notes
Resting the dredged chicken before frying helps the crust stick better and results in an even crunch. Don’t skip the overnight marination — it makes all the difference!
Nutrition
Calories: 520kcalCarbohydrates: 18gProtein: 35gFat: 32gSaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 125mgSodium: 950mgPotassium: 400mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2gVitamin A: 420IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 60mgIron: 2.5mg
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