If you are looking for chicken that is crisp on the outside, juicy on the inside, and full of flavor, you have to try this Best Fried Chicken Recipe. It’s everything good fried chicken should be.
The Crispiest Chicken Ever
One of the most popular chicken dishes is fried chicken. There are so many recipes out there and I’ve tried A LOT. This is the one that I swear by. There is just the right amount of seasoning in every step including the marinade and batter. It crisps up perfectly while leaving the chicken inside moist and tender.
Watch The Recipe Video!
Buttermilk is key, hands down. It helps tenderize the chicken. This is the most important step when making crispy chicken that doesn’t dry out and isn’t tough to chew. Marinating it as long as possible will give you the best result!
What You’ll Need
These are all of the ingredients needed for the marinade and batter to make the best fried chicken! Seasoning the flour mixture is going to give you the flavor on the outside while the marinade infuses flavor on the inside.
For the Marinade:
- Bone-In Chicken: Dark meat is my go-to for this recipe (legs and thighs) but you can also use wings or even chicken breasts. Checking the fried chicken with a thermometer is going to be extra important since chicken breasts are larger and thicker.
- Buttermilk: The most important ingredient, in my opinion.
- Hot Sauce: This adds flavor and a little kick to the chicken.
- Egg
For the Batter:
- Flour: All-purpose flour is best for this recipe.
- Cornstarch
- Seasonings – salt, black pepper, poultry seasoning, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, mustard powder, cayenne and ground ginger.
Instructions on How to Make Fried Chicken
If you aren’t familiar with frying chicken, here are the step-by-step instructions to successfully make this fried chicken recipe.
- Make the Marinade. Whisk buttermilk, hot sauce, and egg in a large bowl. Add the chicken and toss to evenly coat. Cover and place in the refrigerator to marinate for a minimum of 2 hours or a maximum of 24 hours.
- Mix the Batter. Once the chicken is finished marinating, mix flour, cornstarch, and all of your seasonings in a large bowl.
- Heat Oil. Either in a heavy bottom pot or a deep fryer, heat your oil. Make sure the temperature reaches 350 degrees F.
- Add Chicken to the Batter. While the oil is heating up, take your pieces of chicken out of the marinade, shake off the excess, and evenly coat in the flour mixture.
- Fry. Gently place 3-4 pieces of chicken into the hot oil and cook for about 8-12 minutes. They should be crispy, and golden, and have an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees F.
- Transfer to Cooling Rack. Once they are done, remove the fried chicken and transfer it to a cooling rack. It should have a parchment-lined baking sheet underneath to catch any excess oil.
- Repeat the Process. Repeat this until all of the chicken has been fried.
- Serve. Enjoy hot with your favorite side dish!
Tips and Tricks For Fried Chicken
I have made fried chicken more times than I can count! Here are some tricks that I’ve learned along the way.
- Do not overcrowd the pan. If you try to cook too many pieces at once, they will not fry evenly which will result in soggy spots on the breading.
- Don’t skip the cornstarch in the chicken batter. If you want the crispiest chicken, cornstarch, and flour are the winning combination.
- Make sure to tap off the excess buttermilk mixture and the excess flour before frying the chicken. This will help to prevent the crunchy coating from falling off while it’s cooking.
- Only flip your chicken one time. If you touch the chicken too much while it’s frying, the pieces will not cook evenly and it will also cause the breading to fall off.
What Goes With Fried Chicken?
Here are some suggestions for the best side dishes to serve with fried chicken.
- Coleslaw: A classic and easy side dish to make with fried chicken is coleslaw. Try our KFC copycat Coleslaw recipe!
- Biscuits: Honey Butter Biscuits pair wonderfully with this fried chicken recipe.
- Potatoes: Mashed potatoes and gravy are another common and delicious side dish for chicken. To switch things up, you can also try Mashed Sweet Potatoes.
How to Store and Reheat Leftovers
Leftover fried chicken can be stored in an airtight container or a zip-top bag. It will stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Reheat in the oven or the air fryer at 375 F until heated through. It should take about 8-10 minutes.
More Fried Recipes to Try
Best Fried Chicken (Crispy and Juicy)
Ingredients
- 5 Pounds Bone-In Chicken Legs, Wings, Thighs
For the Marinade
- 2 Cups Buttermilk
- 3 Tablespoons Hot Sauce
- 1 Egg
For the Batter
- 3 Cups All-Purpose Flour
- 1 Cup Corn Starch
- 1 Tablespoon Salt
- 1 Tablespoon Black Pepper
- 1 Tablespoon Poultry Seasoning
- 2 Teaspoons Paprika
- 1 Teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 1 Teaspoon Onion Powder
- 1 Teaspoon Mustard Powder
- 1/2 Teaspoon Teaspoon Cayenne
- 1 Teaspoon Ground Ginger
For Frying
- 1 Quart Vegetable Oil or Peanut Oil
- Candy Thermometer
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk the buttermilk, hot sauce and egg. Add the chicken and mix together.
- Cover and marinate in the fridge for at least 2 hours or up to 24 hours.
- In a medium sized bowl, whisk together the batter ingredients.
- Heat the oil in a heavy bottom pan, or deep fryer to 350°F
- While the oil is heating, working with one piece of chicken at a time, remove from the marinade and shake off any excess liquid. Place the chicken in the breading mixture and coat completely.
- Carefully add the battered chicken to the heated oil 3 or 4 pieces at a time. The oil will drop in temperature when the chicken is added, adjust the heat as necessary.
- Fry the chicken for 8-12 minutes or until golden and crispy and a internal temperature reads 165°F.
- Transfer the fried chicken to a baking sheet prepared with parchment paper and a cooking rack.
- Repeat with the rest of the chicken. (the chicken can be kept warm by placing in the oven at its lowest temperature on the baking sheet)
- Serve hot with coleslaw, biscuits, mashed potatoes and gravy. Enjoy!
Last Step:
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Reheat in the oven or airfryer at 375°F until heated through out.
Bone-in chicken breast can be used in the recipe as well.
Nutrition
