Description
Classic Southern-style fried chicken where juicy, tender chicken gets a flavorful buttermilk marinade, then coated in a seasoned flour mix and fried to golden, crispy perfection.
Ingredients
Chicken pieces (drumsticks, thighs, wings, breasts), bone-in, skin-on
Buttermilk
Kosher salt & freshly ground black pepper
Garlic powder, onion powder
Paprika (smoked or sweet)
Cayenne pepper (optional, for heat)
All-purpose flour
Baking powder (optional – boosts crispiness)
Oil for frying (peanut, canola, or sunflower)
Instructions
- Marinate: In a bowl or sealable bag, whisk buttermilk with salt, pepper, paprika, garlic and onion powder, and chili if using. Submerge chicken, refrigerate for at least 2 hours or ideally overnight.
- Prepare coating: Combine flour, seasoning (salt, pepper, garlic/onion powders, paprika, cayenne), and baking powder.
- Dredge chicken: Remove chicken from marinade, let excess drip off. Press each piece into flour mixture until well-coated.
- Rest: Place coated chicken on a rack for 30 minutes to help the breading adhere.
- Heat oil: Warm about 1″ of oil in a heavy pan or skillet to 350°F (175°C).
- Fry: In batches, fry chicken turning once until golden and the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Total cooking takes ~15–18 minutes (10 min per side).
- Drain: Transfer to a rack over a baking sheet—this keeps the crust crisp (avoid paper towels).
- Rest & serve: Let chicken rest 5–10 minutes, then serve warm.
Notes
- Spicy Nashville-style: Add extra cayenne to both marinade and coating.
- Herbed version: Stir chopped fresh herbs (thyme, rosemary) into buttermilk.
- Gluten-free: Swap flour for GF flour blend + cornstarch.
- Oven-fried: After dredging, bake at 425°F for 30–35 minutes until crispy and cooked through.
- Prep Time: 15–20 minutes (plus marinating)
- Cook Time: 15–20 minutes per batch
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Southern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 piece of chicken
- Calories: Approx. 350–450 per piece
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 650mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 75mg
