Description

This crispy fried chicken is everything you want – golden, crunchy crust on the outside and juicy, flavorful chicken inside. It’s seasoned to perfection, fried to crispiness, and ideal for dinners, potlucks, or weekend treats. Serve it hot with your favorite sides!

Ingredients

Units Scale

For the Chicken:

3 lbs chicken pieces (drumsticks, thighs, breasts, or wings)

2 cups buttermilk

1 tsp hot sauce (optional)

Salt and pepper, to taste

For the Flour Dredge:

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup cornstarch (for extra crunch)

2 tsp salt

1 tsp black pepper

1 tsp paprika

1/2 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp onion powder

1/2 tsp cayenne pepper (optional for heat)

For Frying:

Vegetable oil, for deep frying (like canola or peanut oil)

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Instructions

Marinate the chicken:
In a large bowl or zip-top bag, mix buttermilk, hot sauce (if using), salt, and pepper. Add chicken, making sure it’s fully coated. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight.
Prepare the flour coating:
In a shallow dish, mix flour, cornstarch, salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne. Dredge each piece of chicken in the flour mix, pressing to coat well. Let it rest on a rack or tray for 15–20 minutes (this helps the coating stick better).
Heat the oil:
In a large heavy-bottomed pot or deep fryer, heat oil to 325–350°F (165–175°C). Use a thermometer for accuracy.
Fry the chicken:
Carefully lower a few pieces of chicken into the hot oil. Fry in batches (don’t overcrowd the pot) for about 12–15 minutes for dark meat and 8–10 minutes for white meat, or until golden brown and internal temp reaches 165°F (74°C).
Drain and rest:
Remove chicken from oil and let drain on a wire rack over a baking sheet. Sprinkle with a little extra salt while hot, if desired.

Serve:
Let rest 5–10 minutes before serving. Serve hot with biscuits, slaw, mashed potatoes, or dipping sauces.

Notes

For extra juiciness, marinate the chicken overnight.

Double dredge for an extra thick, crunchy crust.

Leftovers? Reheat in an oven or air fryer to keep them crispy.