How to Make Perfectly Crispy Chicken Fried Chicken at Home

If you’re looking for a classic Southern-style dish, chicken fried chicken could be just what you need. This crispy and juicy chicken dish is a staple in many American homes, and it’s easy to see why! It’s a quick and simple recipe that can be enjoyed with a variety of sides, making it perfect for busy weeknight dinners or a comforting weekend meal.

To make chicken fried chicken, you’ll need a few simple ingredients that can be found in most kitchens. The key to achieving the perfect crispy crust is to dredge the chicken in flour and spices before breading it with a mixture of buttermilk and egg. The chicken is then fried until golden brown and cooked through. With a little patience and attention to detail, you’ll have a delicious meal that your whole family will love. Let’s get started!

Ingredients for Chicken Fried Chicken

If you’re planning to make chicken fried chicken, you need to gather the right ingredients to make it delicious. Here is a list of the ingredients you’ll need:

1. Boneless, skinless chicken breasts

The star of the dish is, of course, the chicken, make sure you have two boneless, skinless chicken breasts ready to use. If you prefer dark meat, you can use boneless, skinless chicken thighs.

2. Seasoning

Mix up some garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. You can add other seasonings if you like, but make sure they compliment chicken well.

3. Flour

You’ll need all-purpose flour for the coating.

4. Baking Powder

Baking powder is the secret to that crispy crunch.

5. Buttermilk

You’ll need the tangy richness of buttermilk to make the coating stick.

6. Egg

Add one egg to the chicken coating mixture to increase the flavor and give it an extra boost.

7. Hot Sauce

Don’t forget the hot sauce to add a kick to your chicken. Use as much or as little as you’d like.

8. Oil for Frying

You don’t want your chicken to stick to the bottom of the skillet, make sure to have vegetable oil ready.

9. Tools

Regarding the tools, you will need two bowls, a skillet, a rubber spatula, and tongs.

10. Sides

Consider what sides you want to complete your meal. Mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, or roasted brussels sprouts are all great choices. Gather up the necessary ingredients to make sides to your liking.

With all the ingredients sorted, you’re ready to start cooking. Follow the next steps to make delicious chicken fried chicken.

Section 2: Creating the Perfect Breading Mix

Now that you have your chicken prepped and ready to go, it’s time to move on to the next important step – creating the perfect breading mix. Chicken fried chicken is all about the crispy exterior, and the breading mix is the key to achieving that dreamy texture. Here’s everything you need to know about creating the perfect breading mix for your chicken:

1. Choose Your Breading Mix Ingredients

When it comes to creating a great breading mix, you need to start with the right ingredients. Typically, most breading mixes will include a mixture of flour, cornmeal, and a variety of spices and seasonings. Some people also like to add a bit of breadcrumbs to their breading mix for extra crunch. Experiment with different mixes until you find the perfect combination that suits your taste buds.

2. Seasonings are Key

Don’t underestimate the power of spices and seasonings in your breading mix. Adding some flair to your mix can take your fried chicken to the next level. Common seasonings that people love to add to their breading mix include paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, and black pepper. Get creative and adjust the seasoning to your personal taste preference.

3. Keep Your Breading Mix Dry

The key to achieving crispy and delicious chicken fried chicken is to keep your breading mix dry. The wetter your breading mix is, the soggier your chicken will be. Make sure to mix your breading mix thoroughly and evenly coat each piece of chicken in the mix. Be sure to pat each piece of chicken dry before breading it.

4. Try Adding Buttermilk

While not necessary, some cooks like to use buttermilk in their breading mix. Buttermilk can help tenderize the chicken and form an extra crispy coating. Simply soak your chicken in buttermilk for 30 minutes before dredging through the breading mix. If you don’t have buttermilk on hand, you can also make your own using regular milk and vinegar!

5. Preheat Your Oil

Before you start frying your chicken, make sure to preheat your oil to the correct temperature. The ideal temperature for frying chicken is around 350°F to 375°F. Keep an eye on the temperature using a cooking thermometer to ensure that your oil stays at the correct temperature throughout the cooking process.

6. Use a Deep Fryer

Using a deep fryer is the easiest way to achieve evenly cooked and crispy chicken fried chicken. If you don’t have a deep fryer, you can still make chicken fried chicken using a heavy-duty skillet or Dutch oven. Make sure the oil is deep enough to fully cover the chicken and use tongs to flip the chicken halfway through the cooking process.

7. Fry in Batches

One mistake that many home cooks make when frying chicken is trying to cook too much chicken at once. When you overcrowd the frying pan or deep fryer, it can lower the oil temperature and result in soggy chicken. Fry your chicken in small batches and be patient – it’s worth it for that perfect crispy exterior!

8. Drain Excess Oil

Once your chicken fried chicken is cooked to perfection, carefully remove it from the hot oil and place it on a wire cooling rack or paper towel-lined plate to cool. Letting the chicken cool on a rack allows any excess oil to drip off, resulting in a crispier and less greasy finished product.

9. Don’t Forget the Salt

After all the hard work you put into creating the perfect breading mix, don’t forget to season your chicken with salt as soon as it comes out of the oil. Salt is the finishing touch that brings all the flavors together and makes the dish truly delicious.

10. Serve and Enjoy!

Now that your chicken fried chicken is complete, it’s time to sit down and enjoy your delicious creation. Serve with your favorite sides, such as mashed potatoes, green beans, or mac and cheese, and savor every crispy bite. Congratulations, you can now make the perfect chicken fried chicken at home with ease!

Ingredients needed for Making Chicken Fried Chicken

To make the perfect chicken fried chicken, you’ll need to gather the following ingredients:

Preparing the Chicken for Frying

Once you’ve gathered the necessary ingredients, it’s time to prepare the chicken. Begin by rinsing the boneless chicken breasts and dry them with paper towels. Next, place the chicken breasts between two sheets of plastic wrap and use a flat meat mallet or rolling pin to pound them to an even thickness of about 1/2 inch.

When they’re all even, season them with salt and pepper on both sides, then set them aside in the refrigerator for 10-15 minutes to rest. This will allow the seasoning to penetrate the meat and make it more flavorful.

Creating the Breading Station

While the chicken is resting, you can start setting up your breading station. For this, you need three bowls of flour, buttermilk, and egg. Beat the egg into the buttermilk mixture and season it with some salt, pepper, and cayenne pepper. In the first bowl, mix flour with baking powder, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.

Dip each chicken breast in the flour mixture, then shake off any excess. Next, coat the chicken in the buttermilk mixture, allowing any excess to drip off. Finally, coat the chicken again in the flour mixture. Make sure the chicken is evenly coated with flour on all sides.

Frying the Chicken

To fry the chicken, heat the canola oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Test the oil by dropping in a small piece of bread; if it sizzles, the oil is ready. carefully place the chicken in the skillet, taking care not to overcrowd.

Cook the chicken for about 4-5 minutes per side, until golden brown and cooked through. Remove the chicken from the skillet and drain it on a paper towel to remove any excess oil.

Serving Chicken Fried Chicken

Finally, chicken fried chicken is ready to be served. This dish is usually served with a variety of sides, including Mashed potatoes, coleslaw, macaroni, and cheese, green beans, and biscuits. Drizzle some gravy over your chicken fried chicken to give it that extra-nice touch, and enjoy!

Time to Fry Some Chicken!

That’s all there is to it, folks! You now have the skills to make chicken fried chicken that would make any Southerner proud. Remember, cooking is about having fun and being creative – feel free to experiment with different spices and flavors. Thanks for reading, and be sure to visit again for more delicious recipes and cooking tips. Happy frying!