Southern Fried Chicken

Name: Southern Fried Chicken
Total time: 60 min
Yield: Family
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 kg chicken pieces; 500 ml buttermilk; 300 g flour; 3 tbsp paprika and spices; as needed oil for frying

Crackling, golden fried chicken with a juicy interior is the crown jewel of comfort food. A buttermilk soak and a well-seasoned dredge are the keys to that craggy, crunchy crust. Serve it hot with your favorite sides for a proper feast.

American High-Protein Stovetop Dinner Comfort Food Chicken

⏱ 60 min
📊 medium
🍽 Family

Ingredients

1 kg chicken pieces
500 ml buttermilk
300 g flour
3 tbsp paprika and spices
as needed oil for frying

Instructions

Soak the chicken pieces in seasoned buttermilk for at least 2 hours or overnight.
Mix the flour with paprika, salt, pepper, and your spices in a bowl.
Dredge each piece in the seasoned flour, pressing firmly for a thick coating.

Heat oil to 170C (340F) in a deep heavy pan.
Fry the chicken in batches, turning, for 12 to 15 minutes until deep golden and cooked through.
Check the largest piece reaches 75C (165F) inside.
Drain on a rack, not paper, to keep the crust crisp, and serve hot.

💡 Chef's tip

Keep the oil steady around 170C (340F), since too hot burns the crust before the inside cooks and too cool makes it greasy.

Soaking the chicken in buttermilk for a few hours both tenderizes the meat and helps the flour coating cling into thick, craggy crags that fry up extra crunchy.