The Best Southern Fried Chicken Easy Weeknight Dinner
This recipe for The Best Southern Fried Chicken offers a crispy fried chicken that’s perfect for an easy dinner or family dinner. Enjoy a classic southern comfort food that fits well into any weeknight meal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 14 minutes
- Total Time: 8 hours 24 minutes
- Yield: Serves 4
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Standard
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 whole chicken cut up or 8 pieces of your favorite cuts of chicken
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 2 cups buttermilk
- 2 Tablespoons hot sauce
- 2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 cup cornstarch
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- 2 teaspoons black pepper
- peanut oil for frying
- flaked salt for serving optional
Instructions
- In a large bowl, season the chicken pieces with kosher salt, garlic powder, and onion powder, then toss to coat evenly.
- Pour in the buttermilk and hot sauce, stirring to combine everything before covering and chilling in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours or overnight for best flavor.
- Prepare a coating by whisking together flour, cornstarch, kosher salt, paprika, and black pepper in a separate bowl.
- Heat peanut oil in a deep fryer or skillet to 325°F, adjusting to 300°F if the chicken browns too quickly, and keep a careful check if using cast iron.
- Remove each chicken piece from the marinade, allowing excess to drip off, then thoroughly dredge in the flour mixture and let the coating set for a few minutes until it becomes slightly pasty.
- Fry the chicken in batches of three or four to avoid overcrowding, turning occasionally until golden brown and cooked through, about 8-10 minutes for white meat and 12-14 minutes for dark meat, ensuring an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Transfer cooked chicken to a paper towel-lined tray and immediately sprinkle with flaked salt if desired. Repeat with remaining pieces.
Nutrition
- Calories: 727kcal