Learn how to make southern fried chicken that is juicy, crunchy and delicious – all in one! Our secret buttermilk marinade adds flavor, moistness and the perfect crust.
Place the buttermilk in a large bowl. Add the hot sauce place a teaspoon of salt. Mix well then add the chicken pieces. Make sure the chicken is fully submerged in the buttermilk mixture, cover, and refrigerate at least an hour, but preferably overnight.
Prepare the Chicken
Remove the chicken from the fridge and rinse. Reserve a few teaspoons of the marinade. Allow the chicken to reach room temperature. You'll want to cook the chicken evenly.
While the chicken comes to temperature, set up your assembly station.
Make Seasoning Mixture
Place all the dry seasonings in a small bowl or ramekin. Mix well and set aside.
Make The Dredge
In a shallow wide bowl add the cornstarch, flour, and half the spice mix. Mix well and set aside.
Make The Wash or Chicken Batter
In a separate shallow wide bowl mix together the vodka, water, and a quarter cup of the flour mixture. Mix well and set aside.
Pro Tip: Using a regular spoon add a few spoonfuls of the buttermilk marinade to the dredge
Make Cooling Rack
Place a wire rack inside of a rectangular sheet pan or baking sheet.
Fry The Chicken
Pre-heat fryer to 350 degrees F
Place the rinsed chicken in the wash making sure all parts of the chicken gets a coating. Then dip the chicken in the flour mixture. Make sure the chicken is well coated. Shake-off any excess flour.
Add the coated chicken to the hot oil and fry for 7-9 minutes. Remove the chicken and place on the cooling racks. Allow to rest about 30 minutes. While chicken rests heat fryer to 375 degrees.
Add the remaining chicken pieces back to the fryer and cook for another 2-3 minutes. Remove back to the cooling rack.
In a medium bowl add about a ½ cup of the hot grease plus the remaining spice seasoning mix. Mix well. Brush the chicken with the seasoned oil and serve the seasoned chicken.
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Notes
Use a seasoned flour mixture: The key to crispy, flavorful fried chicken is a well-seasoned flour mixture. Be sure to add plenty of salt, pepper, and other seasonings to your flour mixture for the best results.
Let the chicken rest: Once you've coated your chicken in the flour mixture, it's important to let it rest for a few minutes before frying. This allows the flour to adhere to the chicken and ensures that it will be crispy and delicious.
Don't overcrowd the pan: When frying your chicken, be sure not to overcrowd the pan. Too many chicken pieces will cause the temperature of the oil to drop, resulting in greasy, soggy chicken. Fry the chicken in batches if necessary to ensure that each piece cooks evenly and becomes crispy.
Consider a buttermilk marinade: While not necessary, marinating your chicken in buttermilk before coating it in the flour mixture can help to tenderize the meat and add flavor.
Use a meat thermometer: To ensure that your chicken is cooked through, use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature. The chicken should reach an internal temperature of 165°F to be considered safe to eat.
Double Fry the chicken: Moisture is the enemy of crunchy chicken! Ample rest after the initial fry allows the surface moisture to drain away. That second fry is like the finishing move. Most of the moisture is gone so it's a flash fry of the dry skin which means a bigger crunch!
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