Barefoot Contessa Oven Fried Chicken Recipes

OVEN-FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Place the chicken pieces in a large bowl and pour the buttermilk over them. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Combine the flour, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Take the chicken out of the buttermilk and coat each piece thoroughly with the flour mixture. Pour the oil into a large heavy-bottomed stockpot to a depth of 1-inch and heat to 360 degrees F on a thermometer.
• Working in batches, carefully place several pieces of chicken in the oil and fry for about 3 minutes on each side until the coating is a light golden brown (it will continue to brown in the oven). Don't crowd the pieces. Remove the chicken from the oil and place each piece on a metal baking rack set on a sheet pan. Allow the oil to return to 360 degrees F before frying the next batch. When all the chicken is fried, bake for 30 to 40 minutes, until the chicken is no longer pink inside. Serve hot.

BUTTERMILK FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• For the marinade, in a medium bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, shallot, garlic, jalapeño, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1 teaspoon black pepper.
• With a rolling pin or a meat mallet, pound the chicken breasts between 2 sheets of parchment paper until they are evenly 1/2 inch thick. Slice each chicken breast in half crosswise so you have 2 pieces approximately the same size.
• Add the chicken to the marinade, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 8 hours but not more than 24 hours.
• Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, paprika, cayenne pepper, celery salt, 1 tablespoon salt, and 1 1/2 teaspoons black pepper and set aside.
• When ready to cook the chicken, preheat the oven to 250 degrees. Place a sheet pan with a baking rack on it in the oven.
• Pour the oil into a medium (9-inch round x 4 1/2-inch high) Dutch oven, such as Le Creuset, fitted with a candy thermometer, until the oil is 2 inches deep. Heat the oil over high heat until the temperature reaches 350 degrees.
• Meanwhile, lift the chicken from the marinade, dredge it well in the flour mixture, submerge it again in the marinade, then dredge again in the flour mixture, dusting off the excess. Transfer the chicken to a plate or sheet pan until ready to fry.
• When the oil is 350 degrees, lower three pieces only(!) carefully into the oil with a slotted spoon and adjust the heat to keep the oil at 350 degrees. Don't crowd the chicken! Cook for 5 minutes exactly, turning once to brown evenly. With the slotted spoon, transfer the chicken to the sheet pan in the oven to keep warm. Fry the remaining three pieces, sprinkle all the chicken with salt, and serve hot.

TYLER FLORENCE'S FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Put the chicken pieces into a large bowl. Cover the chicken with water by 1 inch; add 1 tablespoon of salt for every quart of water. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours and up to overnight.
• In a large shallow platter, mix the flour, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika and cayenne until well blended; season generously with salt and black pepper. In another platter combine the buttermilk and chili sauce with a fork and season with salt and black pepper.
• Drain the chicken and pat it dry. Dredge the pieces, a few at a time, in the buttermilk and then dip them in the seasoned flour. Let the chicken rest while you prepare the oil.
• Fill a large deep pot about three-quarters full with the oil. Add the garlic, sage, thyme and rosemary to the cool oil and heat over medium-high heat until the oil registers 350 to 365 degrees F on a deep-fry thermometer. (The herbs and garlic will perfume the oil with their flavor as the oil comes up to temperature.)
• Working in batches of 3 to 4 pieces at a time, carefully add the chicken to the pot and fry, turning once, until golden brown and cooked through, about 12 minutes. Remove the chicken and herbs from the pot with a big skimmer, shaking off as much oil as you can, and put them on a tea towel or brown paper bag to soak up the oil. Sprinkle all over with salt and a dusting of black pepper. Repeat with the remaining chicken pieces. Scatter the fried herbs and garlic over the chicken. Serve hot with lemon wedges.

OVEN-FRIED CHICKEN THE BAREFOOT CONTESSA WAY

Steps:

• Place the chicken pieces in a large bowl and pour the buttermilk over them. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Combine the flour, salt, and pepper (and other spices if using) in a large bowl.
• Take the chicken out of the buttermilk and coat each piece thoroughly with the flour mixture.
• Pour the oil into a large heavy-bottomed stockpot to a depth of 1-inch and heat to 360 degrees F on a thermometer.
• Working in batches, carefully place several pieces of chicken in the oil and fry for about 3 minutes on each side until the coating is a light golden brown (it will continue to brown in the oven). Don't crowd the pieces.
• Remove the chicken from the oil and place each piece on a metal baking rack set on a sheet pan.
• Allow the oil to return to 360 degrees F before frying the next batch.
• When all the chicken is fried, bake for 30 to 40 minutes, until the chicken is no longer pink inside. Serve hot.
• Prep time does not include the overnight bath in buttermilk.