Dang Good Southern Fried Chicken Recipes

TRADITIONAL SOUTHERN FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Make sure that the chicken is nice and clean.
• Combine 8 cups cold water, 2 tbsp salt, and 4 tbsp sugar.
• Stir until the salt and sugar dissolve.
• Pour the brine ( sugar/salt/water) into the bowl or container with the chicken.
• Make sure that the chicken is covered with the brine.
• Cover the bowl/container, then place in the refrigerator overnight
• Drain the brine from the bowl, but do not rinse the chicken.
• Place the chicken in a large bowl, then pour the hot sauce all over the chicken.
• Next, combine the all purpose flour, cornstarch, and all of the seasonings
• Pour the flour mixture into a large freezer bag, then toss in the chicken wings.
• Shake the bag, until the chicken is well coated with flour.
• Remove the chicken from the bag, and shake off any excess flour.
• Let the chicken sit for about 15 minutes before frying to ensure that the flour sticks.
• Now pour the oil into a large skillet, and let it heat until it reaches 350-375 F.
• Carefully add in the chicken, and fry until it's completely cooked throughout, and golden brown.
• Place the chicken on a paper towel lined plate.
• Serve and enjoy!

TRADITIONAL SOUTHERN FRIED CHICKEN RECIPE TRIED AND TRUE

Steps:

• Combine the Marinade: In a large mixing bowl, combine two cups of buttermilk with 2 teaspoons of hot sauce; add the chicken pieces and make sure they're all coated well. Cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours to overnight.
• Add peanut oil to a cast iron skillet and heat over medium low.
• Prepare the dry dredge mixture by combining the flour and seasonings together in a large bowl; set aside.
• Prepare the wet dredge mixture by whisking together the egg with a cup of buttermilk in a large bowl; set aside.
• Remove the chicken pieces from the marinade and place on a paper towel lined sheet pan. Use a paper towel to gently dry the chicken pieces slightly.
• Dredge each chicken pieces in the dry dredge mixture, then wet, then dry; shake off excess. Place dredged chicken pieces on a foil lined sheet pan. Repeat until all pieces are done.
• Cooking in batches; begin by adding the chicken legs, thighs and wings to the hot oil making sure not to over crowd the skillet.
• Use tongs to turn every 5 minutes, fry the chicken until crispy and golden brown (12-15 minutes).
• Transfer the cooked chicken pieces to a paper towel lined sheet pan with a cooling rack placed on top to drain excess cooking oil.
• Continue with frying the remaining breast pieces, turning as needed (15-18 minutes) until crispy and golden brown.
• Transfer the breasts to the lined sheet pan when done.
• Serve after chicken has cooled 10 minutes.

DANG GOOD SOUTHERN FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• 1. Rinse and pat dry chicken pieces and place in a deep bowl. Cover with buttermilk and hot sauce, and refrigerate at least 2 hours or best overnight. (*Buttermilk tenderizes chicken.) Heat oil or melt shortening in a cast iron skillet to a depth of about 1 inch or so. Heat to about 370º. (No thermometer needed, really. It'll get hot enough while chicken rests AFTER coating if you have your flame on about medium.) If it starts to smoke, turn it down immediately a bit. In a doubled brown paper lunch sack, mix together all of the dry ingredients.
• 2. (Shake to mix.) Remove chicken from bowl. Lightly season with a little bit more seasoning salt and pepper. Place chicken in bag, one piece at a time. Shake well until thoroughly coated. Shake off excess. Dip each piece in beaten eggs and coat with flour once again. Shake off excess, place on waxed paper for 15 minutes or until dry. Place chicken, skin/pretty side down, in hot oil or shortening. Do not crowd skillet. Use 2 if needed. Brown until golden on bottom side. When chicken pieces are golden on one side, turn pieces over, cover with tight fitting lid, and reduce heat to a simmer, turning chicken pieces occaisionally, for 35 to 40 minutes or until juices run clear and chicken is tender. *When lid is placed on, and heat is reduced to a good simmer, the good side of pieces are now the top sides. After about 10 minutes, turn back to skin-side down. After another 10 minutes or so, turn back to skin-side up for the last 10-15 minutes.) Uncover and cook 5 minutes longer for "crispy on the outside" crust. Remove at once, skipping this step, if a softer outside is preferred. My grandma and great aunts always drained their fried chicken on brown paper grocery bags. This seems to work best for me, too. Paper towels work "ok", but it made my chicken soggy on the bottom once when I tried it. *If doubling or making alot of chicken, or just wanting to keep it warm til the rest of your side dishes are done and ready to serve, place chicken on brown paper bag-lined cookie sheet in very low oven.
• 3. *GREAT cold, too!
• 4. To make chicken fingers: Use 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips about a 1/2-3/4 " thick. I skipped the buttermilk and hot sauce part, and dipped them into the flour mixture first, then into 1 egg beaten with about a half of a cup of half and half cream and a little hot sauce. Then back into the flour mixture. Worked out PERFECTLY. I lightly browned them in hot oil on one side, turned them, then put a lid on them. I then only cooked them for 8 minutes. I removed the lid, turned them and cooked them another minute. Drained them on brown paper bags. YUM! Best fingers ever!
• 5. *One extra tip: Don't ever turn chicken by piercing with a fork, all the juices will run out and the meat will be dry. Always use tongs and have a sharp spatula handy to get underneath just in case a little bit wants to stick. You don't want to lose that good breading! :)

SOUTHERN LIVING'S BEST FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Combine 1 tablespoon salt with 3 quarts water in a large bowl or container. Add chicken, cover and refrigerate 8 hours or overnight. Drain, rinse with cold water and pat dry.
• Stir together remaining 1 teaspoon salt and the black pepper. Sprinkle half the mixture evenly over chicken.
• In a large sealable plastic bag, combine remaining pepper mixture and flour. Add 2 pieces chicken to bag and shake well to coat. Remove chicken pieces, shaking off extra flour, and set aside. Repeat with remaining chicken.
• Take a large (10- or 12-inch) cast-iron skillet or chicken fryer, for which you have a lid, and fit with a candy or deep-frying thermometer. Add oil and bacon drippings and heat to 360 degrees over medium heat; the oil will ripple and possibly give off a few wisps of smoke.
• Using tongs, immediately add chicken pieces, skin side down (work in batches if necessary to avoid crowding pan). The oil will drop to about 325 degrees, where it should stay; adjust heat so that oil is bubbling gently around the pieces. Cover and cook 6 minutes; uncover and cook 9 minutes. Turn chicken pieces; cover and cook 6 minutes. Uncover and cook another 5 to 9 minutes, depending on size of pieces. If necessary for even browning, turn pieces over a few times toward the end.
• Drain on paper towels or paper bags. Let cool at least 20 minutes before serving.