Memphis Fried Chicken Recipes

GUS'S FRIED CHICKEN RECIPE - (3.8/5)

Steps:

• Wash a 3 1/2-pound chicken and cut it into 8 pieces. Place in a nonreactive pan and add 1quart buttermilk. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or as long as overnight. Combine 3 cups flour, 2 teaspoons paprika, 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper in a large plastic bag, and shake to mix. Heat 3/4-inch peanut oil in a cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Meanwhile, shake each piece of chicken in bag of seasoned flour until well coated. When oil is very hot but not smoking, add chicken, largest pieces first, skin side down. (Work in batches if your skillet is small.) Reduce heat to medium, and cook, turning once, until chicken is golden brown and crispy, 12 to 15 minutes per side. Drain chicken on paper towels.

CHEF JOHN'S NASHVILLE HOT CHICKEN

Steps:

• Toss chicken pieces with 1 tablespoon kosher salt. Transfer chicken to a bowl; cover and refrigerate overnight.
• Whisk buttermilk, pickle brine, hot sauce, and egg together in a mixing bowl. Pour marinade over chicken and stir to ensure each piece is thoroughly coated. Cover and let chicken marinate in refrigerator 2 to 4 hours.
• Mix flour and salt together in a shallow flat dish. Remove chicken from marinade and blot with paper towels. Reserve marinade. Toss chicken in flour until thoroughly coated. Return chicken to marinade, coating all sides; remove chicken from marinade allowing excess to drip back into the bowl. Coat the chicken once again in flour mixture. Place on a rack. Repeat with all chicken pieces. Allow to sit out about 15 minutes to allow coating to dry out a bit.
• Place butter and lard in a large pot. Add cayenne pepper, brown sugar, paprika, garlic powder, kosher salt, and black pepper. Place over medium-high heat. Cook and stir until fats melt. Remove from heat; keep sauce warm.
• Fill cast iron skillet about 1/3 of the way with vegetable oil. Heat oil to 350 degrees F over medium-high heat. Carefully place chicken into hot oil, skin side down. Maintain an oil temperature of 325 degrees F, adjusting heat as need. Fry until instant read thermometer reads 160 degrees F, 8 to 10 minutes per side.
• Transfer chicken to a rack to drain. Brush with the sauce on both sides.

HATTIE B'S HOT CHICKEN

Steps:

• Dry-brine the chicken: In a bowl, toss the chicken pieces with 1 tablespoon kosher salt and 1 1/2 teaspoons black pepper; cover and refrigerate overnight or up to 24 hours.
• Make the dip and dredge: In a bowl, whisk together the milk, eggs and hot sauce. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour and 2 teaspoons sea salt.
• Dredge the chicken in the flour mixture, then dip in the milk mixture, then in the flour mixture again, shaking off the excess after each step.
• Heat the vegetable oil in a deep-fryer to 325 degrees F. Set a wire rack on top of a rimmed baking sheet and set aside. Working in batches, lower the chicken into the fryer and fry until crisp, 15 to 17 minutes for breast quarters and 18 to 20 minutes for leg quarters. Remove the chicken and let it drain on the rack.
• Make the spicy coating: Carefully ladle the lard or frying oil into a medium heatproof bowl and whisk in the cayenne pepper, brown sugar, 3/4 teaspoon sea salt, 1 teaspoon black pepper, the paprika and garlic powder. Baste the spice mixture over the hot fried chicken and serve immediately; garnish with pickles.

UNCLE LOU'S FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Heat oil in a deep-fryer or heat 3 inches of oil in a heavy pot until a deep-fryer thermometer reads 375 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with paper towels.
• Rinse chicken thoroughly pat dry with more paper towels. Put the seasoning mix in a plastic bag. Add the chicken 2 to 3 pieces at a time, close the bag, and shake until all of the chicken is well coated.
• Remove the chicken from the bag and shake off excess seasoning mix. Slip the chicken into the hot oil and fry until the juices run clear, about 12 to 15 minutes. Remove from the oil and drain on the lines baking sheet to remove excess oil. Serve as is, or dipped in the Sweet Spicy Love sauce.