Southern Fried Chicken Recipe

Recipe Rating:	14 Ratings5
Category:	Chicken
Collections:	The Great Tailgate!
Keywords:	Southern, crispy, Fried, crusty
Serves:	4 to 6
Prep Time:	30 Min
Cook Time:	20 Min

Ingredients

8	pieces chicken breast tenderloins, boneless, skinless
2 c	buttermilk, or enough to cover chicken pieces
3 to 4 c	unbleached plain or white lily® unbleached self-rising flour
1 rounded Tbsp	rumford baking powder (if using plain flour)
app. 3-4 c	cooking oil
1/2 tsp	salt per cup of plain flour used
	salt and pepper to taste
2 c	sweet milk
2	eggs
	if you fry more than one batch of chicken increase your flour and oil accordingly.

Pinched by OneWolf65, and 2,981 more.

Virginia (Ginger) Dean

Well Seasoned

Toomsboro, GA (pop. 472)

grannyginger

Member Since Jun 2012

Virginia (Ginger)'s Notes:

Naturally fried chicken is considered Southern crusine. Folks young and old enjoy good fried chicken...especially home cooked. My husband says I'm the champion fried chicken cooker. Don't know about that, but everyone who has ever tried mine really loves it, and wants to know how I get it so crispy. Hope my explanatin of how I cook fried chicken helps you develop the skills of preparing a genuine Southern tradition.

Comments from the Test Kitchen:

This one will make you look like you're kin to the Colonel! We love the buttermilk soak combined with the self-rising flour... super crunchy.

Directions

I soak my chicken in buttermilk for at least 30 minutes to an hour. Overnight is okay.

Stir eggs into milk using a fork or wire whisk.
Prepare 3 bowls or pans with flour in two of them and milk egg mixture in a third pan. Have extra flour ready to add to bowls or pans as flour gets clumped up.

You'll be double dipping your chicken. Since it gets kind of messy I put waxed paper under my pans.

As you remove chicken pieces from buttermilk do the following:
1. Put them into egg/milk mixture
2. Batter in flour
3 Dip again into egg/milk mixture
4. Batter them again in flour
This will give you a wonderful, thick and crispy crust on your chicken.

Fry chicken in 2 to 3 inches of hot oil. Maintain a medium high temperature. You can't fry chicken too hot, or it will burn...but if your temperature is too low your chicken will be soggy. Also, to have crispy fried chicken, never cover your pan with a lid.

Turn chicken pieces carefully while frying. I turn my chicken several times while it is cooking using tongs. I usually fry 7 or 8 pieces at the time and it takes about 20 minutes per batch. (When company is coming I'll do at least 16 pieces of chicken in two batches).

Fry chicken to a pretty sort of golden brown color.
Always be very careful and safe when working with hot oil.

If you are frying more than one pan full of chicken, make sure you remove the crumbs from your grease with a slotted spoon or strainer between batches. If necessary add more oil to your second batch as needed.

Drain chicken on napkins or paper towels.

Comments

1-12 of 51 comments

Showing OLDEST First
(Switch to Newest First)

Jennifer Reinke topmom3

Jul 1, 2012

thanks for the great recipe! I will save this to try hopefully this week. My mom (also with the name Virginia!) used to make this for my birthday upon my request. Now that she is gone, wish I had paid more attention to her making this. She never wrote down the recipe.

Virginia (Ginger)... grannyginger

Jul 1, 2012

So happy to help you bring back a special memory.

Connee Sheckler conneeconehead

Jul 3, 2012

My chicken is soaking in the buttermilk right now...can't wait to try this recipe for dinner tonight. Thanks for sharing your great technique!

Connee Sheckler conneeconehead

Jul 3, 2012

Turned out great. My hubby, who is the pickiest eater in the world, loved it. Crunchy crust, moist chicken, perfect instructions. Terrific job.

Connee Sheckler conneeconehead

I tried this recipe and say it's Family Tested & Approved!

Melody Mundy mellowdy

Aug 7, 2012

sweet milk what is that just regular milk.... sorry??

Virginia (Ginger)... grannyginger

Aug 7, 2012

Right...sweet milk is just regular milk.

Melody Mundy mellowdy

Aug 9, 2012

ok thank you!! im going to try this weekend =)

Vincent Giambri Vincent_Giambri

Aug 9, 2012

WOW!!!!! Just cooked the chicken , following your recipe.. The best fried chicken I have made... Very crispy on the outside and juicy and tender on the inside. My daughter and I almost ate the whole chicken. Thank you so much. I' m going to treasure your perfect Southern Frried Chicken. Thanks again!!!!!!!