Sometimes simple is better. This chicken uses just a few ingredients, and is about as good as it gets when it comes to fried chicken. It is juicy and tender on the inside, and crunchy on the outside.
In a shallow dish, combine 1 1/2 cup flour, 1 1/2 tsp salt…
3/4 teaspoon chipotle chile pepper
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper…and stir it together.
Now you are going to rinse your chicken pieces with cold water. I only made legs and split breasts, because those are our family’s favorite pieces. You can use a whole chicken cut up, or whatever pieces you prefer.
Dry them off with paper towels.
Now dredge your chicken in the flour mixture.
As you dredge it, set the chicken on a rack. Allow it to rest for about 10-15 minutes.
Meanwhile, pour vegetable or peanut oil into a cast iron Dutch oven. You want it to be about 3 inches deep. Begin heating the oil. This takes a while, so you can start the next part of this while it is warming.
Pour a pint of buttermilk into another shallow dish. Then dip the chicken into the buttermilk…
…and then coat it again in the flour mixture.
Do this in batches. You only want to re-coat what will fit into the oil at a time. As you coat it, place the chicken on the rack and allow it to rest 10-15 minutes. This allows the coating to really stick to the chicken, so it doesn’t all fall off when you put it in the oil.
Line a pan/platter with several layers of paper towel, and place it on the counter.
Then take an oven-safe dish, and put it in your oven, with your oven set to “warm.” This will keep your cooked chicken warm while you cook the rest of it.
When the oil is heated to 360 degrees….
Using tongs, carefully lower the chicken into the hot oil.
Let the chicken cook 10-20 minutes, depending on the size of the pieces. Dark meat cooks longer than white meat. The pieces I cooked here, took right about 15 minutes and were done perfectly. Turn the chicken over a couple times while it is frying, so it doesn’t get dark spots where it is laying on the bottom of the pot.
As it finishes, lay the chicken on the paper towels to drain off the excess oil.
After a minute or so, set it into the oven to stay warm.
Repeat the process until all of your chicken is cooked.
Enjoy!
Classic Fried Chicken
Sometimes simple is better. This chicken uses just a few ingredients, and is about as good as it gets when it comes to fried chicken. It is juicy and tender on the inside, and crunchy on the outside.
Ingredients
- 1 ½ c flour
- 1 ½ tsp salt
- ¾ tsp chipotle chile pepper
- 1 tsp fresh ground black pepper
- 1 pint (2 cups) buttermilk
- 1 whole chicken, cut up (or whatever pieces you prefer)
- vegetable or peanut Oil
Instructions
- In a shallow dish, stir together the flour, salt., chipotle chile pepper, and black pepper.
- Rinse your chicken pieces with cold water. Dry them off with paper towels.
- Dredge your chicken in the flour mixture. As you dredge it, set the chicken on a rack. Allow it to rest for about 10-15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, pour vegetable or peanut oil into a cast iron Dutch oven. You want it to be about 3 inches deep. Begin heating the oil. This takes a while, so you can start the next part of this while it is warming.
- Pour the buttermilk into another shallow dish. Then dip the chicken into the buttermilk, and then coat it again in the flour mixture. Do this in batches. You only want to re-coat what will fit into the oil at a time.
- As you coat it, place the chicken on the rack and allow it to rest 10-15 minutes.
- This allows the coating to really stick to the chicken, so it doesn't all fall off when you put it in the oil.
- Line a pan/platter with several layers of paper towel, and place it on the counter. Then take an oven-safe dish, and put it in your oven, with your oven set to "warm." This will keep your cooked chicken warm while you cook the rest of it.
- When the oil is heated to 360 degrees, using tongs, carefully lower the chicken into the hot oil.
- Let the chicken cook 10-20 minutes, depending on the size of the pieces. Dark meat cooks longer than white meat. The pieces I cooked here, took right about 15 minutes and were done perfectly. Turn the chicken over a couple times while it is frying, so it doesn't get dark spots where it is laying on the bottom of the pot.
- As it finishes, lay the chicken on the paper towels to drain off the excess oil.
- After a minute or so, set it into the oven to stay warm. Repeat the process until all of your chicken is cooked.
- Enjoy!
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
8Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 286Total Fat: 12gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 66mgSodium: 503mgCarbohydrates: 20gFiber: 1gSugar: 1gProtein: 23g
Nutritional Disclaimer: Nutritional data is provided as a courtesy and estimated by a service called Nutritionix. That is a web-based nutritional calculator and is not guaranteed to be accurate. If the nutritional information is vital to you please verify it using your favorite trusted source.
Going to make this tonight!!
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Dang…that is fried chicken perfection on a plate! I haven't tried making any at home before, and yours turned out beautifully!
Really, there is *nothing* like some delicious fried chicken. Nothing. My niece forgot her deep fryer here after my last party–looks like I have something to try out in it!
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Sometimes fried chicken is just fried chicken. Perfect Constance!
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WOW Constance! That's perfect homemade fried chicken. I'm dying over that gorgeous golden crispy skin. Sigh, I'm so terrified of deep frying in my little apartment (I imagine that it'll smell for days and I'll be stuck with a big pot of used oil). I'm going to tell my husband to buy me a house so that I can fry chicken to my heart's content!
Our family loves Zac Brown. This year the whole family went to the concert when they came to Tampa and we had so much fun. Your fried chicken looks delicious!
I do love some good fried chicken! Chili pepper adds just the right depth too. Fantastic!
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Sometimes classic is definitely best. This chicken looks absolutely perfect. Can I come over for dinner?
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My welcome mat is always out!
I've never heard of Zac Brown or his band so thank you for making the introduction. Your chicken looks good too.
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I´ve never made fried chicken at home, but it´s about time! Looks so fantastic Constance! Perfect step by step pics, and I have a few bottles of dried chili powders.
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Soooo good! I don't know why I don't make this more often!
Been ages since Fried Chicken days… nummy!
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Can I come over for your fried chicken? This is the only way to do it, double dredging for the best crust!
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I love Zac Brown Band and fried chicken. This wins!
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Oh, YUM! Your chicken is fried to perfection!!! You've given me a huge craving!!!
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I have never deep-fried anything, but this might convert me!
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I rarely deep fry. It is a special treat for the family when I make this ;)
Nothing beats fried chicken and yours looks delicious!!! Good tune too!!
Raising my glass for a toast! My kinda food…and my kinda song. Delicious inspiration :)
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I raise my mason jar of sweet tea and toast in response ;)
…what Jennifer said… Wow!
Thank you!
Thats a perfect fried chicken! Awesome recipe :)
Buttermilk fried chicken with a kick of spice = oh yea! I can almost hear the crunch of biting into that perfectly fried crust and skin.
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Sounds delicious! Def gonna try this someday!
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Oh man, does that look good!!! I want a piece of this chicken like now and it's breakfast time!
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Oh, my goodness, Constance. It looks like you've slipped right into Southern living. This fried chicken looks sooo good. I bet your recipe rivals those of long time residents =)
P.s. I love the Zac Brown Band!