Crispy Southern Fried Chicken
Tender, juicy chicken coated in a seasoned flour crust and pan-fried until golden. Ready in 25 minutes with just one skillet and seven ingredients.
- Total time
- 25 min
- Servings
- 4
- Calories
- 520
- Protein
- 38g
Ingredients
- 4 pieces chicken pieces (breasts, thighs, drumsticks), skin on
- 1.5 cups all-purpose flour
- 1.5 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp cayenne pepper
- ¾ cup buttermilk (or milk mixed with lemon juice)
- ½ cup neutral cooking oil (vegetable or canola)
Instructions
- 1
Pat chicken pieces dry with paper towels. Season inside and out with salt and black pepper.
- 2
Mix flour, paprika, garlic powder, cayenne, and 1 tsp salt in a shallow bowl. Pour buttermilk into another bowl.
- 3
Dip each chicken piece in buttermilk, then coat thoroughly with the flour mixture, pressing gently to adhere.
- 4
Heat oil in a 12-inch cast iron skillet over medium-high until it shimmers, about 2 minutes.
- 5
Lay chicken skin-side down in the hot oil. Do not move it. Sear 7–8 minutes until golden brown and crispy.
- 6
Flip chicken and cook 5–7 minutes more until the second side is golden and the thickest piece registers 165°F.
Tools you’ll need
- 12-inch cast iron skillet or heavy-bottomed pan
- instant-read thermometer
- paper towels
- two shallow bowls
- tongs
Cook smarter
Get matched recipes for what’s in your fridge
CookSnap is a free iOS app that finds real recipes from the ingredients you already have. No more grocery-list aspirations.
