There is no comfort food more universally beloved than perfect fried chicken โ shatteringly crispy on the outside, impossibly juicy within, seasoned with a secret blend of herbs and spices. This recipe delivers all of that using a buttermilk brine and a double-dredge technique for maximum crunch.
Paired with a creamy, tangy coleslaw and some hot biscuits, this is the kind of meal that brings people together and creates memories. It's weekend cooking at its finest.
The Buttermilk Brine
Soaking chicken in seasoned buttermilk overnight is the single most important step. The acid tenderizes the meat while the salt seasons it throughout. Add hot sauce, garlic, and paprika to the buttermilk for flavor that penetrates deep into every fiber.
The Double-Dredge Secret
Dip buttermilk-soaked chicken in seasoned flour, then back in buttermilk, then flour again. This creates a thicker, craggier coating with more surface area for crunch. Drizzle some buttermilk into the flour and rub it in to create those coveted extra-crispy bits.
Frying Fundamentals
Use a heavy pot (Dutch oven) with 3-4 inches of peanut or vegetable oil at 170ยฐC. Don't overcrowd โ fry in batches. Dark meat takes about 15 min, white meat 12 min. Internal temp should reach 74ยฐC. Rest on a wire rack, not paper towels.
๐ฝ๏ธ Southern Fried Chicken with Coleslaw
Ingredients:
- 1 whole chicken, cut into 8 pieces
- 500ml buttermilk
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- Salt and black pepper
- Hot sauce
- Peanut or vegetable oil for frying
- For coleslaw: cabbage, carrots, mayo, vinegar, sugar
Instructions:
- Combine buttermilk, hot sauce, garlic, paprika, salt. Submerge chicken. Refrigerate 4-24 hours.
- Mix flour with all seasonings in a large bowl.
- Remove chicken from buttermilk. Dredge in flour, back in buttermilk, then flour again.
- Let breaded chicken rest on rack 15 min (coating sets).
- Heat oil to 170ยฐC in heavy pot. Fill to 3-4 inch depth.
- Fry chicken in batches โ 12-15 min depending on piece size. Don't move too often.
- Drain on wire rack, not paper towels. Season with salt immediately.
- Serve with creamy coleslaw and hot biscuits.
Last updated: December 15, 2025
