Country Fried Chicken
Country Fried Chicken, often called Southern Fried Chicken, is a beloved classic in American cuisine. Known for its crispy, golden-brown crust and tender, juicy interior, it’s a comfort food that’s perfect for family dinners, picnics, or even special occasions. While variations exist, this dish typically involves coating chicken in seasoned flour and deep-frying it to crispy perfection. The combination of flavors, textures, and richness makes Country Fried Chicken a meal that has stood the test of time and remains a staple in Southern cooking.
Ingredients
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 1 ½ cups vegetable oil
- Buttermilk Marinade
- 2 cups buttermilk see notes for substitutions
- 2 large eggs whisked
- 3 teaspoons salt
- Breading
- 1 ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup breadcrumbs plain or Italian
- 2 ½ teaspoons seasoned salt
- ¾ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Prep Work
- Cover each chicken breast with saran wrap. Use a meat tenderizer and pound the chicken flat, about 1/2 inch thick.
- Pat the chicken completely dry. Combine the whisked eggs, salt, and buttermilk. Add the chicken and marinade for 1-2 hours, (or overnight). The longer it marinades, the more tender it will be.
- Let the chicken sit out for 25-30 minutes at room temperature before frying.
- Cooking Instructions
- Transfer the marinated chicken to the breading mix. Flip it over several times and work the breading into all of the little nooks and crannies until it's completely dry and coated.
- *Don't bread all of the chicken at once. Prepare each piece right before you're ready to fry it.
- Add enough oil to a skillet to cover the chicken by half and heat it to 350°. Use a cast iron skillet if possible as it conducts heat the best for frying.
- Carefully add the chicken and cook for 4-5 minutes per side, once the outside edges begin to brown up nicely, carefully flip with a thin spatula
- Once browned on each side, carefully transfer to a wire cooling rack and allow excess oil to drip out from the bottom. This prevents the bottom from getting soggy.
- Repeat for all chicken breasts and serve with cornbread, mashed potatoes and chicken gravy or brown gravy!
Notes
Buttermilk Substitutes
- ½ cup milk + 1 ½ cups sour cream
- 4 tablespoons milk + enough plain yogurt to make 2 cups.
- 2 tablespoon white vinegar + enough milk to make 2 cups. Let sit for 5-10 minutes.
- 2 tablespoon lemon juice + enough milk to make 2 cups. Let sit for 10 minutes. It'll look curdled. Stir to combine.