Church's Fried Chicken Recipe
Church's Fried Chicken Recipe is crispy, juicy and packed with bold Southern flavor. This homemade fried chicken recipe gives you crunchy coating and tender meat in every bite.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds chicken pieces
- 2 cups buttermilk
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- Vegetable oil for frying
Instructions
Marinate the Chicken
- Place chicken pieces into a large bowl. Pour buttermilk over the chicken completely. Cover and refrigerate for at least four hours for tender and flavorful meat.
Prepare the Seasoned Flour
- In another bowl, combine flour, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, black pepper, cayenne pepper, thyme and baking powder. Mix everything well until evenly combined.
Heat the Oil
- Pour vegetable oil into a deep skillet or fryer. Heat the oil to 350 degrees Fahrenheit for perfectly crispy and golden fried chicken pieces.
Coat the Chicken
- Remove chicken pieces from the buttermilk marinade carefully. Dip each piece into the seasoned flour mixture and coat completely on every side for extra crunch.
Rest the Coated Chicken
- Place coated chicken pieces onto a plate and let them rest for ten minutes. This helps the crispy coating stick better during frying.
Fry the Chicken
- Carefully place chicken pieces into the hot oil. Fry in small batches to avoid overcrowding. Cook until golden brown and fully cooked inside.
Turn the Chicken Carefully
- Use tongs to turn each chicken piece during frying. This helps both sides cook evenly and become crispy with beautiful golden color.
Drain Excess Oil
- Remove fried chicken from the oil carefully. Place pieces on a wire rack or paper towels to drain extra oil while staying crispy.
Check Internal Temperature
- Use a thermometer to check the chicken temperature. The internal temperature should reach 165 degrees Fahrenheit before serving safely.
Serve Hot
- Serve the fried chicken immediately while hot and crispy. Pair it with your favorite side dishes for a complete Southern-style comfort meal.
Notes
- Marinate chicken overnight for deeper flavor.
- Use buttermilk for tender and juicy chicken.
- Keep oil temperature steady while frying.
- Do not overcrowd the frying pan.
- Let coated chicken rest before frying.
- Use a wire rack for extra crispiness.
- Season the flour mixture generously.
- Fry chicken in batches for even cooking.