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the best 3 ingredient fried chicken.

June 23, 2020 by Becky Spoon

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3 ingredient fried chicken
3 ingredient fried chicken

I have tried so many recipes for fried chicken and I always come back to this basic 3 ingredient recipe! Flour, salt and pepper. That is it. Oh, you do need a paper sack to toss it all in. Well, that’s what I use, but if you don’t have one…toss in a big plastic bag or place the flour in a dish and just toss it around to evenly coat.

I have tried so many recipes for fried chicken and I always come back to this basic 3 ingredient recipe! Flour, salt and pepper.  That is it.  Oh, you do need a paper sack to toss it all in. Well, that's what I use, but if you don't have one...toss in a big plastic bag or place the flour in a dish and just toss it around to evenly coat.

This is the fried chicken I grew up eating. Mom and Granny made it just like this. I brine because they brined. They knew that brining would just make the juiciest, most tender chicken ever. It would usually be a Saturday night that Mom and Granny would cut up a whole chicken or two and soak overnight in salted water to fry on Sunday. They would use Crisco in a cast iron dutch oven to fry the chicken. Never greasy, just the best chicken ever. I think the cast iron dutch oven is the best thing to fry chicken in. Mine is very, very old, but if you don’t have one, this is a great place to start. https://amzn.to/3fPoffO.

the best 3 ingredient fried chicken.

One of my favorite memories was actually going to see Granny. We lived in Grand Prairie, Texas and Granny lived about an hour and a half away. There were 7 of us. There were no McDonalds or other fast food restaurants and even if there were, they probably couldn’t have afforded to take all of us out to eat anyway. Mom would fry this beautiful chicken, make some potato salad, pack up a loaf of bread and we would stop at a road side park on the way and have lunch. Beautiful memories.

Mom is incredible. She is now 91. Just a side note, we grew up in the 50’s and 60’s. Mom fed a family of 7 on $25.00 a week and had a balanced meal on the table every night, plus breakfast and lunch everyday.

I too made potato salad with this fried chicken. Here’s the recipe: https://the2spoons.com/delicious-2-step-potato-salad/. There is nothing better than fried chicken and potato salad.

3 ingredient fried chicken
potato salad
potato salad

Here you go with this so simple recipe! My recipe is for 4 pieces of chicken, two thighs and two legs because that’s what we like, but just adjust for the amount you use. Bon Appetite!

3 ingredient fried chicken

3 ingredient fried chicken

5 from 1 vote
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 2 servings

Ingredients
  

  • 2 chicken legs, skin on, bone in
  • 2 chicken thighs, skin on, bone in
  • 1 cup all purpose flour
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • vegetable oil for frying

Instructions
 

  • Place your chicken pieces in a bowl after lightly salting each piece. Add enough water to just cover. Seal with a lid or clear wrap. Refrigerate overnight or at least for 4 hours.
  • Place the flour in a paper sack. Add your salt and pepper. I always taste a little to see if there's enough salt, but remember you brined your chicken in salt water so you don't want to over do it.
  • Add enough oil to come up about 1/3 to the sides of your pan. Heat on medium high until a pinch of flour begins to sizzle or the end of a wooden spoon placed in the hot oil sizzles, about 335 to 350 degrees. You do not want to cook your chicken in oil that is too hot because it will brown too quick and be raw in the middle.
  • While your oil is heating, remove the chicken from the water one piece at a time, allowing access water to fall off and add to the flour. Shake, shake, shake and turn until completely coated. Place on a sheet pan until all is coated.
  • When your oil is ready, add the chicken to the oil skin side down. Cook until the chicken is brown and crispy on that side, then turn. If your heat is too high, lower to medium high and add a lid and let it sit ajar. Cook, checking after about 10 minutes to see if the bottom has browned. When the bottom is brown, turn again, remove the lid and cook turning until the internal temperature reaches 165-170, raising the heat if needed. At this time you want to be close by, watching and turning as the chicken continues to brown on each side.
  • When done, drain on a wire rack and allow to rest for at least 10 to 15 minutes. If I am frying a large amount I will keep warm in my oven on the warm setting. Enjoy!!
Keyword 3 ingredient, chicken, comfort food, fried chicken, main course, southern food

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Filed Under: Poultry Tagged With: chicken, fried chicken, main course, southern food

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Chef

    June 28, 2020 at 6:57 -07:0006

    That’s a really sorry recipe For fried chicken

    • Becky Spoon

      June 29, 2020 at 6:57 -07:0006

      Chef, I have many recipes on my blog for fried chicken that have many ingredients. This is a very good recipe and it is a basic recipe from the South. Sorry you don’t like my ingredients.

    • Becky Spoon

      June 29, 2020 at 6:57 -07:0006

      Also, if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all. This is my personal blog that I pay for by the way. Don’t look at it if you don’t like it. Simple as that.

  2. Betty lawson

    June 29, 2020 at 6:57 -07:0006

    Your my age and mom cooked in an iron skillet too. We cooked the whole chicken because she wasted nothing. I grew up in Fort Worth Texas. Man those early years before the Second World War were mean and lean, but we made it.
    Even so, there are sweet memories when neighbors were real friends people and people really. cared for each other.

    • Becky Spoon

      June 30, 2020 at 6:57 -07:0006

      Hi Betty! I was born in 1951. Wonderful memories of growing up in better times!

  3. Lynn

    June 30, 2020 at 6:57 -07:0006

    5 stars
    II have always fixed my chicken this way it’s the best!

    • Becky Spoon

      June 30, 2020 at 6:57 -07:0006

      It is Lynn! So simple, yet delicious!

  4. Faith

    July 2, 2020 at 6:57 -07:0007

    Hi! I’ve had some spectacular failures trying to make fried chicken..but this…this….i can do! Thanks so much for posting!!! I feel confident😂

    • Becky Spoon

      July 2, 2020 at 6:57 -07:0007

      You’re welcome!!!! It’s delicious!

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