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Granny’s Essential Southern Fried Chicken

Print Recipe
Coursedinner, Lunch, Main Course
CuisineAmerican
Keywordchicken, fried chicken, southern food, southern fried chicken

Ingredients

  • 1 3 - 3 1/2 lb chicken, cut into pieces
  • 4-5 cups All purpose flour
  • 1/4 tsp baking soda
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp pepper
  • a little more salt and pepper to lightly season your flour
  • 3-4 eggs, beaten
  • canola or vegetable oil for frying

Instructions

  • Cut a whole chicken up and place in a bowl of salted water. Cover with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator the night before.
  • Beat three eggs completely in a medium bowl. I like to use a hand held blender because I like the eggs a little frothy.
  • In another bowl add your flour and lightly salt and pepper, add the baking soda and whisk together.
  • Pat your chicken pieces dry and season the entire chicken with the 1/2 tsp salt and pepper. I let it sit for a minute or so to allow it to so it will adhere to your chicken.
  • Place each peace of chicken in the flour, then the eggs, then the flour again covering completely and shaking off the excess. Place on a sheet pan and continue until all pieces are battered.
  • Add oil to a heavy skillet to 350. Add chicken in batches making sure not to crowd. I like to maintain a heat between 325 and 350 otherwise your chicken will be brown and raw in the middle. Another tip is that I like to brown the chicken lightly on all sides, then reduce the heat to about 325 to allow it to cook through, turning occasionally.
  • When the first side browns, turn and allow the other side to completely brown. Then I turn a few more times from side to side to make sure the inside is fine. I always check each piece with a thermometer because nothing’s worse than a raw chicken. You want the internal temperature to be 165 degrees for the breast and for the thighs and legs 175 degrees will render a better texture. I drain on a rack placed over a sheet pan to insure the chicken remains crispy! Enjoy!