There is no rhyme or reason, why southern comfort foods have recently taken up residence in my head, it started with peach cobbler and now….well, it has drifted off to fried chicken.
Maybe it is the sizzling sound, the crispy skin or maybe it is the comfort of the flavorful fat.
I needed a good old fashioned basic recipe-nothing complicated. My sister said, to check with dad, he has a good fried chicken recipe that he makes in his cast-iron skillet, and finishes it off in the oven.
The finished dish has taken aspects of what I have been told is my dad’s recipe and added a twist and a turn of my own. A twist, soaking the chicken in buttermilk really adds to the level of moisture. The turn, skipped the finishing off in the oven, mostly, because I am lazy.
The result. Easy and uncomplicated. My dad if he tasted it, I think he would say it was pretty good.
Old Fashioned Fried Chicken
Serves 4-6
Ingredients:
8-10 pieces chicken
1 cup self rising flour
2 tsp. Kosher salt
1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper
2 tsp. ground black pepper
1-1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. paprika
2 cups buttermilk
Oil for frying (peanut, vegetable or canola works fine)
Directions:
1. Place chicken pieces in a plastic container and cover with buttermilk. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
2. Drain chicken in a colander.
3. Place first six ingredients in a ziploc or other plastic bag (flour through paprika). Shake to blend.
4. Dredge chicken in seasoned flour and shake off excess. Place floured chicken pieces on a cookie sheet.
5. Add enough oil to create about 1/2-inch in a large skillet (cast iron works best). Heat oil to 325 degrees.
6. Place chicken skin side down into pan. Cook chicken untl golden brown about 10-12 minutes per side.
7. Drain chicken on a sheet pan with a rack. Season with salt while hot.
Serve and enjoy!
jaz@octoberfarm
i am going to try this soon. i like the idea of using self rising flour. thanks for the recipe!
Sam Hoffer / My Carolina Kitchen
Nothing beats southern fried chicken – the Sunday dinner of my childhood.Sam
Nammi
yumm , nothing tastes better than fried chicken!! by the way I tried your peach cobbler was delicious and so easy to make 🙂 have a nice week end
Monet
I have never ever made fried chicken…and I want to try it so badly. This looks heavenly! Thank you for sharing my friend. We'll be experimenting soon.
tasteofbeirut
Great fried chicken recipe Velva now I am motivated to make it again!
Kim
I love your idea of mastering fried chicken, Velva! I'm going to pin this recipe to make simply because I like the idea of finishing it in the oven. Everytime I've ever tried to fry the chicken it always ends up undercooked/overcooked. I think the oven will take care of that issue for me. Thanks for sharing 🙂
That Girl
I've heard cast iron is the way to go with fried chicken.
Unknown
I love fried chicken… I mean LOVE fried chicken 🙂 Yum. Hope you're enjoying your Sunday!
Suzan
I love fried chicken – fried catfish – fried green tomatoes – fried okra – fried squash – And yes – cast iron skillet is the BEST of all cookware!
scrambledhenfruit
Thanks for bringing back some lovely memories this morning! My dad was the chicken fryer in my house too, and he'd make up a batch almost every Sunday after church. This looks so good- I can almost smell it frying! 🙂
TKW
Just looking at this made me long for my Gramma Rhetta. Her chicken was the thing of dreams…
Roz | La Bella Vita Cucina
OK, now you've got me craving old-fashioned, made-at-home fried chicken Velva! I use buttermilk and paprika too a recipe that I found years ago in Bon Appetit. There's something so satisfying about making this! Hope you are having a wonderful holiday weekend!!!
Foodiewife
Buttermilk is definitely a key ingredient with fried chicken. I rarely eat fried chicken, let alone the skin– but it it's golden and crunch, I can't resist. Add some creamy mashed taters and we're good to go! Oh, plus biscuits. Yummy! I love food from the South, too, and I can't explain why– I haven't been there in over 30 years.
Angie's Recipes
I haven't had any fried food in a really long time…now I have a craving for some golden brown crisp fried chicken! They look very delicious.
Big Dude
I'm sure their are things better than good ole fashioned pan fried chicken, but it is a short list – you now have me craving it.
Regina
Today was fried chicken day and the perfect recipe to add to your post! Don't you love the older recipes from family? I love fried chix and it took me awhile to get husband to eat, as he spent his summers on a chicken farm but now he loves it…………… Oh, and I love my cast iron for everything!
Karen (Back Road Journal)
Just the way my mother made fried chicken except for the cayenne which I like. It looks crispy and delicious.
Jem @ lost in utensils
That chicken looks fantastic! I've never actually made fried chicken before-I knew buttermilk was the way to go. I need to do this!
Freda Fre
Southern fried chicken is one of several weekly dishes at my Mom's house after church on Sunday's. Even before I was born, fried chicken was a Sunday dish prepared by my maternal great-grand mom & grand mom. The movie Soul Food resembles our family tradition. It is truly a food for the soul! I didn't go to my Moms today, so this truly made me home sick. Looks terrific!
Mary
Your chicken looks absolutely mouthwatering!Mary
Gloria Baker
Look delicious Many times I dont made fry chicken!
Michelle
A Southern classic!
Grandbabycakes
Now that looks amazing! I adore fried chicken! Nothing better!
The JR
That just screams YUMMY!
chow and chatter
yum always a nice treat
Erica
One of my favorite dishes! That recipe sounds delicious,Velva!
~~louise~~
Well, well, well, now isn't this a most timely post:) Yesterday, (Sunday) just happened to National Fried Chicken Day! Yes, there's a day for that! I even did a post to celebrate! I also made fried chicken for the celebration but, mine didn't come out as nearly as nice as yours. (I have a feeling I should have finished it off in the oven then it wouldn't have looked so \”charred.\” Yours looks yummy and I too love the thought of self rising flour. I brined the chicken before soaking it in the buttermilk. I have a feeling I could have skipped that step. Although, I'm thinking of trying again, maybe for National Chicken and Waffle Day, using yogurt only because I have been on such a yogurt making kick these days. Isn't it funny how certain foods just stick in our heads and we must make them until they are coming out of our ears, lol…Thanks so much for sharing, Velva. I'll be adding this post to my Fried Chicken Day!
Draffin Bears
Hi VelvaYou can't beat good old fashioned chicken – always a winner.Happy weekCarolyn
Claudia
It's scary how much I want this. Now. Really – right now. Have always heard you should use buttermilk. You just confirmed it. Now that's Southern comfort!
Lea Ann (Cooking On The Ranch)
Fried Chicken is the first thing I learned to make when I was a kid. That and baked beans. I want both right now! 🙂
Kitchen Belleicious
look at that crust. wow, it is perfectly cooked and just beautiful. Its like a piece of home to me. Wishing i had this in store for dinner tonight!
Jennifer B.
This looks really great, Velva! I love fried chicken so much, and I think you did it justice.
Chaya
I guess with all the great dishes that have surfaced over the years, none really compare to good old fried chicken.
Ocean Breezes and Country Sneezes
Oh my this sounds and looks good! I'm going to give it a try! Thank you!
Chris
That looks just like the way my mom used to do it. I'm so used to pressure cooked chicken (ala Popeye's and such) that most restaurants use these days that I forgot how good Southern fried chicken is. Time to drag out the deep cast iron pan!
SavoringTime in the Kitchen
I just saw an old-fashioned fried chicken recipe on America's Test Kitchen! Yours looks wonderful and I'll add it to my list! My husband's grandparents always did several grilled chickens on the rotisserie every Sunday for whoever dropped in. Great family food!