Get ready for crispy, juicy, Southern-style fried chicken with a flavorful buttermilk marinade and a perfectly seasoned coating. This recipe delivers crunchy golden pieces on the outside while keeping the chicken tender and juicy inside.
It’s the kind of comfort food that’s perfect for Sunday dinner, family gatherings, game day, or whenever you’re craving seriously good fried chicken.
🍗 Ingredients
For the Chicken
- 3–4 lbs chicken drumsticks, thighs, and wings
- 2 cups buttermilk
- ¼ cup hot sauce
For the Crispy Coating
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 tsp additional garlic powder
- 1 tsp additional onion powder
For Frying
- Vegetable oil, enough for deep frying
👩🍳 Instructions
1. Marinate the Chicken
Place the chicken pieces in a large bowl.
Pour in the buttermilk and hot sauce and toss until every piece is well coated.
Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, preferably overnight. This gives the chicken more flavor and helps keep it tender.
2. Prepare the Seasoned Flour
In a large bowl, combine the flour, salt, black pepper, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne pepper.
Mix thoroughly so the seasonings are evenly distributed.
3. Coat the Chicken
Remove each piece of chicken from the buttermilk mixture, allowing the excess to drip off.
Place it into the seasoned flour and press the coating firmly onto the chicken.
For an extra-crispy crust, dip the chicken back into the buttermilk and then into the seasoned flour a second time.
Place the coated pieces on a tray and let them rest for about 10 minutes before frying.
4. Heat the Oil
Pour vegetable oil into a deep, heavy-bottomed skillet or Dutch oven.
Heat the oil to approximately 350°F (175°C).
Work in batches so you don’t overcrowd the pan or cause the oil temperature to drop too much.
5. Fry the Chicken
Carefully lower the chicken into the hot oil.
Fry until the coating is deeply golden and the chicken is cooked through. Depending on the size of the pieces, this generally takes 12–18 minutes.
Turn the pieces occasionally for even browning.
The safest way to check doneness is with an instant-read thermometer: chicken should reach 165°F (74°C) in the thickest part.
6. Drain and Serve
Transfer the fried chicken to a wire rack set over a baking sheet to drain excess oil.
Let it rest for a few minutes before serving.
🔥 How to Get Extra-Crispy Chicken
Don’t skip the marinade.
Buttermilk helps flavor and tenderize the chicken.
Press the flour onto the chicken.
This creates those delicious craggy, crispy pieces of coating.
Try double-dipping.
A second coating creates an even thicker crust.
Maintain the oil temperature.
If the oil is too cool, the chicken can become greasy. If it’s too hot, the coating can burn before the chicken cooks through.
Don’t overcrowd the pan.
Fry in batches to maintain a consistent temperature.
🍗 What to Serve With Fried Chicken
Make it a complete Southern-inspired meal with:
- Creamy mashed potatoes
- Coleslaw
- Mac and cheese
- Cornbread
- Collard greens
- Biscuits
- Pickles
- Potato salad
And don’t forget your favorite hot sauce! 🌶️
❤️ Crispy, Juicy & Full of Flavor
This Slap Ya Momma Fried Chicken is everything you want from homemade fried chicken: a deeply seasoned, crunchy crust surrounding juicy, flavorful chicken.
Make a big batch for the family, put out your favorite sides, and get ready for everyone to reach for seconds.
Save this recipe—you definitely don’t want to lose it! 🍗🔥
