Recipes Meat and Poultry Chicken Fried Chicken Recipes Southern Fried Chicken 4.7 (304) 244 Reviews 41 Photos This Southern fried chicken recipe is originally from Alabama and has been passed down for generations. Submitted by Cindy Garrick Updated on December 14, 2023 Save Rate Print Share Add Photo 41 41 41 41 Prep Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 20 mins Additional Time: 45 mins Total Time: 1 hr 20 mins Servings: 4 Jump to Nutrition Facts Jump to recipe This flavorful Southern-fried chicken recipe will quickly become a staple in your dinner rotation. Southern-Fried Chicken Seasonings This flavorful Southern-fried chicken is seasoned with paprika, salt, ground black pepper, garlic and onion powders, and cayenne pepper. Cook’s Note Cut breast halves in half crosswise if they are significantly larger than thighs.Feel free to brine your chicken in advance if you have a favorite recipe, this will just impart even more flavor and juiciness into the meat. How to Make Southern-Fried Chicken You’ll find the full, step-by-step recipe below — but here’s a brief overview of what you can expect when you make Southern-fried chicken: Combine the flour and seasonings in a zip-top bag. Add the chicken to the bag and toss to coat.Chill the floured chicken in the fridge.Toss the chilled, floured chicken in the flour mixture one more time.Fry the chicken until an instant read thermometer reads 165 degrees F. Test Kitchen Tips This top-rated user recipe was tested in our test kitchen. Here are some tips from our culinary experts:Depending on the size of your fryer, you will need at least 2 quarts of oil to fry chicken. And the oil should be at least 1 1/2 inches deep to allow for even cooking.If you don’t have a deep fryer, we recommend using a 4 to 5-quart heavy pan for deep frying chicken. You might be tempted to skip chilling the floured chicken in the fridge, but don’t! It will help the breading stick. What to Eat With Southern-Fried Chicken If you’re in need of serving inspiration, explore our collection of Side Dishes for Fried Chicken. Here are some of the mouth-watering ideas you’ll find: Baked Beans Mom's Favorite Baked Mac and Cheese Squash Casserole Allrecipes Community Tips and Praise “Loved it,” raves elvers. “Easy, quick dinner. Great flavor!” “This has now become a staple in our household,” says MtHigh. “Perfect fried chicken with minimal effort.” “Served this alongside mashed potatoes, gravy and green beans ... a PERFECT meal and comfort food,” according to scs08. Editorial contributions by Corey Williams Cook Mode (Keep screen awake) Ingredients 1x 2x 4x Oops! Something went wrong. Our team is working on it. Original recipe (1X) yields 4 servings 1 cup all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons paprika 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon ground black pepper 1 teaspoon garlic powder 1 teaspoon onion powder 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (Optional) 1 (3 pound) whole chicken, cut into pieces vegetable oil for frying Directions Gather all ingredients. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios Combine flour, paprika, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne in a large resealable plastic bag. Add chicken pieces to the bag and toss to coat. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios Place floured chicken pieces on a wire rack set over a baking sheet, reserving remaining flour in bag. Chill chicken in the refrigerator 45 minutes or until flour looks pasty. Meanwhile, add 1 ½ inches of oil to a deep fryer or 5-quart heavy pot. Heat oil to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Dotdash Meredith Food Studios Place chicken pieces back into the bag of flour and toss once more to coat. This will help the coating cling nicely to the chicken pieces for crispier results. Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F (93 degrees C). Lower chicken pieces, 2 to 3 pieces at a time, carefully into the hot oil. Fry until golden, turning once, about 8 to 12 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted near the bone should read 165 degrees F (74 degrees C). Dotdash Meredith Food Studios Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Keep fried chicken warm in preheated oven while you fry remaining chicken. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios Serve hot and enjoy! Dotdash Meredith Food Studios Editor's Note: Nutrition data for this recipe includes the full amount of breading ingredients. The actual amount of breading consumed will vary. We have determined the nutritional value of oil for frying based on a retention value of 10% after cooking. The exact amount will vary depending on cooking time and temperature, ingredient density, and specific type of oil used. I Made It Print 473 home cooks made it! Nutrition Facts (per serving) 491 Calories 32g Fat 16g Carbs 33g Protein Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label Nutrition Facts Servings Per Recipe 4 Calories 491 % Daily Value * Total Fat 32g 41% Saturated Fat 7g 34% Cholesterol 97mg 32% Sodium 94mg 4% Total Carbohydrate 16g 6% Dietary Fiber 1g 3% Total Sugars 0g Protein 33g 66% Vitamin C 0mg 0% Calcium 19mg 1% Iron 3mg 15% Potassium 301mg 6% * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs. ** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data. (-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.