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Easy Fried Chicken

A simple and delicious recipe for crispy fried chicken with a juicy interior, perfect for any meal.
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Prep Time 3 hours
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 3 hours 12 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 400
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the brine
  • 3 lb drumsticks or thighs
  • 4 cups whole milk (can substitute with water)
  • 1/4 cup salt
  • 8 cloves garlic
  • 2 tbsp black peppercorns
  • 3 bay leaves
For the coating
  • 2 cups flour (Gluten-Free Flour recommended)
  • 2 cups cornstarch
  • 1 tbsp kosher salt
  • 1/2 tbsp white pepper
  • 1 tbsp black pepper
  • 1 tbsp garlic powder
  • 1 tbsp onion powder
  • 1/2 tbsp cayenne pepper
  • 1 tbsp baking powder
  • 1 cup seasoning mix
  • 1 cup cold water

Method
 

Brining
  1. Carefully pierce the chicken with a knife.
  2. In a bowl, mix the milk (or water), salt, garlic, black peppercorns, and bay leaves.
  3. Brine the chicken in this mixture for 2-3 hours or overnight for best results.
Coating the Chicken
  1. In a large bowl, combine the flour, cornstarch, kosher salt, white pepper, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, and baking powder. Whisk until well combined.
  2. Take 1 cup of your seasoning mix and mix it with the cold water in a separate bowl until smooth.
  3. Remove the chicken from the brine and take a few tablespoons of the brine to mix with your seasoning mix. Use your hands to create small clumps.
  4. Dip each piece of chicken into the wet batter, letting any excess drip off. Then, dredge the chicken in the seasoning mix, pressing it in until fully coated.
  5. Let the coated chicken rest on a baking sheet while you heat the oil.
Frying
  1. In a large cast iron pan, Dutch oven, or heavy-bottomed pan/wok, heat the oil to 350°F.
  2. Fry the chicken for 8-12 minutes, depending on the size, until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.

Notes

For an even crispier coating, let the chicken sit for a few minutes after breading before frying. Make sure the oil is at the right temperature for frying. Experiment with different seasoning mixes to find your favorite flavor combination.