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If you’ve never had Southern Fried Chicken, you’ve been truly missing out! They’re crispy on the outside and tender and flavorful on the inside. Those who are in the know will tell you that these fried chicken are better than anything found at restaurants like KFC and Chik-Fil-A!
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Best Southern Fried Chicken Recipe

If you’ve never had Southern Fried Chicken, you’ve been truly missing out! They’re crispy on the outside and tender and flavorful on the inside. Those who are in the know will tell you that these fried chicken are better than anything found at restaurants like KFC and Chik-Fil-A!
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Marinating Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings 4

Ingredients

  • 2 lb chicken chicken wings, sliced chicken breasts or your favorite cut
  • canola oil for frying

For the Marinade

  • 1 cup milk
  • 3/4 teaspoon lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 2 teaspoons cornstarch
  • 1 teaspoon hot sauce
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

For the Crispy Coating

  • 1/2 cup Panko breadcrumbs
  • 1/2 cup regular breadcrumbs
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 tablespoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

  • Make the Marinade: Whisk together milk, lemon juice, hot sauce, and sugar in a medium mixing bowl. Add cornstarch, salt, and pepper. Mix well.
  • Marinate the chicken: Pour the marinade into the zip-top bag and gently shake until the chicken is thoroughly coated. Marinate the chicken in the refrigerator for 20-30 minutes. (No more than 1 hour.)
  • Heat the oil: Add about 2-inches of oil to a large pot or deep fryer and heat to 350˚F.
  • Make the coating: In the meantime, combine Panko breadcrumbs, regular breadcrumbs, flour, paprika, onion powder, salt, and pepper in a shallow bowl.
  • Coat the chicken: Remove chicken from the bag a few at a time. Add them to the breadcrumb mixture and coat them thoroughly. I recommend pressing the coating lightly onto the chicken with your hands. Repeat until all chicken is coated.
  • Fry the chicken: Once the oil is ready, carefully add the chicken into the pot, and fry for about 4-5 minutes per side. Don’t overcrowd the pot. Remove the fried chicken from the oil with a slotted spoon and place them on a plate lined with paper towels. Repeat until all the chicken is cooked. Serve and enjoy!