Crispy Fried Chicken - Best Old-fashioned Homestyle Fried Chicken Recipe
This delicious crispy fried chicken recipe uses old-fashioned homestyle cooking with a quick start in the cast iron skillet and finished off in the oven for the best juicy on the inside chicken and crispy on the outside!
Ingredients
- 1 whole frying chicken cut into 8 pieces
- 2 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 4-5 cups cold water
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¾ teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ⅔ cup all purpose flour
- ½ cup traditional fat measured in solid form
Instructions
- If necessary, cut the chicken into 8 pieces-legs, thighs, breasts, wings. Save the carcass for later.
- Place the chicken pieces in a large bowl, and add apple cider vinegar. Cover with cold water until all pieces are submerged and allow to marinate for 30 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees, and add a sheet pan with a cooling rack fitted on top of it.
- In a small mixing bowl, add all the spices.
- Using a separate medium sized bowl, add half of the spice mixture to the flour and whisk together.
- Remove the chicken from the vinegar water and drain on paper towels, or cotton kitchen towel. Dry thoroughly.
- Using a cast iron skillet, or other large skillet, heat the fat until it reaches 375 degrees. If you place a couple drops of flour in the pan and it sizzles right away, it’s ready.
- Season chicken pieces with remaining seasonings and dredge in seasoned flour.
- Starting with the chicken breasts, place in hot oil and fry on each side for 5 minutes. Remove to the hot oven.
- Follow up with thighs, then legs, then wings. This will allow the bigger pieces to have more time in the oven for proper cooking.
- Once all the chicken pieces are in the oven, set the timer and allow to finish cooking for 25-30 minutes, until a meat thermometer reads 165 or juices run clear when pierced with a fork.
- Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days, and reheat in the oven at 400 degrees to crisp skin again.
Notes
You can use a whole chicken cut up or whatever cuts of chicken you have
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!