Grandma's Fried Chicken Recipe (2024)

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With simple ingredients and a unique method, Grandma’s Fried Chicken Recipe is an old-school dish that has been passed down from generation to generation. Super tasty, easy and one you’ll want to keep on the menu rotation.

Grandma's Fried Chicken Recipe (1)

Now I love myself some good fried chicken, chicken is really my go-to meat of choice so I’m pretty much a lover of chicken anything.

Grandma’s Fried Chicken Recipe is a tasty but different Fried Chicken that you probably have never seen before. This is one method that we have been using for ages.

We love family recipes and we love being able to pass them over to our readers to try something different and see if you all love some of the same things that we do.

This is one of my favorites, the crust puffs up and becomes crispy. Now I know what you’re thinking, this is not your ordinary fried chicken, but that is the point.

This is super unordinary, it’s a fun and different dinner recipe that is actually so delicious that it may just become one of your favorite ways of making Fried Chicken.

Now I’m not saying that this ever will replace the way that you like it, heck we make all sorts of fried chicken recipes, but this one we love to keep on the menu rotation because it is super delish.

If you are looking to try something different with your chicken then I highly recommend that you try Grandma’s Fried Chicken Recipe, you will surprise yourself!

Some of my other favorite chicken recipes we have on our site include: Nashville Hot Chicken Tenders, Copycat Panda Express Orange Chicken and Crispy Chicken Sandwiches.

Grandma's Fried Chicken Recipe (2)

WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS:

  • Normal pantry ingredients help this come together.
  • This makes a nice large batch of different pieces.
  • You can easily double this recipe to serve more people.

INGREDIENTS NEEDED (FULL RECIPE AT BOTTOM):

Chicken
Garlic powder
Seasoned salt
Pepper
Onion powder
All-purpose flour
Baking powder
Baking soda
Water
Kosher salt to taste
Oil for frying

Grandma's Fried Chicken Recipe (3)

HOW TO MAKE GRANDMA’S FRIED CHICKEN RECIPE, STEP BY STEP:

  1. Heat oil in a large, heavy-bottom skillet to 375°F. The oil needs to be about 3-inches up the side of the pan.
  2. Place the chicken in a large bowl. Add the garlic powder, seasoned salt, black pepper, and onion powder, toss to coat the chicken in the spices.
  3. In a small bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, and baking soda. Add the flour mixture to the chicken bowl and toss to coat the chicken.
  4. Start adding the water to the bowl about 1 and 1/4 cup, stirring as you do, it is easier to use your hands for this. You want the batter to be a little thinner than pancake batter. Add in more of the water if needed.
  5. Once the oil is hot, gently add a few pieces of the chicken into the pan, not touching, you do not want to crowd the pan. Make sure the chicken is coated in a thin layer of the batter before placing it into the oil.
  6. Add the lid on the skillet and cook for 7 minutes, flip the chicken, and cook an additional 7-9 minutes until an internal temperature reaches 165°F. How big the chicken pieces are depends on how long they have to cook.
  7. Drain the chicken on a wire rack over a sheet tray to catch any drips. Immediately sprinkle with kosher salt. Repeat with the remaining pieces.

Grandma's Fried Chicken Recipe (4)

CAN I USE SELF RISING FLOUR?

Yes you can, we do this on occasion when we have it handy. You will still want to keep the baking soda and powder that is called for in the recipe itself.

SHOULD THE SKIN BE LEFT ON OR TAKEN OFF?

For the breast, legs, and thighs, I take the skin off the chicken, this is personal preference. I find with a battered fried chicken like this one the skin can become soggy under the batter.

If you take off the skin of the wings, the meat from the wings can basically just disintegrate in the oil that’s the only pieces I keep the skin on.

WHAT OIL IS BEST FOR FRYING?

I like to use peanut oil. My Grandma actually used olive oil, but it is so expensive and doesn’t have as high of a smoke point.

WHAT IS THE BEST PAN TO USE?

I don’t recommend using a dutch oven because it lets the oil continuously drip back into the pan, making for a huge scary mess.

Also, a deep fryer won’t work either, since it’s a batter, the chicken wants to drop to the bottom of the basket and then it will just stick there.

So, a large skillet with deep sides with a lid, or an electric frying pan with lid works great.

Grandma's Fried Chicken Recipe (5)

HOW TO STORE:

This can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container where it will keep for up to 3-4 days. We do not recommend freezing this recipe.

This can be reheated in the oven until crispy and heated through.

TIPS AND TRICKS:

  • You can replace all-purpose flour with self rising, keep the baking soda and powder in the recipe.
  • You can use any piece of chicken that you’d like.
  • We remove the skin from all pieces of chicken besides the wings.
  • We do not recommend freezing this recipe.
  • Placing the lid on the skillet will help the chicken to cook faster and I believe helps the batter puff up to crisp. However, it can be a little dangerous because the condensation from the lid, when you take it off, can drip back into the oil and cause splatters. So, I just make sure to have an extra clean kitchen towel or paper towels nearby, so when I take the top off I do it really quick so no drips of water can reach the oil, then I wipe off the excess water from the lid with the towel/paper towels.
  • Easily double this recipe to make more, you will have to cook in batches.

Grandma's Fried Chicken Recipe (6)

If you want a different meal that is super flavorful and absolutely delicious then you need to try Grandma’s Fried Chicken Recipe! I hope you will love it just as much as we do.

If you like this recipe you might also like:

  • Chicken Fried Chicken
  • Oven Fried Chicken
  • Seasoned Air Fryer Chicken

If you’ve tried GRANDMA’S FRIED CHICKEN RECIPEor any other recipe on my site, let me know in the comment section how it turned out, we love hearing from our readers! You can also follow along with me on PINTEREST, FACEBOOK and INSTAGRAM to see more amazing recipes and what shenanigans I’m getting into!

Grandma's Fried Chicken Recipe (7)

Grandma's Fried Chicken Recipe

With simple ingredients and a unique method, Grandma's Fried Chicken Recipe is an old-school dish that has been passed down from generation to generation. Super tasty, easy and one you'll want to keep on the menu rotation.

5 from 5 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 16 minutes minutes

Total Time: 26 minutes minutes

Servings: 8

Calories: 321kcal

Author: Tornadough Alli

Ingredients

  • 8 pieces chicken breasts split down the middle
  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 1 ½ teaspoon seasoned salt
  • 1 ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 ¼ teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 ½ cups water more or less
  • Kosher salt to taste
  • Oil for frying

Instructions

  • Heat oil in a large, heavy-bottom skillet to 375°F. The oil needs to be about 3-inches up the side of the pan.

  • Place the chicken in a large bowl. Add the garlic powder, seasoned salt, black pepper, and onion powder, toss to coat the chicken in the spices.

  • In a small bowl, stir together the flour, baking powder, and baking soda. Add the flour mixture to the chicken bowl and toss to coat the chicken.

  • Start adding the water to the bowl about 1 and 1/4 cup, stirring as you do, it is easier to use your hands for this. You want the batter to be a little thinner than pancake batter. Add in more of the water if needed.

  • Once the oil is hot, gently add a few pieces of the chicken into the pan, not touching, you do not want to crowd the pan. Make sure the chicken is coated in a thin layer of the batter before placing it into the oil.

  • Add the lid on the skillet and cook for 7 minutes, flip the chicken, and cook an additional 7-9 minutes until an internal temperature reaches 165°F. How big the chicken pieces are depends on how long they have to cook.

  • Drain the chicken on a wire rack over a sheet tray to catch any drips. Immediately sprinkle with kosher salt. Repeat with the remaining pieces.

Notes

  1. You can replace all-purpose flour with self rising, keep the baking soda and powder in the recipe.
  2. You can use any piece of chicken that you'd like.
  3. We remove the skin from all pieces of chicken besides the wings.
  4. We do not recommend freezing this recipe.
  5. Placing the lid on the skillet will help the chicken to cook faster and I believe helps the batter puff up to crisp. However, it can be a little dangerous because the condensation from the lid, when you take it off, can drip back into the oil and cause splatters. So, I just make sure to have an extra clean kitchen towel or paper towels nearby, so when I take the top off I do it really quick so no drips of water can reach the oil, then I wipe off the excess water from the lid with the towel/paper towels.
  6. Easily double this recipe to make more, you will have to cook in batches.

Nutrition

Calories: 321kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 40g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 119mg | Sodium: 640mg | Potassium: 553mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 90IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 79mg | Iron: 3mg

Tornadough Alli is not a nutritionist or dietitian, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and nutritional value is important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories and values can vary depending on which brands were used.

Tried this recipe?Mention @TornadoughAlli or tag #TornadoughAlli!

Nutrition Disclaimer

Grandma's Fried Chicken Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why do people soak chicken in buttermilk before frying? ›

The secret to making the perfect fried chicken is the use of buttermilk, as it helps tenderize each piece while leaving each bite juicy and crispy. After marinating, dredge your chicken pieces in the flour mixture and get to frying!

Is cornstarch or all purpose flour better for fried chicken? ›

When paired with all-purpose flour, cornstarch helps prevent gluten development, which makes the flour coating crispier, and absorb moisture (from the frying and the chicken), which also means a crispier coating. If you already have a favorite fried chicken recipe, try replacing a quarter of the flour with cornstarch.

Is it better to use egg or milk for fried chicken? ›

Traditionally, some cooks will recommend using sparkling water or egg but I think my mix works even better (and saves you time & extra steps!) The lactic acid in dairy breaks down the proteins and collagen in the chicken, which softens the flesh and will make it more tender when cooked.

What is the trick to getting crispy chicken? ›

Fry it twice.

Try Fontana's method for “blanching” fried chicken: Heat oil to 250 degrees and cook chicken breasts for about five minutes, or bone-in chicken for about 12 minutes. Let them rest for 15 to 20 minutes, then fry again, two to three minutes for breasts or five minutes for bone-in.

Why do you soak chicken in salt water before frying? ›

It helps flavor the meat. When brining a chicken, you allow the taste of the solution to penetrate through the surface and penetrate the deeper recesses of the chicken with flavor. It means the flesh is already flavorful without breading. It helps keep the meat moist.

How to keep breading from falling off buttermilk fried chicken? ›

Not patting the chicken

After you have covered the chicken with the breading, gently pat it down on all sides, so every layer sticks to each other properly. The patted-down chicken is less likely to lose its breading!

Should you rinse chicken after soaking in buttermilk? ›

Before cooking the chicken, all you need is to pat it dry, not rinsing it.

Is 2 hours long enough to soak chicken in buttermilk? ›

Soak chicken in buttermilk for 30 minutes to an hour. Overnight is OK.

How many minutes to fry chicken? ›

This usually equates to around 10 minutes for wings and 12 minutes for breasts, thighs and legs. For the best tasting fried chicken with a beautifully even golden crumb, turn your chicken pieces with tongs (being careful not to splash yourself with hot oil) every 1 – 2 minutes.

Is buttermilk necessary for fried chicken? ›

Furthermore, the eggs help keep the chicken moist and juicy during cooking, resulting in irresistibly flavorful fried chicken without the need for buttermilk. This ensures that you can cook fried chicken recipe without buttermilk.

Why do you add baking powder to flour for fried chicken? ›

The moisture helps create a craggy coating that, when fried, yields lots of crunchy morsels to bite into. But the baking powder is key, because it acts like a salt. It helps draw moisture to the surface, where it can evaporate.

What makes fried chicken taste so good? ›

It's all about that crunch

Done properly, deep-frying creates a satisfying contrast between the crispy-crunchy coating and tender chicken. Beyond that simple textural enjoyment, the crispness actually sends our brain a message that the food itself is in good condition.

Why is my chicken tender breading falling off? ›

Place the breaded chicken on a cooling rack (or a platter) and chill in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes. This cooling time will help the layers of breading ingredients solidify and adhere better after the chicken cooks. Once you start cooking the chicken, be patient and don't flip it over too early.

Is egg wash necessary for fried chicken? ›

There is a crucial element to getting any breading to stick to your soon-to-be fried chicken: egg wash. The egg wash acts as a binder for the bread crumbs, since the moisture from the chicken alone isn't enough. From there, you can pop the chicken in the deep fryer or air fryer, and it will come out perfectly crisp.

How to keep the breading from falling off chicken fried chicken? ›

Always dip your chicken in beaten egg before coating

Dipping your chicken in egg helps the breadcrumbs, or whatever coating you use, adhere evenly to the outside of the cutlet. You should start with a thin layer of flour, which gives the egg a better surface to cling to, then the egg, then the coating.

Is fried chicken better with batter or flour? ›

Fried chicken tastes fantastic with a batter or a flour coating. It's simply a matter of preference.

How to get the best flavor for fried chicken? ›

Dry brine (meaning salt) the chicken itself first. You can do this overnight in the fridge or for just 30 minutes before coating and frying the chicken at room temperature. This salting step is critical for moist, flavorful chicken, as it gives the chicken direct contact with the salt.

What is the key to frying chicken? ›

Fry It Hot

If the fryer oil is too cold, the breading will get oil-logged and soggy—how sad! Get your chicken crispy by frying at temperatures around 375°. Keep in mind that the temperature will go down when you drop in the chicken, so make sure to turn the heat up a bit to compensate.

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