Food and Recipes Dish Fried Chicken 26 Of The Best Southern Fried Chicken Recipes We're Always Craving By Kimberly Holland Kimberly Holland Kimberly Holland is a writer and editor with 15 years of experience in food, lifestyle, health, and nutrition content. She has been published in Southern Living, Real Simple, Allrecipes, EatingWell, Cooking Light, and other publications. Southern Living's editorial guidelines and Patricia S York Patricia S York Patricia was the assistant food editor at Southern Living and worked with the Southern Living food team from 2006-2022. She contributed to articles about food, gardening, and pets. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on March 28, 2024 Trending Videos Close this video player Photo: Will Dickey Prop Stylist: Missie Crawford Food Stylist: Erin Merha To put it in simple terms: Fried chicken is a crunchy, crispy, heavenly delight. Southerners are practically born knowing fried chicken and how it should look, taste, and smell—and we also know there's more than one way to make it taste just as good as Mama's. These favorite fried chicken recipes are to be made over and over again, from our most simple recipes to the ones with all the bells and whistles. For a truly Southern take on fried chicken, fry up a batch of Mama's Fried Chicken—simply seasoned with salt and pepper and soak in buttermilk. It's the definition of "Don't mess with a good thing." From there, renditions are endless and equally crispy—from a batch that's brined with sweet tea to one that's covered in pepper gravy. Too busy to deep-fry? Try one of our oven-fried chicken recipes that get all of the texture of deep-frying with half the hassle (and oil!). We even included a few surprises, like chicken biscuits, chicken and waffles, and crunchy chicken salad. These aren't just like your mama's, but they come with a flair all their own. However you sizzle it, these fried chicken recipes will have you savoring every golden, extra-crispy bite of this classic Southern food. 01 of 26 Crispy Fried Chicken Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Karen Rankin, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless Every bite of this fried chicken bursts with flavor, thanks to the buttermilk, pickle juice, and hot sauce marinade it sits in for hours. The marinated chicken then gets dredged into a flour mixture including spices like garlic and onion powder, paprika, seasoned salt, and cayenne pepper before getting deep fried. You simply can't go wrong with this recipe. Get The Recipe 02 of 26 Fried Chicken Wings JENNIFER DAVICK; STYLING: BUFFY HARGETT This dish uses the classic double dredge method that is so tried and true for many Southern cooks. You can make these classic wings a day ahead and serve cold, if you like. When we think of tailgating, this might be the perfect approach. Get The Recipe 03 of 26 Homemade Fried Chicken Sandwich Photographer: Jennifer Causey Food Stylist: Rishon Hanners Prop Stylist: Christina Daley We don't want to brag, but we might venture to say that this recipe will rival a certain well-known chicken sandwich. Don't forget that the key to frying chicken, whether it be magic sandwich or platter of drummies, is to get your oil to the right temperature and keep it there. You will master the method in no time. Get The Recipe 04 of 26 Fried Chicken Sliders With Pimiento Cheese Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Serve a double header of Southern favorites and you'll be the queen of the cookout. Not only does this recipe include its own spin on beloved pimiento cheese, it instructs you to lay down pickled okra onto your sliders. Between the tangy flavors and entices textures, your guests will be hoping for seconds, Get The Recipe 05 of 26 Cajun Fried Chicken Will Dickey Prop Stylist: Missie Crawford Food Stylist: Erin Merha With this recipe, it's all in good taste. Simply add (or subtract) the desired amount of Cajun seasoning and hot sauce to suit your preferences. This recipe goes a little lower on temp for the oil, which tends to make the chicken juicier and slows the browning of the skin. The Southern Living Test Kitchen couldn't be more pleased with the results. Get The Recipe 06 of 26 Crispy Oven-Fried Drumsticks Ralph Anderson Here, we take your deep fryer out of the equation with an oven-fried chicken recipe that just might turn drumsticks into your new favorite piece of poultry. In this recipe, you'll find a satisfyingly crunchy texture. We'd like two buckets, please. Get The Recipe 07 of 26 Lighter Pan-Fried Chicken With Green Beans And Tomatoes Stephen DeVries, Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford; Food Styling: Torie Cox Meet your new everyday fried chicken. This crispy, golden chicken is done with a quick pan-fry rather than a deep fry, making it slightly less heavy than the traditional fried stuff. If you are trying to go light on oil-based entrees, this is an option everyone can enjoy. Get The Recipe 08 of 26 Sweet Tea-Brined Fried Chicken Hector Sanchez This recipe is a marriage of Southern favorites. A salty-sweet brine of brown sugar and freshly brewed tea infuses this picnic-perfect chicken with juicy flavor before frying. The tannins in the tea act as a natural tenderizer. You'll be throwing this on the table more than once. Get The Recipe 09 of 26 Mama's Fried Chicken This recipe will take you back to the days when your mother used to fry her famous chicken. Soak your chicken in buttermilk at least two hours before frying. We promise–it'll be nothing short of sheer Southern comfort. Enjoying a heaping helping of Mama's Fried Chicken will be reminiscent of your childhood when Mama would tell you to play in the yard with your siblings after Sunday church while she prepared the meal. No doubt, it would be complete with mashed potatoes, collard greens, and mac & cheese. There isn't any other dish as quintessentially Southern. Are you curious about the secret to this decadent recipe? It's the buttermilk. Soaking the chicken in buttermilk for at least two hours before frying will ensure the dish is perfectly golden on the outside and tender on the inside. Of course, don't forget to make chicken and waffles with the leftovers on Monday morning! Get The Recipe 10 of 26 Fried Chicken Biscuits With Rosemary Hot Honey Skyler Burt We don't put this lightly: These chicken biscuits will make you fall in love. Prepared in a cast iron skillet, boneless chicken thighs deliver a tender bite beneath the crispy exterior, The rosemary-infused hot honey is Cupid's final blow. You'll wonder why you are not putting it on everything. Get The Recipe 11 of 26 Buttermilk Chicken Tenders With Roasted Potatoes And Green Beans Greg DuPree One thing we know for sure: Buttermilk makes everything taste better. Biscuits, pancakes, and fried chicken...the list goes on. For this specific recipe, the chicken is marinated in seasoned buttermilk then dredged through some panko. The result is a healthy and tasty alternative to deep frying. Get The Recipe 12 of 26 Oven-Fried Chicken Salad With Buttermilk Ranch Dressing Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Torie Cox This might be the only salad we want to eat as a dinner main. Ever. Grilled romaine lettuce gives this salad a smoky flavor. The chicken tenders taste like fried chicken—but with much less grease and mess. Get The Recipe 13 of 26 Buttermilk Chicken And Waffles Jennifer Davick The chicken and waffles flavor combo cannot be beaten, and as far as a food trend goes, it's classic enough to never wane in popularity. This bite-size version is perfect for a party, at any time of the day. Bonus: It makes it so easy for a big crowd to serve themselves. Get The Recipe 14 of 26 Pecan-Crusted Chicken And Tortellini With Herbed Butter Sauce Jennifer Davick You'll love every nutty, buttery bite of this chicken dinner—and that's a guarantee. Grab a few packages of cheese tortellini, and you're set in half an hour. Your family will wonder which Italian restaurant provided curbside pickup. Get The Recipe 15 of 26 Pan-Fried Chicken And Ham Parmesan Beth Dreiling Hontzas; Styling: Rose Nguyen When you need a quick family meal, look no further than this 30-minute meal. Serve over some pasta enhanced with garlic and herbs. Throw in a salad of fresh greens with bright flavors, and you've got everyone at the table. Get The Recipe 16 of 26 Chicken Fried Chicken Southern Living Serve this ultimate Southern dish at your next dinner party, and you'll be sure to get plenty of compliments. Chicken fried chicken is a particular favorite among kids and grown-ups, who especially love it for the ease with which it all comes together. Chicken Fried Chicken is a great weeknight meal to serve with any sides. Get The Recipe 17 of 26 Pimiento Cheese-Stuffed Fried Chicken Southern Living This award-winning recipe takes ordinary fried chicken up a notch by melting pimiento cheese inside the chicken breasts. In the South, pimiento cheese is practically a condiment, so the appeal couldn't be broader. Your guests will love the surprising indulgence inside the breast meat. Get The Recipe 18 of 26 Oven-Fried "Everything" Chicken Drumettes Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Christina Daley Adorable, hand-held, and bite-sized, our Chicken Drumettes are the fun finger food that will score big at your next party. The "everything" seasoning blend—which you would traditionally find on bagels—delivers big flavor. Keep this simple dish on repeat all year long. It's as easy as it gets. Get The Recipe 19 of 26 Crunchy Pan-Fried Chicken Southern Living The crispy, golden exterior is guaranteed to be irresistible. Our secret? A mixture of breadcrumbs and cornmeal. This coating combination also works well on pork chops and boned chicken thighs. Home cooks who master this simple crust can get creative with other dinner dishes, too. Get The Recipe 20 of 26 Fried Chicken Tacos With Buttermilk-Jalapeño Sauce Iain Bagwell; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller It's supper made easy by picking up your favorite chicken tenders and then running home to whip up this simple (but delicious!) Buttermilk-Jalapeño Sauce. With the help of some ranch dressing, this creamy condiment pulls together even the quickest of dinners. Get The Recipe 21 of 26 Easy Southern Fried Chicken Southern Living New to the fried chicken game? Try this easy recipe that even a beginner is sure to nail. It'll be on its way to your recipe tin in no time. This no-fuss recipe is a hurried cook's dream, but the results still stand above the rest. Use a cast iron pan instead of a normal skillet to retain heat and cook the chicken more evenly. Get The Recipe 22 of 26 Instant Pot Fried Chicken Photography: Caitlin Bensel, Prop Styling: Audrey Davis, Food Styling: Rishon Hanners Yes, you read that right. Use your Instant Pot to make this crispy, juicy, tender fried chicken and you'll never look back. You will still get the satisfying crunch of fried chicken skin.The multi-cooker cooks the chicken and renders some of the fat and water, leaving the meat tender and juicy. Get The Recipe 23 of 26 Fried Chicken Salad With Basil-Buttermilk Dressing Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis Lighten up your usual fried chicken by throwing it into this fresh basil salad. Adding basil leaves into the buttermilk dressing not only turns it a lovely light green color, but also adds a pop of freshness to a dressing that could be heavy otherwise. Bump up the color (and health factor) by adding extra vegetables to this flexible recipe. Get The Recipe 24 of 26 Air Fryer Buttermilk Chicken Tenders Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis This recipe, which the Southern Living Test Kitchen developed using the air fryer, makes chicken that is crispy on the outside and tender and juicy on the inside. We love the outcome and that this alternative method still yields a delicious result. This will land in your regular dinner rotation, especially with the inclusion of our tangy dipping sauce. Get The Recipe 25 of 26 Crispy Chicken With Sweet Potato Fries And Green Beans Photographer: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely; Food Stylist:Ruth Blackburn We're sneaking in some healthy suggestions here. This crispy chicken is baked, not fried, and the accompanying vegetables take the healthy factor up a notch. Not only is this beautiful when it's plated, your family won't have any trouble devouring what you've crafted. Get The Recipe 26 of 26 Air Fryer Lemon Pepper Chicken Wings Caitlin Bensel These wings, made in the air fryer, couldn't be easier. Thanks to the air fryer's fan, heat circulates evenly for the same crispy skin as fried wings without the added mess of frying oil. These are some of our favorite game day treats, and when you are using such an efficient appliance, entertaining is a cinch. Get The Recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit