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

What is the secret to making great fried chicken? ›

They're 100% guaranteed to make you the King of Crunch.
  1. Fried Chicken Secret #1: A Salty Marinade = Juicier Meat.
  2. Fried Chicken Secret #2: Add Vodka to the Marinade.
  3. Fried Chicken Secret #3: Add Liquid to Your Dredging Mixture.
  4. Fried Chicken Secret #4: Double-Fry It.
  5. Read More.

Why do you put cornstarch on chicken before frying? ›

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.

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

FLOUR + CORNSTARCH + BAKING POWDER

When mixed with the flour, the cornstarch makes the flour coating crispier and gives it that golden brown color! (It has to do with prevention of gluten development.) The baking powder reacts with the oil and creates tiny air bubbles, which also helps form a crispy coating.

Why does buttermilk make fried chicken better? ›

Buttermilk is slightly acidic, so as the chicken marinates, the buttermilk breaks down the proteins in the chicken, tenderising it. Its thicker texture helps completely coat the chicken in the spiced flour mixture so it crisps up well when fried.

What is the trick to getting crispy chicken? ›

Use high heat: Whether you're baking or pan-frying, using high heat helps to crisp up the chicken skin quickly. It promotes browning and creates a crispy texture. Preheat the cooking surface: If you're pan-frying chicken, ensure that the pan is properly preheated before adding the chicken.

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.

Which is better for fried chicken flour or cornstarch? ›

Frying Perfect Chicken

While every fried chicken joint or gas station will tell you that they have a secret formula to their batter, we don't like to keep secrets. Cornstarch will make your fried chicken better.

Is it better to fry chicken in cornstarch or flour? ›

Both flour and cornstarch are used to coat chicken, fish, and vegetables before deep-frying. Cornstarch typically makes for a crispier finish than flour. Cornstarch absorbs moisture from the food and expands, giving deep-fried foods a crispy coating.

Is it better to fry chicken with flour or starch? ›

I got the best results when using a 50-50 blend of potato starch and wheat flour by weight. The wheat flour facilitates browning, while the potato starch provides structure, cohesion, and that all important crunch factor.

Which is better for fried chicken cornstarch or baking soda? ›

The baking powder raises the pH of the surface, allowing it to crisp better*), and tossing in plain cornstarch to absorb some surface moisture and create a rougher texture for the batter to adhere to.

What makes chicken crispy baking soda or cornstarch? ›

The first ingredient in baking powder is, drumroll please… Cornstarch. When you coat chicken wings in plain cornstarch mixed with a little kosher salt before baking, you are rewarded with ultra tasty, divinely crispy wings with zero metallic flavor.

What ingredient makes chicken skin crispy? ›

That trick is a sprinkling of baking powder, and it'll get you the crispiest, crackliest bites of fatty, salty skin imaginable, whether you're cooking just one thigh, a plate of wings, or an entire bird.

Do you rinse buttermilk off chicken before cooking? ›

When marinating chicken in buttermilk, there's no need to rinse it before cooking. In fact, rinsing would wash away a lot of the flavor your just infused! Simply remove the chicken from the buttermilk and let the excess marinade drip off.

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

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.

Why do you squeeze lemon on fried chicken? ›

So if it calls for 1/2 a lemon squeezed over the fried food, you drizzle 2 Tblsp. lemon juice. What is the purpose of putting lemon juice on a cooked chicken? Lemon juice is added to cooked chicken to enhance its flavor and tenderness, and to add a tangy and acidic taste to the dish.

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. Flour coatings like the one used in this fried chicken recipe combine flour with spices, and they sometimes add cornstarch or baking powder to the mix.

What do you soak chicken in before cooking? ›

Chicken Brine Ingredients

Salt: Kosher salt tenderizes the meat, helps it retain moisture, and adds flavor. Soy sauce: Soy sauce lends even more salt and flavor. Sugar: White sugar adds subtle sweetness and helps promote browning. Olive oil: Olive oil helps ensure moist and tender meat.

Why do you soak chicken before frying? ›

Aside from injecting flavor, the brine breaks down the proteins of the poultry, retaining moisture in the cells. In 24 hours or less, the muscle fibers in the meat begin to separate and swell, resulting in a tender, juicy and flavorful meat.

What does adding eggs to fried chicken do? ›

Using egg whites to adhere the coating to the chicken ensures that the crust stays put, even if your chicken sticks to the bottom of the frying pan. The last bit of atypical preparation is sprinkling the hot chicken with the Bromberg's Fried Chicken Seasoning once it comes out of the fryer.

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