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? ›

Ingredient Tips

My not-so-secret tip to the best fried chicken is a combination of FLOUR, CORNSTARCH, and 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.)

Why does buttermilk make fried chicken better? ›

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!

Why do you put baking soda in fried chicken? ›

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.

How to keep the breading from falling off chicken 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.

What is the trick to getting crispy chicken? ›

Double Dredge

The best way to ensure the breading will stay on the chicken is to double down on the flour. This creates a super thick, extra crispy coating on your chicken. After dredging the chicken in seasoned flour, dip it into an egg wash and place it back into the flour.

Which is better for fried chicken flour or cornstarch? ›

Cornstarch is one of our recommended ingredients for the crispiest fried chicken. Cornstarch is often used in Asian fried chicken recipes. The combination of the flour with cornstarch produces the crispiest result.

What is the ratio of flour to cornstarch when frying chicken? ›

If you already have a favorite fried chicken recipe, try replacing a quarter of the flour with cornstarch. For example, instead of 2 cups of all-purpose flour use 1 1/2 cups of flour and 1/2 cup of cornstarch. If you are looking for a good recipe, we highly recommend this one.

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.

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

Excess flour will create a thick coating that prevents the egg mixture from latching onto the meat. Therefore, if you want your breading not to fall off from the meat when deep-frying, you must shake off the excess flour before proceeding.

Why do you squeeze lemon on fried chicken? ›

Flavor: Lemon juice adds a tangy and bright flavor to the chicken, which can enhance the taste of the dish. Tenderizing: The acidity in lemon juice can help break down the proteins in the chicken, making it more tender and juicy.

Is it better to fry chicken in egg wash or buttermilk? ›

Buttermilk Is More Than A Better Coating

This acidic nature also helps lightly tenderize the meat, creating an even juicier, more succulent texture. Even a few minutes of soaking in buttermilk (or resting after breading) can make a big difference.

Do you have to rinse baking soda off chicken before cooking? ›

For the baking soda method described here, you should rinse the baking soda off of the chicken. If you use the corn starch method, you do not rinse it off before cooking.

Why is Korean fried chicken so crispy? ›

The Korean fried chicken is super crispy because potato starch is added to its batter and the chicken is fried twice. This second frying also cooks off the excess water in the chicken from the first frying. Korean fried chicken is known to stay extra crispy for a long time, even with a glazed surface.

Do you rinse chicken after baking soda? ›

You can velvet meat and make it melt-in-your-mouth tender by quickly tossing chunks of beef or chicken in about ¾ tsp of baking soda for about 15 minutes before your next stir fry, then rinse and pat the meat dry before putting in the pan.

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.

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.

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.

Why do you soak chicken in milk before frying? ›

These enzymes and acids work together in order to break down the proteins allowing the chicken meat to become tenderer. This is the reason why chefs soak chicken in yogurt or milk overnight before cooking it. The marinade will yield for a better result especially when you plan to fry the chicken.

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