If you want a crazy delicious fried chicken recipe, then it has to be this recipe for The Best Southern Fried Chicken. Crispy, flavorful and absolutely divine!.
People all over the world love fried chicken. The crispy, juicy fried chicken we know and love probably came from the American South, but its history goes back much further. I traced the fascinating origin story of this delicious dish.
Fried Chicken is Ancient s have been frying up chicken for thousands of years. There are records of ancient Romans and Greeks frying up small birds like quail in olive oil. Frying meat in fat was a tasty way to cook it across many early civilizations.
So while we can’t pinpoint the exact inventor of fried chicken it seems people all over the world came up with the idea independently. It doesn’t take much imagination to coat meat in flour and fry it for a crispy crust.
Scotland Perfected Fried Chicken
The specific style of battered, pan-fried chicken we associate with the American South actually has its roots in Scottish cuisine
Scots used to season chicken pieces, roll them in breadcrumbs, and fry them in fat as early as the Middle Ages. One of Scotland’s first cookbooks, from 1747, has a fried chicken recipe.
Unlike the English, who preferred boiling and baking, Scots loved frying everything from fish to offal. The Scottish were frying chicken with spices centuries before it caught on in England or America.
How It Came to America
From the 17th to 19th centuries, waves of Scottish immigrants came to America. Many settled in the South as plantation owners and brought their fried chicken recipes along.
Perhaps they taught Africans who were slaves how to make fried chicken, but the Black cooks changed the recipe a bit. Slave cooks added new spices and tastes that made it taste very Southern.
Chicken was one of the few animals that slaves could easily take care of, so fried chicken became a special treat in slave communities. Because it took a lot of work and cost a lot of money, it was only made on holidays and other special occasions.
The Rise of Southern Fried Chicken
The first published fried chicken recipe in America came from Mary Randolph’s 1824 cookbook “The Virginia Housewife.” This early version of Southern fried chicken was probably taught to her by the slaves her family owned.
After the Civil War, fried chicken became a source of economic opportunity for newly freed black women. The “Fried Chicken Capital of the World” emerged around the train station in Gordonsville, VA, where black women peddled expertly fried chicken to travelers.
As fried chicken grew in popularity across the South, it started being served in diners and restaurants. Then in the 1950s, Harland Sanders franchised Kentucky Fried Chicken and took the dish nationwide. The global spread of American fast food cemented fried chicken’s status as the ultimate Southern comfort food.
Fried Chicken Goes Global
Today you can find locally inspired fried chicken all over the world. From Japanese karaage to Korean yangnyeom chicken, immigration keeps reinventing the dish. No one cuisine can lay sole claim to fried chicken anymore.
While fast food chains made cheap fried chicken ubiquitous, a new generation of chefs are reclaiming it as a labor of love worth savoring. Fried chicken can be found in high-end restaurants cooked with care and the best ingredients.
So while the story of fried chicken spans continents and centuries, it remains a staple that brings joy and comfort to every table. Its origin may be murky, but one thing is clear – we all love that crispy fried bird!
FRIED CHICKEN RECIPE FOR CRUNCHY SKIN AND TENDER CHICKEN
I’m from the south and we all know that Fried Chicken is a staple here. Something that you are born to love and born to eat! This recipe for The Best Southern Fried Chicken is one of my favorite recipes and one that took me a few years to get just right. This recipe produces a crunchy exterior with moist chicken on the inside. The absolute perfect chicken in my opinion. Really good fried chicken takes time so don’t rush this one.
No, please don’t if at all possible. If you take the time to make fried chicken from scratch, you will miss out on really great flavor. Please, please don’t buy the kind you make with milk, vinegar, and lemon juice (we’ll talk more about that below; it works well for most recipes but isn’t great for fried chicken). An overnight soak is optimal for maximum juiciness.
The mixture of the cornstarch and flour helps give it that extra crunchy exterior.
This recipe works with any cut of chicken. The key is just making sure the chicken is cooked to 165F degrees internal temperature.
Peanut oil has a neutral flavor that won’t compromise the flavor of the chicken. Canola oil would be my second choice.
I deep fry my chicken in a deep fryer but you can also do this in a deep, heavy bottomed pot. I just find that you often get darker burn-like spots with a cast iron pan if you aren’t super careful.
Well, you’ll need to use their famous 11 herbs and spices. Just substitute the garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper in this recipe for the following seasonings: (you will skip the step of seasoning the individual chicken pieces and stir in 2 1/2 Tablespoons of this seasoning in with the flour/cornstarch mixture). Note: you will not use this entire amount. Combine it and use about 2 1/2 tablespoons of it instead of the seasonings I list below if you want to use it in this recipe. 2 teaspoons salt ½ Tablespoon dried thyme ½ Tablespoon dried basil 1 teaspoon dried oregano 1 teaspoon celery salt ½ Tablespoon black pepper 1 Tablespoon mustard powder 2 Tablespoons paprika 2 Tablespoons garlic salt 1 Tablespoon powdered ginger 1 Tablespoon pepper (use white pepper if you have it).
INGREDIENTS NEEDED: (SEE RECIPE CARD BELOW FOR THE FULL RECIPE)
- You can use any cut of chicken you like for this recipe, like breasts, thighs, wings, or legs.
- This is the seasoning mix I like: salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. You can use your favorite or the fake KFC seasoning mix shown above in the FAQ.
- buttermilk—I go into more detail about this in the section above called “Frequently Asked Questions.” It keeps the meat from being dry and really makes it soft. We can’t really use anything else instead of buttermilk, as I already said. If you really need to find something quickly, you can read my post on How to Make Buttermilk. But please use the real stuff here.
- You don’t have to use hot sauce, but it does make things taste better.
- This is what makes the skin crispy, so don’t leave it out.
- My favorite oil to fry in is peanut oil because it doesn’t take away from the flavor of the chicken and doesn’t smell bad.
The Strange Untold Truth Of Fried Chicken
FAQ
Who first created fried chicken?
You may be surprised to learn that it is much older than you think! The first recipe developed around fried chicken was published in 1747 by English cook Hannah Glasse. Yet fried chicken has been around for thousands of years. Their countries of origin include China, the Middle East, and West Africa.
Who invented KFC fried chicken?
Harland “Colonel” Sanders. Colonel Harland David Sanders (September 9, 1890 – December 16, 1980) was an American businessman and founder of the fast food chicken restaurant chain Kentucky Fried Chicken (aka KFC); he became the company brand ambassador.
Did fried chicken originate from Louisiana?
Dishes like “poulet frit” (fried chicken) were documented in French Louisiana as early as the 18th century, a testament to this West African influence.
Who came out with fried chicken?
At some point between the 17th and 19th centuries, African Americans began cooking fried chicken based on the recipes of the Scottish immigrants.
Where did fried chicken come from?
There isn’t a clear answer, but there are some interesting ideas. The most likely one is very surprising. Evidence points to Southern fried chicken originating from none other than Scottish immigrants. Unlike the English, who like to bake or boil meat, Scots are fans of frying everything from haggis to fish and yes, chicken.
Who invented Japanese fried chicken?
It’s unknown exactly who invented Japanese-style fried chicken, but it does have a long history. It may have been around as early as the 1920s, especially since there were foreign influences at that time. Interestingly enough, karaage may not be completely Japanese in origin.
What is fried chicken?
Rather, it is a culinary technique that has evolved over time in various cultures. One of the earliest references to fried chicken can be found in ancient Roman cookbooks, where recipes describe chicken being cooked in oil. Similarly, various Middle Eastern and African cuisines have a history of frying chicken in different ways.
What is the oldest fried chicken recipe?
A: The oldest known written recipe for fried chicken appears in the cookbook of Hannah Glasse, published in 1747. What are the different styles of fried chicken? A: There are a lot of different styles of fried chicken, such as Nashville hot, Korean fried, Southern fried, and many more. Q: How do I make the perfect fried chicken?.
When did fried chicken become popular?
He opened his first Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant in 1930, and the franchise quickly spread throughout the United States and beyond. KFC became a global icon, further solidifying fried chicken’s popularity. Fried chicken has become a beloved dish around the world, representing different cultural traditions and culinary experiences.
When did fried chicken become a staple of Southern cuisine?
Fried chicken became a staple of Southern cuisine in the United States during the 19th century. African American cooks played a significant role in popularizing the dish, using their culinary skills and techniques to create unique and flavorful preparations. From the Southern United States, fried chicken spread throughout the country and beyond.