Black Folks Soul Food Southern Fried Chicken Recipe

What is the difference between fried chicken and Southern fried chicken?

Surprisingly, the answer has nothing to do with how either batch of chicken looks.

Simply put, the difference between fried chicken and Southern fried chicken is in the flavor.

The Southern soul food seasonings and flavor.

Soul food fried chicken

Most soul food is Southern. But not all Southern food is soul food. Get it?

Here’s how you can tell if a batch of fried chicken (chicken battered in flour) is a Southern soul food recipe:

Crunchy flavorful outside with juicy, seasoned tender meat inside.

Yep – that’s a Black folks’ soul food Southern fried chicken recipe!

What is the secret to good fried chicken?

When people ask, “What is Southern fried chicken?”

They should ask instead… “What is the secret to good fried chicken?”

Or, “What is the secret to making great fried chicken?”

The answer is soul food Southern fried chicken. A recipe that Black folks created and perfected!

There’s no denying that chicken with a balance of flavorful, tender meat on the inside and crispy seasoning on the outside is a soul food specialty.

So I’m sharing the secrets to a savory batch of Southern fried chicken the soul food way!  

Kitchen equipment

• Deep fryer – for frying chicken fully submerging in the hot oil without flipping it
• or large cast-iron skillet – uncovered stovetop frying, or Dutch oven – for covered stovetop frying
• Whisk – used to combine the buttermilk and egg thoroughly
• Fried chicken scissor tong – needed to remove the chicken from the hot oil

Shop my kitchenware HERE!

What is the use of a deep fryer? 

Deep fryers are a wonderful invention that can make your life so much easier. You can quickly and easily use them indoors or outdoors to fry foods like Southern fried chicken in deep oils at high temperatures.

I call new-age at-home appliances like deep fryers and electric pressure cookers “magical meals in minutes!”

So I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention using an air fryer to make this Black folks soul food Southern fried chicken recipe.

When it comes to chicken, one of the reasons air fryers are so popular is that people want to eat healthier but still get that crispy Southern fried chicken taste and texture.

How do you season chicken before cooking?

Soul food seasoning rule number one: 

Always season your chicken or meat!

Seasoning chicken before cooking allows the spices to penetrate the meat and helps release the flavor during the cooking process.

What ingredients do you need to make a Black people fried chicken recipe?

Which part of chicken should you use for this Black folks soul food Southern fried chicken recipe?

You can use whatever chicken pieces you like! Whole chicken, half, or just your favorite parts of the chicken – chicken wings, legs, chicken breast, chicken thighs, or drumsticks.

• Chicken pieces – Preferably bone-in, 6-8 pieces, or one 3-pound chicken cut into pieces
• Peanut oil (preferred) or vegetable oil – Peanut oil won’t interfere with the taste of the fried chicken
• All-purpose flour – This is the chicken batter for the fried outer crunch
• Southern soul food fried chicken seasoning blend – Use my signature tried and true mix of garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, red pepper (chili pepper), salt, black pepper, and your favorite poultry or all-purpose seasoning
• Egg – The binding agent for adhering the batter to the chicken
• Buttermilk – A poultry tenderizer that aids in the seasonings and spices getting into the chicken meat

You can make the buttermilk for this recipe yourself. Because let’s be real – it’s not a common pantry ingredient!

Buttermilk for this recipe: ½ cup of buttermilk = ½ cup of milk + ½ tablespoon of apple cider vinegar. Stir and let it sit for 5 minutes. 

How do you make a traditional Black folks’ soul food Southern fried chicken recipe?

How do you make the best fried chicken that’s both crispy and tender? 

To do this, you no longer need years of experience perfecting the precise temperature for hot oil in a Dutch oven or cast-iron skillet. 

You can still use stovetop accessories, or you can give yourself some grace and plop your battered chicken pieces in a deep fryer!

Instructions for a soul food Southern fried chicken recipe 

1. Mix the poultry seasoning, salt, and pepper in a small bowl.
2. Rub the seasoning on the chicken pieces.
3. Pour the peanut oil (preferred) or vegetable oil into the deep fryer, Dutch oven, or frying pan.
4. Heat the oil over medium heat or until it reaches 350 degrees F.
5. Combine the divided flour and seasonings in a bowl or resealable food storage bag. 
6. Shake (or mix) to combine the ingredients.
7. Pour the second cup of flour into a second bowl or resealable bag.
8. Whisk together the buttermilk and egg in another bowl, and set that mixture aside.
9. Dredge/batter the chicken in a 3-step process.
10. First – coat the chicken in the seasoned flour.
11. Second – dip the chicken in the buttermilk mixture.
12. Third – coat the chicken in flour.
13. Place the coated chicken in the heated oil to fry it.
14. Remove the chicken from the hot oil to drain it.
15. Serve hot and enjoy!

Pro tips: 

• Some Southern cooks like to use a baking sheet or a large bowl to separate the dark meat and white meat. They dredge the dark meat first, fry, and then dredge the remaining chicken (the white meat) and fry.
• What else can you use to season the flour? Other than a sprinkle of salt and pepper, some Southern fried chicken recipes even call for cornstarch to thicken the batter for extra crunch or hot sauce for more heat!
• You may also consider a buttermilk brine or buttermilk marinade to tenderize the chicken before frying.

🎙 Listen to The Soul Food Pod episode: Soul Food Southern Fried Chicken Recipe

Can you make this recipe in your Instant Pot?

Yes! Check out this easy Southern fried chicken Instant Pot recipe.

What do you serve with soul food Southern fried chicken?

You can start with a recipe that’s both salty and sweet – soul food chicken and waffles!

Several soul food recipes are favorites when serving Southern fried chicken. From baked macaroni and cheese to Southern potato salad,  creamy mashed potatoes, fried cabbage, Southern coleslaw, chicken yock, or collard greens.

What sauce goes with Black folks soul food Southern fried chicken?

Whether it’s for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or an afternoon snack, one of these condiments is sure to be a favorite when it comes to Southern fried chicken. 

• Hot sauce
• Ranch dressing
• Pure honey 
• Honey mustard
• Ketchup
• BBQ sauce

Black folks soul food Southern fried chicken FAQs

How long do you cook this soul food Southern fried chicken recipe?

Deep fry the chicken for 10-12 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 180 degrees F.

If you’re using almond flour for this recipe, keep an eye on the chicken while it’s frying, as almond flour tends to cook faster than other wheat flour.

At what temperature do you cook soul food fried chicken?

The temperature to maintain the hot oil when deep-frying this Black folks soul food Southern fried chicken recipe is 350 degrees F.

What oil is best for frying chicken?

Peanut oil is preferred for deep-frying because of its relatively high smoke point of about 450 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Other oils have higher smoke points but impart a strong flavor to the food. Peanut oil is a mild-flavored oil, so it won’t interfere with the taste of the fried chicken. 

Do you have to fry chicken in peanut oil?

No, especially if you’re allergic to peanuts! Instead, use vegetable oil.

Why is hot oil important?

Hot oil is essential when preparing fried chicken in a deep fryer, Dutch oven, or skillet because it’s the cooking agent for frying the chicken. It should be maintained at 350 degrees F.

Can this be made in an air fryer?

Do air fryers work for soul food Southern fried chicken?

Yes, air fryer chicken is a healthy and crispy alternative to deep-fried chicken. 

Is it better to use flour or cornstarch for fried chicken?

Flour is necessary for frying chicken. It’s what makes the crispy fried chicken batter.

You can use cornstarch as an optional extra additive for more crunch!

If you’re preparing a Kosher recipe, are there any substitutes for buttermilk?

Milk itself doesn’t add much flavor to your chicken, even when marinating.

You see, marinating chicken in buttermilk is not for flavor – but rather, the acidity is used to tenderize the meat.

So, you can easily substitute water for milk to make this a Kosher recipe (still add the ½ a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar).

You can also use Kosher salt.

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

The milk (buttermilk) is mixed with the egg for this Southern fried chicken recipe. 

Then, before placing the buttermilk and egg-coated chicken into the pre-heated oil, the chicken will undergo a 3-step dredging process.

1. First, place the chicken in the bag (or bowl) of seasoned flour and shake or toss to coat the chicken evenly. 
2. Second, shake off the excess flour and dip the chicken into the buttermilk and egg mixture.
3. Third, transfer the chicken to the last bag (or bowl) of flour (and optional cornstarch) and shake or toss until it’s very well coated. 

Do you do egg or flour first for fried chicken?

Place the chicken in seasoned flour before you dip the chicken into the buttermilk and egg mixture.

Why do you dip chicken in flour before egg?

The flour helps the egg mixture stick to the chicken. 

Join the conversation about Southern fried chicken recipes

Check out episode 4 of The Soul Food Pod: Mama’s famous fried chicken recipe!

What do you think of this Black folks’ soul food Southern fried chicken recipe?

In moderation, you can still enjoy a batch of deep-fried Black folks soul food Southern fried chicken! Fried chicken is another darling recipe of the South, akin to Southern potato salad, cornbread and collard greens. Or sardines and pork and beans (for my DC Chocolate City peeps). 

I promise, there’s nothing like a delicious piping hot, fresh batch of Black folks soul food Southern fried chicken!

Have you had it?

Would you make it? 

Comment below and lemme know. 

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