What is Southern fried chicken?
Southern fried chicken is a classic fried chicken recipe originating in the Southern part of the US.
As the name suggests, it’s battered in flour and deep fried in oil to yield chicken with a crispy, crunchy, and flavorful outside, with tender, juicy meat on the inside.
All of the above about the flavor of Southern fried chicken is true *if* you’re using a Southern fried chicken seasoning!
What is the difference between fried chicken and Southern fried chicken?
The difference has everything to do with the Southern fried chicken seasoning and flavor!
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?
The answer is again – soul food Southern fried chicken. A recipe that Black people created and perfected! An integral part of a soul food menu.
Soul food is a variety of comfort-food cuisine originating from African American culture in the Southern United States.
It’s traditionally a combination of African American foods derived from Black enslaved people’s take on American and British cuisine. Combined with the essence of West African seasonings, warmth, flavors, and traditions.
There’s no denying that chicken with a balance of tender meat on the inside and crispy skin seasoned to perfection on the outside is a recipe for success when making Southern fried chicken!
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.
To make the best Southern fried chicken, use this tried, tested, and authentic soul food Southern fried chicken seasoning.
It’s no secret that your Southern food menu is incomplete without a classic Southern fried chicken recipe.
But it can be hard to choose the right blend of Southern fried chicken spices on your own.
What seasonings pair well together?
A combination of garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, black and red pepper.
I’m sharing my acclaimed soul food Southern fried chicken seasoning mix.
It’s precisely what you’ve been looking for! A blend of premium spices that delivers delicious savory flavor every time!
My soul food Southern fried chicken seasoning mix is crafted to include all-natural seasoning, herbs, and spices.
So you can feel good about using it in your Southern fried chicken recipes.
From classic Southern fried chicken to Black folks’ soul food Southern fried chicken, air fryer fried chicken, or Instant Pot fried chicken.
My signature Southern fried chicken seasoning blend works for everything!
This Southern fried chicken seasoning blend has a soulful savory flavor that adds a necessary seasoned kick to your poultry dishes.
Now you can make fried chicken just like your mother and grandmother did with this widely acclaimed Southern fried chicken seasoning.
It’s tried, tested, and proven to work!
Fried chicken seasoning recipe
When you’re craving and ready to make Southern fried chicken, this is the only seasoning you’ll need!
This fried chicken seasoning blend is a heavenly combination of spices that’ll make your chicken taste better than ever!
It’s simply a blend of spice rack ingredients that you probably already have on-hand ready to use!
With just the right amount of zesty and savory flavors, this seasoning will make your next fried chicken dish a real winner.
Ingredients for The Soul Food Pot’s signature Southern fried chicken seasoning
- 1 ½ teaspoons of garlic powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons of onion powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons of paprika
- ¾ teaspoon of red pepper (chili pepper)
- 1 tablespoon of poultry seasoning or all-purpose seasoning (I use Famous Dave’s Country Roast Chicken Seasoning)
- 1 ½ teaspoons of salt
- ¾ teaspoon of black pepper
How to cook fried chicken
How do you make fried chicken from scratch?
Cooking a perfectly fried chicken with extra crispy skin is not as hard as it seems.
Everyone loves this delicious dish for its crisp, crunchy, flavorful coating and juicy, tender meat.
Below are the step-by-step instructions for how to cook the most delicious fried chicken from scratch with homemade Southern fried chicken seasoning!
Kitchen equipment for Southern fried chicken
Shop my kitchenware!
Hamilton Beach deep fryer | Dutch oven | Amazon large skillet | Amazon cutting board | Kate Aspen heart-shaped measuring spoons | The Pioneer Woman measuring bowls | Amazon large serving spoons | Amazon stainless steel mixing bowls | Courtly Check relish dish | Amazon serving platter | Anthropologie dish towel |
To fry the chicken, you’ll also need the following:
- 6-8 pieces of chicken or a whole chicken cut into pieces (i.e., wings, thighs, drumsticks, breasts)
- 48 oz. of peanut oil, or vegetable oil
- 2 cups of all-purpose flour, divided
- 1 egg
- ½ cup of buttermilk (½ cup of buttermilk = ½ cup of milk & ½ tablespoon of apple cider vinegar)
Instructions for how to use this Southern fried chicken seasoning
- Mix the poultry seasoning, salt, and pepper in a small bowl.
- Rub the seasoning mixture all over each piece of chicken.
- Pour the peanut oil (preferred) or vegetable oil into a deep fryer, 6-quart skillet, or Dutch oven until the oil is 1-inch deep.
- Heat the oil over medium heat or until it reaches 350 degrees F.
- While you’re waiting for the oil to heat up, place 1 cup of the divided flour, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and red pepper in a medium-size mixing bowl or 1-gallon resealable food storage bag.
- Shake (or mix) the sealed bag to combine the ingredients for a homemade poultry seasoning, and set the flour mixture aside.
- Pour the second cup of flour into a second resealable bag (or medium-sized mixing bowl) and set it aside.
- In another medium-sized bowl, whisk together the buttermilk and egg, and set that mixture aside too.
- The chicken will go through a 3-step process from here.
- First, place the chicken in the bag (or bowl) of seasoned flour and shake or toss to coat the chicken evenly.
- Second, shake off the excess flour and dip the chicken into the buttermilk mixture.
- Third, transfer the chicken to the last bag (or bowl) of flour and shake or toss until it’s very well coated.
- Place the coated chicken into the pre-heated oil, skin-side down, and be careful not to overcrowd the chicken in the oil. You can fry a second batch if need be to avoid overcrowding by frying all the chicken at once. Just make sure the hot oil remains at 350 degrees F.
- Cook the chicken pieces for 10 to 12 minutes, occasionally turning to prevent excessive browning.
- As the chicken batter turns golden brown, remove it from the hot oil.
- To keep the fried chicken warm, allow it to drain in a closed container with a paper towel under the chicken.
- Serve this Southern fried chicken seasoning recipe right away, and enjoy!
What recipes can you use this Southern fried chicken seasoning with?
Deep-fried chicken recipes
Instant Pot fried chicken
Air fryer fried chicken
Fried chicken in the air fryer without flour
What do you serve with soul food Southern fried chicken?
Several soul food recipes are favorites when serving Southern fried chicken. From baked macaroni and cheese to creamy mashed potatoes, fried cabbage, Southern coleslaw, or collard greens.
For dessert, Black folks Southern banana pudding, Black folks Southern peach cobbler recipe, or Southern red velvet cake!
And don’t forget the South’s favorite beverage – Southern sweet tea!
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 for Southern fried chicken.
- Hot sauce
- Ranch dressing
- Pure honey
- Honey mustard
- Ketchup
- BBQ sauce
Southern fried chicken seasoning FAQs
Which part of the chicken should you use for this Black folks soul food Southern fried chicken recipe?
You can use this Southern fried chicken seasoning on whatever chicken pieces you like!
Whole chicken, half, or just your favorite parts of the chicken – frozen chicken wings, legs, chicken breast, chicken thigh, boneless skinless chicken thighs, chicken tenders, chicken legs, quarters, or drumsticks!
Do you season fried chicken before or after frying?
This recipe for soul food Southern fried chicken seasoning will prevent you from making novice mistakes like seasoning the hot oil or seasoning the chicken after it’s fried.
So, to answer the question, “Do you put oil on chicken to season it?”
No, you don’t. The oil doesn’t have or hold a significant flavor.
The detailed ingredients list and instructions in this recipe walk you through the integral steps of seasoning fried chicken BEFORE it’s fried!
Do you season the chicken before breading?
Yes, always season the chicken before breading it.
Below is a step-by-step list of spices for flavoring the chicken and the fried chicken batter.
What gives chicken its flavor?
The Soul Food Pot’s best Southern chicken recipes provide precise seasoning ingredients and instructions while answering frequently asked seasoning questions.
From “How do you add flavor to bland chicken?”
To “How can you make your chicken more flavorful?”
Also, favorite questions, “What spices pair well with chicken?” and “How do you season chicken like a pro?”
The combination of Southern soul food seasonings gives this soul food Southern fried chicken recipe its tried, trustworthy, and raved-about flavor!
Seasoning for the chicken:
- 1 tablespoon of poultry seasoning or all-purpose seasoning (I use Famous Dave’s Country Roast Chicken Seasoning)
- 1 ½ teaspoons of salt
- ¾ teaspoon of black pepper
Seasoning for the fried chicken batter:
- 2 cups of all-purpose flour, divided
- 1 ½ teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons onion powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons paprika
- ¾ teaspoon of red pepper
What type of flour should you use when making fried chicken?
All-purpose flour is best for frying soul food Southern fried chicken.
The Soul Food Pot’s signature fried chicken seasoning for the flour batter is a mixture of:
- flour
- garlic powder
- onion powder
- paprika
- red pepper
Should you season the chicken or the flour?
Always both!
What seasonings mix well together?
The Soul Food Pot’s signature fried chicken seasoning is a simple mixture of:
- 1 tablespoon of poultry seasoning or all-purpose seasoning (I use Famous Dave’s Country Roast Chicken Seasoning)
- 1 ½ teaspoons of salt
- ¾ teaspoon of black pepper
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? Corn starch for more crunch, or hot sauce for more heat!
Why add cornstarch to the fried chicken batter?
Some Southern fried chicken recipes call for cornstarch to bind and thicken the batter for an extra crunch!
Are there any Southern fried chicken seasoning substitutes you can use?
You could use a Cajun seasoning in place of the poultry seasoning. Or cayenne pepper in place of the red pepper/chili pepper.
Should you dip chicken in egg before frying?
The milk is mixed with the egg. Then, before placing the coated chicken into the pre-heated oil, the chicken will go through a 3-step dredging process.
- First, place the chicken in the bag (or bowl) of seasoned flour and shake or toss to coat the chicken evenly.
- Second, shake off the excess flour and dip the chicken into the buttermilk and egg mixture.
- Third, transfer the chicken to the last bag (or bowl) of flour and shake or toss until it’s very well coated.
Why soak the chicken in buttermilk?
People often ask, “What does marinating chicken in buttermilk do?”
Marinating chicken in buttermilk makes for extraordinarily tender, moist, and flavorful chicken!
The buttermilk’s acidity helps break down protein structures in the chicken, so it becomes way less chewy and retains better moisture and flavor.
What kind of oil should you use to make skillet fried chicken?
What is the best oil to fry 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.
Peanut oil has the least amount of saturated fats compared to other cooking oils, making it the best choice for frying chicken.
Do you have to fry chicken in peanut oil?
No, especially if you’re allergic to peanuts! Instead, try vegetable oil.
What is the use of a deep fryer?
A deep fryer is a wonderful invention that quickly fries foods like Southern fried chicken in deep oils at high temperatures, indoors or outdoors.
At what temperature do you cook soul food fried chicken?
The temperature to maintain the hot oil when deep-frying this Southern fried chicken recipe is 350 degrees F.
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, occasionally turning to prevent excessive browning.
How many minutes do you cook fried chicken?
Cook the chicken pieces in the hot oil for 10 to 12 minutes, occasionally turning to prevent excessive browning.
How do you get crispy fried chicken?
What keeps fried chicken crispy? Again, it’s the oil temperature maintained at 350 degrees F.
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 and achieving crispy skin.
The initial heat will burn some of the chicken’s fat, which is where that rich taste comes from.
Why is your fried chicken not crispy?
The oil in the fryer is either too high or too low. The oil should be maintained at 350 degrees F.
Can this be made in an air fryer?
People often ask, do air fryers work for soul food Southern fried chicken?
The answer is yes, and you won’t believe how good and crispy chicken is when it’s air fryer fried chicken!
How long does fried chicken last?
Southern fried chicken is good for 3-5 days in the refrigerator.
How to reheat fried chicken
To reheat fried chicken, allow it to thaw at room temperature. Then, warm it in the oven or air fry the chicken until it’s thoroughly heated.
Can you freeze fried chicken?
Yes, you can freeze fried chicken. Well preserved in an airtight container, fried chicken can last up to 3 months in the freezer.
What do you think about this recipe?
Have you used a Southern fried chicken seasoning?
Comment below and lemme know.
Then subscribe HERE for all the soul food!
Like this post? Pin the below image to your Pinterest “Soul Food Recipes” board!
Equipment
- or large cast-iron skillet or Dutch oven
Ingredients
Seasoning for the chicken:
- 1 tablespoon seasoning poultry seasoning or all-purpose seasoning – I use Famous Dave's Country Roast Chicken Seasoning
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt
- ¾ teaspoon black pepper
Seasoning for the fried chicken batter:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour divided
- 1 ½ teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons onion powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons paprika
- ¾ teaspoon red pepper
To fry the chicken you’ll also need the following:
- 6-8 pieces chicken
- 48 oz. peanut oil or vegetable oil
- 1 egg
- ½ cup buttermilk ½ cup of buttermilk = ½ cup of milk & ½ tablespoon of apple cider vinegar
Instructions
How to use this Southern fried chicken seasoning:
- Mix the poultry seasoning, salt, and pepper in a small bowl.
- Rub the seasoning mixture all over each piece of chicken.
- Pour the peanut oil (preferred) or vegetable oil into a deep fryer, 6-quart skillet, or Dutch oven until the oil is 1-inch deep.
- Heat the oil over medium heat or until it reaches 350 degrees F.
- While you’re waiting for the oil to heat up, place 1 cup of the divided flour, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and red pepper in a medium-size mixing bowl or 1-gallon resealable food storage bag.
- Shake (or mix) the sealed bag to combine the ingredients for a homemade poultry seasoning, and set the flour mixture aside.
- Pour the second cup of flour into a second resealable bag (or medium-sized mixing bowl) and set it aside.
- In another medium-sized bowl, whisk together the buttermilk and egg, and set that mixture aside too.
- The chicken will go through a 3-step process from here.
- First, place the chicken in the bag (or bowl) of seasoned flour and shake or toss to coat the chicken evenly.
- Second, shake off the excess flour and dip the chicken into the buttermilk mixture.
- Third, transfer the chicken to the last bag (or bowl) of flour and shake or toss until it's very well coated.
- Place the coated chicken into the pre-heated oil, skin-side down, and be careful not to overcrowd the chicken in the oil. You can fry a second batch if need be to avoid overcrowding by frying all the chicken at once. Just make sure the hot oil remains at 350 degrees F.
- Cook the chicken pieces for 10 to 12 minutes, occasionally turning to prevent excessive browning.
- As the chicken batter turns golden brown, remove it from the hot oil.
- To keep the fried chicken warm, allow it to drain in a closed container with a paper towel under the chicken.
- Serve this Southern fried chicken seasoning recipe right away, and enjoy!
Video
Notes
- 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? Corn starch for more crunch, or hot sauce for more heat!
