Buttermilk Fried Chicken

Smoked Paprika Buttermilk Fried Chicken Recipe: An insanely flavorfully brined buttermilk Fried Chicken Recipe is fried to golden brown perfection then finished with a spiced honey glaze. Smoked Paprika Buttermilk Fried Chicken Recipe: An insanely flavorfully brined buttermilk Fried Chicken Recipe is fried to golden brown perfection then finished with a spiced honey glaze.

Ingredients

¼ cup honey

½ teaspoon cayenne pepper

4 teaspoons hot pimenton Spanish smoked paprika

Kosher salt

1 cup buttermilk or 3/4 cup whole milk mixed with 1/4 cup plain yogurt

2 garlic cloves minced

3 ½ pound chicken cut into 10 pieces (w wings, 2 legs, 2 thighs, and 2 breasts cut in half across the bone)

1 cup all-purpose flour

2 tablespoons cornstarch

Neutral oil such as canola, grapeseed, or safflower, for frying

Instructions

In a small bowl, whisk together the honey, cayenne, 1 teaspoon of the pimenton, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cover the bowl and set it aside at room temperature for up to 1 day. This will get drizzled on the fried chicken once it's done... hoorah!

In a small bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, garlic, remaining 3 teaspoons pimenton, and 2 tablespoons salt. Pour into a large resealable plastic bag and add the chicken. Close the bag and turn to coat the chicken. Refrigerate the chicken for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight.

Take the chicken out of the refrigerator 1 to 2 hours before you're ready to cook it so that it can come to room temperature.

In a large baking dish, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, and 1 teaspoon salt.

Pour 1/2 in oil into a large heavy pot over medium heat and let the oil heat up.

Meanwhile, take the chicken out of the bag, working with one piece at a time, and allow the excess buttermilk to drip back into the bag. Place the chicken into the flour mixture. Dredge each piece lightly on all sides and transfer to a plate. Discard the excess buttermilk and flour mixtures.

When the oil is hot enough that it bubbles around the chicken when the edge of a piece is dripped into it, use tongs to gently and carefully place a few pieces in the oil - don't crowd them (the number of pieces will depend on the size of your pot).

Cook the chicken, turning the pieces every few minutes and adjusting the heat as needed, until the skin is dark golden brown and the chicken is firm to the touch. An instant-read thermometer inserted in the thickest part of the chicken should register 170F, this will take about 15 minutes for the wings and breast pieces and 18 to 20 minutes for the legs and thighs. Transfer the cooked chicken to a paper towel-lined serving platter and continue frying the rest, adding more oil to the pot if necessary.

Serve immediately with the reserved honey mixture for drizzling and dipping. It's also just as good at room temperature and even great cold.

Notes

Marinate the chicken in buttermilk for AT LEAST 4 hours! BEST if overnight! This makes sure you get the best flavor from the very beginning so this step is very crucial. Don't do this for less than 4 hours or you won't have the incredible benefits of flavor you will crave!

Bring your chicken back to room temperature before frying! Adding seriously cold chicken to hot oil, may cook the chicken unevenly or it could take a super long time resulting in a burnt outside and raw chicken on the inside. It will also bring the temperature of your oil way down which can make soggy chicken.

Let the chicken sit in the flour and let it set for at least 15 minutes. This is my personal tip but I like doing this because it prevents the breading slipping off your fried chicken.

Invest in the hot pimenton or spicy smoked paprika! I promise you won't regret it.