Country Fried Chicken
Bone-in chicken pieces, low-fat cultured buttermilk and all-purpose flour come together in this chicken — 65 minutes, 7 steps, and the kind of result worth repeating. You'll find the full ingredient list (with a scaler to change the servings), 7 steps of method, substitutions, and ideas for what to serve alongside.
You'll mainly reach for oven and frying pan / skillet. At medium difficulty across 7 steps, it's manageable with a little attention.
What you'll need
Shopping list (1)
Pantry staples (you likely have these)
Diet: contains meat, based on every ingredient listed below.
Contains: Gluten Dairy
Allergen labels are informational and may not cover cross-contact; verify every package and consult a qualified professional for medical dietary needs. Diet labels are derived from the ingredient list on this page — how we verify diet and allergen labels.
Food-safety and allergen information is general, not medical advice. Follow current guidance from your local food-safety authority, verify product labels, and seek qualified advice for allergies or health conditions.
How to make it
- Place the chicken pieces in a bowl, pour over the buttermilk, cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight to tenderize.
- In a shallow dish, whisk together the flour, paprika, lemon pepper, cayenne, salt and black pepper.
- Lift each piece of chicken from the buttermilk, letting the excess drip off, then dredge thoroughly in the seasoned flour, pressing so the coating adheres, and set on a rack.
- Heat the oil in a deep heavy skillet or Dutch oven to 175 C (350 F).
- Fry the chicken in batches without crowding, turning occasionally, for about 12 to 15 minutes until deep golden and cooked through to an internal temperature of 74 C (165 F).
- Transfer the fried chicken to a wire rack set over paper towels to drain, and keep warm while you fry the remaining pieces.
- Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before serving so the juices settle and the crust stays crisp.
You'll use: Oven · Frying pan / skillet · Whisk
Ingredient substitutions
- Butter
- olive oil (¾ the amount) · coconut oil · margarine
- Lemon
- lime · 1 tbsp white wine vinegar per lemon
Tips & common questions
How long does Country Fried Chicken take to make?
About 65 minutes from start to finish — an estimate based on the 7 steps and 9 ingredients. Times vary with your kitchen and how much prep you do ahead.
What can I use instead of butter?
Try olive oil (¾ the amount). See the substitutions section above for more swaps.
Can I scale this recipe up or down?
Yes — use the servings control above the ingredients and every quantity rescales automatically (fractions included). Cooking times stay roughly the same; very large batches may need a little longer.
How should I store leftovers?
Cool leftovers quickly, refrigerate in an airtight container, and eat within 3 days. Reheat until piping hot throughout.
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Adapted recipe — rewritten in our own wording from an open-licensed community cookbook, not yet independently kitchen-tested by Consomee. How we source, test & correct recipes.
Country Fried Chicken is adapted by Consomee from the Wikibooks Cookbook, rewritten in our own wording and used under CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo: CountryFriedSteak.jpg by No machine-readable author provided. Bloodshedder~commonswiki assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY-SA 2.5 via Wikimedia Commons. We add the serving scaler, ingredient tools, timing and structure — how we source recipes.