The Crispiest Southern Fried Chicken

Last Updated on January 3, 2024 by Michele Tripple

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Looking for the crispiest southern fried chicken? Look no further because we’re sharing our secret ingredient to make the crispiest chicken! 

Looking for the crispiest southern fried chicken? Look no further because we’re sharing our secret ingredient to make the crispiest chicken! 

The Crispiest Spicy Fried Chicken

In the south, we are known for a few things: southern charm, BBQ, and fried chicken! Like seriously the south does fried chicken so well!

I remember when we moved here about 4 years ago we quickly adapted to how friendly everyone was, and Ty fit right in with his awesome BBQing, but no matter what, we could not cook a good southern fried chicken.

After many attempts and lots of soggy fried chicken, I finally asked, “How? How are you making your fried chicken so crispy?”

My friend said, “With my secret ingredient, Argo® Corn Starch!”

Jar of Argo corn starch

After I heard this, I literally ran home and altered my spicy fried chicken and added Argo® Corn Starch to the recipe, and can I tell you that it made literally the best fried chicken I have ever tasted!

The Secret Ingredient to the Perfectly Crispiest Fried Chicken

Like with any recipe, the secret ingredient is what makes the recipe and becomes the most important part because it is what sets your recipe stand out from every other recipe out there.

When my friend told me that she used Argo® Corn Starch as her secret ingredient, I shouldn’t have been surprised! I mean, Argo® Corn Starch has been the leader in corn starch brands with over 100 years of quality and trust!

I mean, Argo® Corn Starch is the secret ingredient you have been searching for – not only for making the perfect most crispy fried chicken but also for your worry-free solution to thickening sauces, adjusting textures, and elevating your cooking and baking.

So to make the crispiest chicken in the town, Argo® Corn Starch is who we turn to when it comes to making a crispy coating batter. When you use it in your batter, it helps create a crispy chicken with a super airy delicious texture!

How to Cook Fried Chicken

piece of crispy Southern Fried Chicken cut open

Personally, I love a good old fashioned fried chicken! So I love cooking mine in oil in a pan on the stove, but this is not the only way to get the crispiest fried chicken.

Other great options are baking it, air frying it, of course, deep-frying it. The possibilities are endless.

So How Do You Make the Crispiest Chicken?

The Crispiest Southern Fried Chicken

  • Yield: 6-8
  • Prep Time: 1-hour marinade, about 10 minutes of other prep
  • Cook Time: 8-13 minutes

Ingredients for Spicy Southern Fried Chicken:

  • 2-3 lbs skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs and breasts
  • 1 quart buttermilk
  • 3 Tablespoons hot sauce
  • 1 ½ teaspoons cayenne pepper

_____

  • 1 ½ cups flour
  • 1 ½ cups Argo® Corn Starch
  • 3 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 2 teaspoons cayenne pepper
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper
  • Oil for frying

Directions for the Crispiest Southern Fried Chicken

  • Place the chicken pieces in a baking dish and set aside. I find that 1 pound of chicken will feed 2-3 people.
  • In a large bowl, whisk together buttermilk, hot sauce, and cayenne pepper.
  • Pour the mixture over the chicken. Cover and let marinate in the fridge for at least one hour. If you know that you are making fried chicken the next day, you can absolutely marinate the chicken in this mixture overnight in the fridge.
  • In a second large bowl, whisk together flour, Argo® Corn Starch, garlic powder, paprika, cayenne pepper, salt, and pepper. If you are not in the mood for spicy chicken, you can omit the cayenne pepper or adjust it up or down based on what you prefer.
  • Remove the chicken pieces, one at a time, from the buttermilk mixture, allowing access to drip off. Coat the chicken completely in the flour mixture and set aside. For the ultimate CRUNCH FACTOR, you can double dip the chicken in the flour mixture.
  • Heat oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat, until the oil, reaches 350 degrees.
The Crispiest Southern Fried Chicken in pot of hot oil
  • When the oil is heated, place chicken pieces in the pan, being careful not to overcrowd.
  • Cook the chicken pieces until internal temperature reaches 165 degrees, turning once about halfway through cooking time. Total cooking time is about 8-10 minutes for a large breast and about 13 minutes for a thigh.
  • Remove chicken from oil and place on a cooling rack or on paper towels.
Southern Fried Chicken in wire basket

Serving suggestions: Side of ranch and celery and coleslaw.

Looking for the crispiest southern fried chicken? Look no further because we’re sharing our secret ingredient to make the crispiest chicken! 

Tell me how your crispy fried chicken turns out using your Argo® Corn Starch in the comments!

Looking for more great dinner ideas? Check out these related posts!

The Crispiest Fried Chicken
Yield: 6-8

The Crispiest Southern Fried Chicken

The Crispiest Southern Fried Chicken

Looking for the crispiest southern fried chicken? Look no further because we’re sharing our secret ingredient to make the crispiest chicken! 

Cook Time 13 minutes 8 seconds
Total Time 13 minutes 8 seconds

Ingredients

  • 2-3 lbs skin-on, bone-in chicken thighs and breasts
  • 1 quart buttermilk
  • 3 Tablespoons hot sauce
  • 1 ½ teaspoons cayenne pepper
  • _____
  • 1 ½ cups flour
  • 1 ½ cups ARGO cornstarch
  • 3 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 2 teaspoons cayenne pepper
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper
  • Oil for frying

Instructions

  1. Place the chicken pieces in a baking dish and set aside.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together buttermilk, hot sauce and cayenne pepper.
  3. Pour the mixture over the chicken. Cover and let marinade in the fridge for at least one hour.
  4. In a second large bowl, whisk together flour, ARGO cornstarch, garlic powder, paprika, cayenne pepper, salt and pepper.
  5. Remove the chicken pieces, one at a time, from the buttermilk mixture allowing access to drip off. Coat the chicken completely in the flour mixture and set aside.
  6. Heat oil in a frying pan over medium high heat, until the oil reaches 350 degrees.
  7. When oil is heated, place chicken pieces in the pan being careful not to overcrowd.
  8. Cook the chicken pieces until internal temperature reaches 165 degrees, turning once about halfway through cooking time. Total cooking time is about 8-10 minutes for a large breast, and about 13 minutes for a thigh.
  9. Remove chicken from oil and place on a cooling rack or on paper towels.
    Serving suggestions: Side of ranch and celery and coleslaw.

18 thoughts on “The Crispiest Southern Fried Chicken”

  1. I just came across your website and this chicken sounds awesome. I’m wondering if it would work if I removed the skin or is that an essential part of the recipe? Thanks.

    Reply
    • It might not get as crispy if you remove the skin, but it should still work fine! Let us know what you think of it if you try it without skin 🙂

      Reply
  2. You had me at “crispiest!” omg this recipe looks and sounds so delicious!!! I am adding this to our list of things to make!! YUM!!!

    Reply
  3. I love me some fried chicken. Out of all of my years I’ve never used cornstarch. I’m definitely going to try this out. That’s chicken looks so crispy and delicious. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  4. Crispy fried chicken, definitely the call of the south. We’ve been in the south for 6 years and I’ve eaten some great fried chicken but never attempted to make any. Need to try this tip with the corn starch.

    Reply
  5. while we are vegetarians, the concept of crispy fried anything is always yummy so i am going to try this out with a veg alternative

    Reply

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