Do you miss Grandma’s home style cooking? Make this southern fried chicken recipe for a taste of the past. Includes photos and instructions.
One of the things I miss most about my Grandma was her home cooking. Perhaps you can relate. When she passed I inherited her recipe collection and this easy fried chicken was one of her prized recipes. She gave the recipe to only a few people along the years and I feel fortunate to have the original recipe card (see below).
Just The Basics Please…
Many fried chicken recipes have a complicated coating with many ingredients, but I like this one because it uses basic pantry items like flour, milk, salt, and pepper. You can make a delicious crispy fried chicken in your deep walled frying pan or electric skillet and skip the deep-fryer.
The original recipe called for a whole chicken cut up into frying sized pieces. I have found buying packages of thighs and legs more convenient plus they are more uniform in size, which helps them fry evenly. Also, our family seems to prefer dark meat so I tend to buy those cuts more often.
I have included step by step photos below. I have a larger electric skillet (about 12″ x 16″) I use and can fit about 13 pieces of legs and thighs in for frying.
How To Make Grandma’s Southern Fried Chicken Recipe
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Place chicken pieces in a 9″ x 13″ glass baking dish. Pour the liquid mixture (recipe below) over the chicken pieces and turn to coat evenly. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for two hours.
When ready place the chicken on the counter and place a cup or two of flour in a flat pan or baking sheet.
Roll each of the pieces in flour.
Place about 1 inch of vegetable oil in the electric skillet. Preheat the oil to 350 degrees. Place each of the chicken pieces into the skillet. Metal tongs work well for this and also for turning the chicken pieces.
Fry in 350 degree vegetable oil for 30-40 minutes or until golden brown. Turn pieces over 3-4 times during frying to ensure even cooking.
Place on paper towels to allow any excess oil to drain.
Southern fried chicken ready to serve!
Here is the original recipe:
Southern Fried Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 whole chicken cut up into frying pieces OR 8-12 pieces legs and thighs
- 2 eggs beaten
- ½ cup Milk
- 1 Tablespoon Salt
- ½ Tablespoon Pepper
- Flour around two cups or so
- 1 bottle vegetable oil
Instructions
- Cut the chicken pieces apart if necessary.
- Place the chicken pieces in a 9" x 13" glass baking dish.
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, salt, and pepper.
- Pour this mixture over the chicken pieces. Turn the pieces to coat evenly.
- Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours. At one hour turn the pieces.
- When ready, pour one inch of vegetable oil into a large electric skillet (12" by 16") or deep walled frying pan. If using a frying pan you may need to fry in two batches.
- Preheat the oil to 350 degrees.
- Using tongs, place each of the chicken pieces into the electric skillet. Begin cooking and turn the pieces over every 5-7 minutes or so.
- Cook for 20-30 minutes or until the chicken is golden brown and crispy.
- Check for doneness by inserting a knife in one of the pieces and making sure the juice runs clear.
- When done, place the fried chicken pieces on a plate with a few layers of paper towel to drain.
- Transfer the chicken to a serving platter and you are ready to eat!
Notes
Family Friendly Dinner Ideas
How To Make The Best Grilled Chicken
Homemade Chili Recipe With Kidney Beans
Grilled Beef And Veggie Kabobs
Corn Cheese Spaghetti Casserole
Brown Sugar Ham Glaze With Spices
Easy Mini Slider Cheeseburgers
Cheddar Cheese Meatloaf Recipe
Six Layer Grilled Chicken Burritos
Ground Beef Shepherds Pie Recipe
Love your recipes. Great pictures. You left out the part of dipping the chicken in the flour.
Hi Darlene,
I am glad you like my recipes. Thank you for leaving a message. The part about rolling the chicken pieces in the flour is mentioned next to the third “how-to” photo.
Yes I couldn’t find either
I am living here in Germany and stumbled upon your home made grandma’s fried chicken recipe.I am an ex Gulf War Veteran.(First Gulf War 1991( and I am originally from Houston, Texas.And over here in Germany there is no fried nothing.We do have KFC and a couple of restaurants here that offer french fries.But they are all full of things inside that we as humans should not ingest.And I really miss that old school cooking my grandmother used to make from smothered pork chops to you name it.Good to have you around mama.I really appreciate you and I will endorse whatever you need.I never though about putting milk in the batter and that’s a game changer.When I fry I only use coconut fat whether it be fish or chicken and I’m really gonna enjoy this.I’ve subscribed so I’ll be sticking around a while.Your passion for cooking makes me feel like I’m back home again. Sincerely, Andre Dwayne McCoy aka Famous Dwayne
Hi Andre,
Thank you for your fabulous comment! Every time I make this fried chicken I think of my Grandmother, who passed on in 1998. It brings back some great memories for me. Yes, the milk really works. Enjoy cooking!
Hi my name is karla, can you use a cast iron
Hi Karla,
You should be able to use a cast iron pan just fine for frying. Cast iron fries evenly and I love mine.
Keep in mind however the added weight of emptying the frying pan with the leftover oil. I find it a bit easier to use the electric skillet for handling purposes. My wrists have a time with the weight of my cast iron pan.
Thank you. My grandma cooked potatoes, & did beans i miss that. How do you cook you’re beans, crock pot or pan.