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Pioneer Woman's Buttermilk Fried Chicken Recipe

The Pioneer Woman Cookbook: Recipes from an Accidental Country Girl by Ree Drummond
There are a few secrets that I learned from Ree. The first is the buttermilk bath overnight (no, not you, the chicken). Second, mixing the flour with a bit of the buttermilk makes the breading a little shaggy, which is perfect for maximum crispiness volume. Lastly, baking the chicken after frying ensures that the chicken is cooked through without burning the skin.</p>
Serves 6-8 hungry ranch hands (halve recipe if you you're feedin' normal city folk)
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Servings 6

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cut-up fryer chickens
  • 1 quart plus 1/4 cup buttermilk, divided
  • 5 cups all-purpose flour
  • 3 tablespoons seasoned salt (like Lawry's)
  • 2 teaspoons black pepper
  • 2 teaspoons dried thyme
  • 2 teaspoons paprika
  • 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • canola or vegetable oil for frying

Instructions
 

  • In a large bowl (or 2 freezer bags) add the chicken with only 1 quart of the buttermilk. Refrigerate overnight. When ready to fry, remove chicken from bowl and let sit on counter for 30 minutes to take chill off.
  • Preheat oven to 350F. Stir together the flour, seasoned salt, pepper, thyme, paprika and cayenne in a very large bowl. In a small bowl combine the remaining 1/4 cup buttermilk and the milk. Pour the milk mixture into the flour and use a fork to mix until little lumps throughout.
  • Heat 1 1/2 inches of oil in a deep skillet or dutch oven over medium high heat to 365F. Working in batches, thoroughly coat each buttermilk-soaked chicken piece with the breading, pressing to adhere the breading. Add the chicken to the oil 3-4 pieces at a time. Cover pan and fry 5-7 minutes, checking to make sure chicken isn't getting too brown. Turn, cover and cook additional 3-5 minutes more. Monitor temperature of oil to make sure chicken doesn't burn. Keep in mind chicken will finish cooking in oven.
  • Place chicken on baking sheet and continue frying rest of chicken. When done, bake the chicken for 20 minutes, until chicken cooked through.
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