19 Fried Chicken Recipes

Pieces of batter-fried chicken piled on a white platter.

Batter-Fried Chicken1/19

Proof that it doesn't take buttermilk or an insufferably long overnight brine to make insanely tender, crazily crisp, gosh darn perfect fried chicken.

An oval plate with four pieces of Southern fried chicken wings.

Southern Fried Chicken Wings2/19

Perfectly battered. Nicely seasoned. And easy as heck. That's how we like our fried chicken wings, thank you very much. This recipe delivers all that.

Cajun Fried Chicken3/19

Bathed in buttermilk and spiced ever so slightly, this Cajun fried hen is memorably moist, superlatively crisp, and gosh darn perfect through and through.

Fried chicken in a vinaigrette sauce on a paper bag, chopsticks nearby

Momofuku’s Fried Chicken4/19

This flour-free fried bird is contrary to everything we know about fried chicken. Or think we know. That's exactly what makes it so darn genius.

Seven pieces of gluten-free fried chicken on a paper towel-lined rimmed baking sheet.

Gluten-Free Fried Chicken5/19

Because we believe awesome fried chicken is a birthright for all, we bring you this gluten-free, dairy-free, paleo-friendly bird.

A platter of pickle-brined fried chicken with pieces of dill pickle, and a bottle of beer.

Pickle-Brined Fried Chicken6/19

Pickle-brined fried chicken?! Oh yes we did! Folks are calling it fried chicken perfection. And you won't want to skip the Sriracha honey dipping sauce.

A platter of Nashville hot fried chicken with a jar of whipped butter in the background.

Nashville Hot Fried Chicken7/19

Hot enough to make you holler. That's how they like their fried chicken in Nashville. Who are we to argue?

Four pieces of Judy Hesser's oven-fried chicken in a oval glass baking dish on top of a linen cloth.

Judy Hesser’s Oven-Fried Chicken8/19

Mind-bogglingly crisp oven-fried chicken. And it's sooo easy. Just shake, shake, shake chicken thighs in a bag of seasoned flour and bake unattended for a little while.

A man holding tongs in front of a skillet making southern pan-fried chicken, which is bubbling in the pan

Southern Pan-Fried Chicken9/19

This recipe from the late, great Edna Lewis turns out skillet-fried chicken that's perfectly seasoned, extra-crisp, and gosh darn beautiful in every way.

Three pieces of cornmeal crusted fried chicken on a white plate.

Cornmeal Crusted Fried Chicken10/19

Tender, juicy meat. Shatteringly crisp skin. And made from ingredients we bet you already have in the house. You're welcome.

A platter of Spanish-style deep-fried chicken wings on a wooden table with a bowl of wing bones on the side.

Spanish-Style Deep-Fried Chicken Wings11/19

These simple yet stylish chicken wings are served in all the chic tapas bars in Andalusia. Our kinda tapas.

Three pieces of crispy fried chicken on grease-stained paper.

Crispy Fried Chicken12/19

This blissfully crunchy, irreverently easy, crazily unconventional coating is everything we never knew we wanted in fried chicken.

Pieces of bourbon buttermilk fried chicken on a metal background.

Bourbon Buttermilk Fried Chicken13/19

Yes, bourbon-inflected fried chicken. It’s in the brine. And oh, baby, are you gonna wish you’d been doing this all your life.

A piece of egg shop fried chicken on a white plate with a drizzle of honey on top and a fork beside it.

Egg Shop Fried Chicken14/19

For years, Egg Shop's fried chicken has been the talk of New York City. It’s crunchy, juicy, salty, spicy, honey-frizzled fried chicken amazingness. And here's how you can make it.

Northern Fried Chicken15/19

The secret to this Northern fried chicken recipe? Matzoh meal and honey. No lie.

Fried Chicken16/19

Booyah! We've found the secret to simple yet sensational fried chicken. And it's as basic as can be. Just salt. Pepper. Flour. Water. Patience.

Seven oven-fried chicken drumsticks on a white surface.

Oven Fried Drumsticks17/19

Some things never go out of style. Witness this throwback to the 50s recipe for drumsticks rolled in crumbs of any sort. Potato chips. Wasabi peas. Rice crackers.

Several pieces of chicken karaage (Japanese fried chicken) draining on a paper towel

Chicken Karaage ~ Japanese Fried Chicken18/19

You haven't lived until you've had chicken karaage, which is Japanese-style chicken that's marinated in soy and fried twice until crisp and oh so nice.

A person pouring spicy maple bourbon syrup over a platter of waffle fried chicken bites, with a white plate with two bites on it beside the platter.

Waffle Fried Chicken with Spicy Bourbon Maple Syrup19/19

Fried chicken as you've never, ever experienced. Waffle-battered thighs are fried until crisp and doused with a spiked syrup that boasts a sweet heat.