Best Crunchy No Fry Chicken Recipes

SOUTHERN LIVING'S BEST FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Combine 1 tablespoon salt with 3 quarts water in a large bowl or container. Add chicken, cover and refrigerate 8 hours or overnight. Drain, rinse with cold water and pat dry.
• Stir together remaining 1 teaspoon salt and the black pepper. Sprinkle half the mixture evenly over chicken.
• In a large sealable plastic bag, combine remaining pepper mixture and flour. Add 2 pieces chicken to bag and shake well to coat. Remove chicken pieces, shaking off extra flour, and set aside. Repeat with remaining chicken.
• Take a large (10- or 12-inch) cast-iron skillet or chicken fryer, for which you have a lid, and fit with a candy or deep-frying thermometer. Add oil and bacon drippings and heat to 360 degrees over medium heat; the oil will ripple and possibly give off a few wisps of smoke.
• Using tongs, immediately add chicken pieces, skin side down (work in batches if necessary to avoid crowding pan). The oil will drop to about 325 degrees, where it should stay; adjust heat so that oil is bubbling gently around the pieces. Cover and cook 6 minutes; uncover and cook 9 minutes. Turn chicken pieces; cover and cook 6 minutes. Uncover and cook another 5 to 9 minutes, depending on size of pieces. If necessary for even browning, turn pieces over a few times toward the end.
• Drain on paper towels or paper bags. Let cool at least 20 minutes before serving.

CRISPY UN-FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• In a large bowl, stir together the buttermilk, hot sauce and 1 teaspoon each of the garlic powder, onion powder and salt. Add the chicken and toss to coat. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to overnight.
• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.
• Put the breadcrumbs, paprika, cayenne and the remaining teaspoon garlic powder, onion powder and salt in a large resealable plastic bag; shake to combine. Remove the chicken from the brine and add it to the bag. Seal the bag and shake vigorously to coat the chicken.
• Line a baking sheet with a rack and spray well with nonstick spray. Arrange the chicken on the rack, skin-side up, and spray the chicken very generously.
• Bake until the chicken is golden brown and cooked through, about 40 minutes.

CRUNCHY NO-FRY CHICKEN

Steps:

• Heat the ove to 400°F.
• Pour the broth into a shallow bowl. Stir the corn flakes, garlic powder, black pepper and red pepper on a plate.
• Dip the chicken into the broth. Coat with the corn flake mixture. Place the chicken onto a baking sheet.
• Bake for 20 minute or until the chicken is cooked through.

CRUNCHY NO-FRY CHICKEN

Steps:

• Mix all the dry ingredients together.
• Dip chicken into broth.
• Coat with corn flakes.
• Place chicken on a baking sheet.
• Bake at 400°F for about 25 minutes or till chicken is no longer pink.

CRISPY FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Take your cut up chicken pieces and skin them if you prefer. Put the flour in a large plastic bag (let the amount of chicken you are cooking dictate the amount of flour you use). Season the flour with paprika, salt and pepper to taste (paprika helps to brown the chicken).
• Dip chicken pieces in buttermilk then, a few at a time, put them in the bag with the flour, seal the bag and shake to coat well. Place the coated chicken on a cookie sheet or tray, and cover with a clean dish towel or waxed paper. LET SIT UNTIL THE FLOUR IS OF A PASTE-LIKE CONSISTENCY. THIS IS CRUCIAL!
• Fill a large skillet (cast iron is best) about 1/3 to 1/2 full with vegetable oil. Heat until VERY hot. Put in as many chicken pieces as the skillet can hold. Brown the chicken in HOT oil on both sides. When browned, reduce heat and cover skillet; let cook for 30 minutes (the chicken will be cooked through but not crispy). Remove cover, raise heat again and continue to fry until crispy.
• Drain the fried chicken on paper towels. Depending on how much chicken you have, you may have to fry in a few shifts. Keep the finished chicken in a slightly warm oven while preparing the rest.