Best Ellens Fried Chicken Recipes

ELLEN'S CRISPY FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• 1. Rinse chicken and pat dry; set aside. In a shallow bowl or flat dish, mix together the flour and the seasonings. Heat oil in a large skillet.
• 2. While the oil is heating, dredge chicken pieces well in the seasoned flour. Be sure to cover all sides. Place coated pieces in the hot oil and set heat on medium high.
• 3. Brown chicken on all sides, being careful not to burn it. When it has browned to your liking, reduce heat to low, add 1/4 cup of water, and cover.
• 4. Cook chicken, covered, for about 40 minutes or until fork-tender. Remove lid, turn heat up to medium-high, and add a little more oil if needed. Re-brown the chicken until it has a crispy crust.
• 5. Remove chicken to a plate lined with paper towels to drain. Place in a warm oven while preparing the gravy.
• 6. TO MAKE GRAVY: Pour all but 1/4 cup oil from skillet. Scrape pan to loosen browned pieces of batter. Remove skillet from heat and stir in 1/4 cup seasoned flour. Place skillet over low heat; cook and stir flour until lightly browned. Slowly add 2 cups milk, stirring to reduce lumping. Add more seasoning if desired. Serve with mashed potatoes or biscuits, or bread, and over chicken.

SKILLET-FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• In shallow dish, mix flour, paprika, salt and pepper. Coat chicken with flour mixture.
• In 12-inch nonstick skillet, heat oil (1/4 inch) over medium-high heat. Cook chicken in oil, skin sides down, about 10 minutes or until light brown; reduce heat to low. Turn chicken skin sides up.
• Cook uncovered about 20 minutes, without turning, until juice of chicken is clear when thickest pieces are cut to bone (at least 165°F).

ELLEN'S CHICKEN FRIED RICE

Steps:

• 1. Cook the rice according to package directions; drain, set aside.
• 2. Brown the chicken pieces in hot oil in large skillet over medium heat. After two or three minutes, add onion. Stir frequently.
• 3. When onion becomes translucent, add garlic and peas and carrots. Stir to mix. Add rice, eggs, and soy sauce. Mix thoroughly and let simmer over low heat until heated through.
• 4. If needed, add more soy sauce for desired consistency. Serve immediately.

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.

THE BEST FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Cut the chicken into 10 pieces. Cut off the wings. Remove the legs and separate the thighs. Remove and discard the backbone. Cut the breast into 2 pieces and then cut each breast in half.
• Mix 4 teaspoons salt, the brown sugar and baking powder in a small bowl until completely combined and no lumps of sugar remain. Sprinkle the salt mixture all over the chicken pieces. Place the seasoned chicken on a wire rack set inside a rimmed baking sheet. Wrap the baking sheet with plastic wrap and refrigerate, at least 3 hours and up to 24. (Overnight works best.)
• Whisk together the flour, cornstarch, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, cayenne and 1/4 cup salt in a large bowl until completely combined. Whisk together the buttermilk, hot sauce and eggs in another large bowl. Working with 1 piece at a time, dredge the chicken in the seasoned flour, turning to coat and packing it into any crevices. Shake to remove any excess and return to the rack. Repeat with the remaining chicken.
• Pour 6 tablespoons of the buttermilk mixture into the seasoned flour and work it in with your fingers; it should feel like sand with some clumps. (These clumps will give the chicken a crispy, shaggy crust.) Dip the dredged chicken into the remaining buttermilk mixture, allowing any excess to drip off. Then pack the moistened flour firmly onto the chicken. Very gently shake off any excess and return to the rack. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes and up to 12 hours.
• Pour enough oil into a large heavy pot to come halfway up the sides. Clip a deep-fry thermometer to the pot. Heat the oil over high heat until the thermometer registers 300 degrees F. Working in 3 batches, fry the chicken, turning often and adjusting the heat to maintain the temperature, until deep golden brown, about 8 minutes for the wings, 10 minutes for the legs and 12 minutes for the thighs and halved breasts (an uncut breast will take 15 to 18 minutes). Transfer to a clean wire rack set over paper towels to drain.