CRISPIEST BUTTERMILK FRIED CHICKEN

Crispiest Buttermilk Fried Chicken image

This is without a doubt the crispiest chicken you will ever prepare. I have made it time and time again to wonderful reviews. We love Popeyes® chicken and this puts it to shame. This is great for family picnics and so much cheaper than buying take-out. Yummy!

Provided by Sharon L.

Categories Side Dish Sauces and Condiments Recipes

Time 2h30m

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 9

Ingredients

cold water to cover
¼ cup kosher salt
8 skinless chicken legs
3 cups all-purpose flour, divided
1 cup buttermilk
1 ¼ tablespoons baking powder
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons cayenne pepper
1 ½ cups canola oil, for frying

Steps:

Mix cold water and kosher salt together in a large bowl until salt dissolves. Add chicken legs. Cover entire bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours.
Remove bowl from the refrigerator; drain and pat chicken dry with paper towels.
Place chicken legs in a plastic bag with 1 cup all-purpose flour and shake to coat.
Pour buttermilk into a bowl. Mix remaining flour, baking powder, salt, and cayenne in another bowl. Dip each chicken leg in buttermilk; move to flour mixture and coat well.
Heat canola oil in a deep-fryer to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Fry chicken legs in hot oil in batches until no longer pink at the bone and the juices run clear, about 15 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted near the bone should read 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).

Nutrition Facts : Calories 538.1 calories, Carbohydrate 39.1 g, Cholesterol 151.7 mg, Fat 19.1 g, Fiber 1.4 g, Protein 49 g, SaturatedFat 4.3 g, Sodium 3838.3 mg, Sugar 2.6 g