Miss Gillian's Crispy Fried Chicken Thighs

On a popular TV cook-off show, contestant Miss Gillian won with a recipe for crispy fried chicken that I've imitated here, to excellent family reviews.

• Preparation Time: 10 mins
• Cooking Time: 30 mins
• Total Time: 40 mins
• Calories: 464 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 4 cups buttermilk
• 1 pinch poultry seasoning
• 2 tablespoons hot sauce
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• 5 cloves garlic, crushed
• 2 pounds bone-in chicken thighs, skin removed
• 1 pound chicken drumsticks, skin removed
• 1 quart canola oil for frying, or as needed

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Remove chicken from the marinade and shake off excess. Discard the remaining marinade.

Step 2

Place chicken thighs and drumsticks in a large bowl or plastic container, along with buttermilk, hot sauce, and garlic cloves. Stir and coat the chicken, cover, and soak for 8 hours, or overnight, in the refrigerator.

Step 3

Combine flour, salt, pepper, and poultry seasoning on a dinner plate. Dredge chicken in the flour mixture.

Step 4

Heat 2 inches oil in a large frying pan to 370 degrees F (188 degrees C). Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).

Step 5

Place 4 or 5 pieces chicken at a time into the hot oil; about half of each piece should be submerged in oil. Cook, being careful not to poke or touch the pieces more than is necessary, as this cracks the coating and leads to greasy chicken, until golden and no longer pink in the centers, about 4 minutes per side. Place on paper towels to drain. Repeat with remaining chicken, adding more oil as necessary. Transfer chicken pieces to a large roasting pan.

Step 6

Roast chicken in the preheated oven until crispy, about 15 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted near the bone should read 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).