25 Fried Chicken Recipes (2024)

Credit: Hector Sanchez; Stylist: Buffy Hargett

People love fried chicken. Whether it's deep-fried, pan-fried, air-fried, or even oven-fried, batter-coated chicken will never go out of style. We put together a list of our very best fried chicken recipes—froma Popeye's Copycat to Air-Fried General Tso's—that you'll want to make again and again.

Korean Fried Chicken image

Korean Fried Chicken Recipe

You don’t know crispy fried chicken until you’ve tried this Korean fried chicken. Our smitten test kitchen team even deemed this some of the best fried chicken they’d ever experienced. The secret to the chicken’s incredible, light and crisp exterior comes down to two key details.

Copycat Popeyes Fried Chicken image

Copycat Popeyes Fried Chicken Recipe

Love the signature warming kick of Popeyes' fried chicken? Good news: You can skip the drive-thru and enjoy a homemade version of this fast-food favorite with our beautifully crisp, perfectly spiced copycat recipe.

mr-Weeknight Fried Chicken image

Weeknight Fried Chicken Recipe

Peanut flour givesthis chicken incredible toasty flavor, while Wondra flour makes for crave-worthy crispness.It’s a Sunday supper with weeknight preparation.

Shoyu Fried Chicken with Mochiko Batter

Shoyu Fried Chicken with Mochiko Batter Recipe

Shoyu chicken is a Hawaiian plate-lunch favorite that consists of chicken marinated or simmered in shoyu, garlic, sugar, and other spices.

curry-fried-chicken-chicken-salad

Curry Fried Chicken Chicken Salad Recipe

Got leftover fried chicken? Chop it up and put it to work in this insanely tasty chicken salad. Make it once, and you'll find yourself going out to buy fried chicken specifically to make it again. While it might seem a little weird to coat fried chicken in mayo—trust us, it's a revelation. The fried chicken provides an insane depth of rich flavor, not to mention, all of the salt your salad will probably need. And keep in mind that this fast and easy chicken salad is completely adaptable based on your tastes and what you have on hand. Not a curry fan? No problem, this chicken salad will be just as delicious without the curry powder. Don't have an apple in the crisper? You could always substitutegrapes in for the apple. Have a smaller amount of fried chicken on hand? Not a problem, scale the recipe to work with what you have. Serve sandwiched between slices of whole-grain bread or on a bed of lettuce.

cold-fried-chicken-salad-sandwiches

Cold Fried-Chicken-Salad Sandwiches Recipe

These cold fried-chicken salad sandwiches are as easy as they are delicious.

Oven-Fried Chicken Parmesan

Oven-Fried Chicken Parmesan Recipe

Serve an Italian favorite for an easy meal in minutes. Pair with a simple starch and a small green salad.

mr-Sweet and Spicy Fried Chicken Tenders with Sesame Dipping Sauce Image

Sweet and Spicy Fried Chicken Tenders with Sesame Dipping Sauce Recipe

Thissweet and spicy Asian-inspired fried chickenis insanely good and pairs perfectly with a rich and velvety dipping sauce that is full of fresh herb flavors.You can useone 14-ounce can of sweetened condensed milk for both steps in this recipe to create a sweet, rich, and savory dish your whole family will love. If you want to make your recipe spicier, just add a bit more Sriracha to the dipping sauce to bring up the heat.

Ultimate Fried Chicken Sandwich

Ultimate Fried Chicken Sandwich Recipe

If you think you need to venture to the closest fast-food joint to snag a chicken sandwich that's delicious, crispyand fried to perfection, think again! Homemade pickles and an irresistible garlicky mayo top this heavenly chicken sammy whichoutshinesany fast-food entrée.

mr-easy-chicken-parmesan

Easy Chicken Parmesan Recipe

This chicken parmesan is an Italian classic that's easy to make and easy on your budget.

Mama's Fried Chicken

Mama's Fried Chicken Recipe

Skip the bucket of fast-food fried chicken and remember what it's like to eat "real" fried chicken like Mama used to make. Mashed potatoes and biscuits are optional.

Crispy Oven-Fried Chicken Cutlets with Roasted Broccoli

Crispy Oven-Fried Chicken Cutlets with Roasted Broccoli and Parmesan Cream Sauce Recipe

Even if you have made oven-fried chicken countless times before, this might become your new favorite recipe. The chicken is dredged in a flavorful mixture of melted butter and Dijon mustard before being coated in crushed cornflakes and panko, for maximum crunch. When paired with caramelized roasted broccoli and a smooth parmesan cream sauce. We upgraded a classic béchamel sauce (or white sauce) with the addition of Parmesan cheese and a touch of lemon juice for brightness. Any grated Parmesan cheese will work in this sauce, but the salty-sweet flavor of Parmigiano-Reggiano will really take it over the top. Try serving the sauce with the roasted broccoli for a fancy take on the usual steamed broccoli with cheese sauce. Have some fresh herbs on hand? Add a tablespoon of minced fresh herbs to the sauce along with the salt and pepper. Basil, thyme, parsley, or sage would be delicious additions. This is a winning dinner recipe for any night of the week.

Copycat Chick-Fil-A Sandwich image

Copycat Chick-Fil-A Sandwich Recipe

Your favorite fast food sandwich just got a little bit better. Soaked in a tangy, pickle juice solution, the chicken is then dredged in flour and tossed in an egg mixture. After a hotpan sear, the chicken breasts acquirea crispy, crunchy outside, while maintaining a succulent, flavorful interior. Served withtoasted buns and adorned with pickle chips, this sandwich will make you seriously wonder why you'd ever go back to the drive-thru.

Oven-Fried Chicken Salad with Buttermilk Ranch Dressing

Oven-Fried Chicken Salad with Buttermilk Ranch Dressing Recipe

These oven-baked pecan-and-panko crusted chicken tenders have fabulous fried chicken flavor with much less grease and mess. As the chicken cooks, the rest of this family-friendly recipe comes together in minutes. Grilled romaine lettuce gives this salad a smoky flavor. Instead of using a grill pan, you can cook the veggies on a charcoal or gas grill outside.

Air Fried General Tso's Chicken

Air-Fried General Tso’s Chicken Recipe

This air-fryer riff on the Chinese takeout classic saves the day with nearly half the saturated fat of restaurant versions and loads less clean-up than deep frying at home. Air fryer sizes vary (hence the cook time’s wide range); if you have a smaller air fryer, commit to cooking in batches so that there’s plenty of room for the air to circulate and crisp up the chicken.

Crispy Oven-Fried Chicken

Crispy Oven-Fried Chicken Recipe

You can marinate the chicken in the buttermilk mixture up to 24 hours so the seasoning penetrates the meat more deeply, though even a two-hour soak will help if you’re time-pressed. Two teaspoons of hot sauce in the marinade gives the chicken zesty flavor without seeming spicy. Depending on your heat preference, you can double or triple the amount of hot sauce. For best results, shop for air-chilled (not water-chilled) chicken so it’s easier for the brine to penetrate. Grate the cheese with a Microplane or other very fine grater so it spreads evenly into the coating.

Sheet Pan Parmesan "Fried" Chicken with Broccoli and Sweet Potato Wedges

Sheet Pan Parmesan "Fried" Chicken with Broccoli and Sweet Potato Wedges Recipe

In addition to getting the food into the oven in stages, you should also prep the food in stages to make most efficient use of your time. As the oven preheats, skin and bread the chicken; when the chicken goes in, prepare the sweet potatoes. Once those go in, get the broccoli ready. To easily skin the drumsticks, use a paper towel to grab an edge of the skin on the fat end, then pull down. Keep in mind that drumsticks can vary in size, and the cook time is calculated for 31/2-ounce ones; we had good luck buying organic drumsticks, which tended to be smaller than conventional.

Gina hom*olka is the founder ofskinnytaste.comand@skinnytaste.

Pan-Fried Chicken

Pan-Fried Chicken Recipe

Cooking in a small amount of heart-healthy peanut oil adds flavor and makes the chicken crispy.

Oven-Fried Chicken Parmesan

Oven-Fried Chicken Parmesan Recipe

Serve an Italian favorite for an easy meal in minutes. Pair with a simple starch and a small green salad.

Lighter Pan-Fried Chicken with Green Beans and Tomatoes

Lighter Pan-Fried Chicken with Green Beans and Tomatoes Recipe

oven-fried-chicken-drumsticks-in-peach-barbecue-sauce

Oven “Fried” Chicken Drumsticks with Peach Barbecue Sauce Recipe

Cutting down on the fat doesn’t mean cutting out any flavor with this oven “fried” chicken, featuring a savory spice rub and a sweet, tangy peach barbecue sauce. Cooking your chicken at a high temperature in the oven means you won’t need additional oil in order to get super-crispy skin.

oh- Pan-Fried Chicken with Balsamic Peppers and Couscous

Dinner: Tuck into these low-cal feasts, and you'll forget you're even on a diet! 250 calories & under. This healthy, quick and easy recipe is featured in the dinner section of the new 5:2 Starter's Guide to The 2-Day Diet. The book provides a selection of over 100 tasty recipes to help you meet the daily 500 calorie allotment for the 2 days of intermittent fasting, as required by the 5:2 Diet.

Sweet Tea-Brined Fried Chicken

Sweet Tea-Brined Fried Chicken Recipe

A marriage of Southern favorites: Our salty-sweet brine of brown sugar and freshly brewed tea infuses this picnic-perfect chicken with juicy flavor before frying. Bonus: The tannins in tea act as a natural tenderizer.