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Fried Chicken Sandwiches

Ina Garten's Fried Chicken Sandwich is a must-try for any home cook looking to elevate their fried chicken game. With a few tips & tricks, this recipe is foolproof!
Prep Time45 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Course: dinner, lunch
Cuisine: American, southern
Keyword: fried chicken, southern
Servings: 6

Equipment

  • Thermometer safe for hot oil

Ingredients

  • 2 cups buttermilk shaken
  • 1 shallot peeled, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced crosswise
  • 2 garlic cloves smashed
  • 1 jalapeño pepper with seeds, halved lengthwise
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 3 small skinless boneless chicken breasts (6 ounces each)
  • 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 4 teaspoons baking powder
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons smoked Spanish paprika
  • 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1 teaspoon celery salt
  • 2 48-ounce bottles canola oil
  • Kosher dill pickles such as Claussen, thinly sliced, for serving

Instructions

  • In a large bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, shallot, garlic, jalapeño, 2 teaspoons kosher salt and 1 teaspoon black pepper. Place the chicken breasts between 2 pieces of parchment paper and, with a rolling pin or a meat mallet, pound them until they are evenly 1/2 inch thick. Slice each piece of chicken in half crosswise so you have 2 pieces approximately the same size. Place the chicken in the marinade, making sure each piece is well coated, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 8 hours or up to (but not more than) 24 hours.
  • When ready to cook the chicken, preheat the oven to 300˚. Set a wire rack on a sheet pan and place them in the oven.
  • In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, paprika, cayenne pepper, celery salt, 1 tablespoon kosher salt and 1 1/2 teaspoons black pepper and set aside.
  • Pour oil into a medium (9-inch round by 4 1/2-inch high) Dutch oven, such as Le Creuset, until it is 2 inches deep. Clip on a candy thermometer and heat the oil over high heat until it reaches 350˚. Meanwhile, lift the chicken from the marinade, dredge it in the flour mixture, submerge it again in the marinade, then again in the flour mixture, lightly shaking off the excess. Transfer the chicken to a plate or sheet pan until ready to fry.
  • When the oil is 350˚, carefully lower 3 pieces only into the oil with tongs and adjust the heat to keep the oil at 350˚. Don’t crowd the chicken! Cook for 5 minutes, turning once to brown evenly. With an oversized wire slotted spoon or spider, transfer the chicken to the sheet pan in the oven to keep warm. Repeat with the remaining chicken. Sprinkle all the chicken with salt and keep warm for up to 15 minutes, until ready to serve.
  • Serving suggestions: Serve with coleslaw and buttermilk herb mayo or with pickles on a potato roll.

Notes

Get the Recipe for Buttermilk Herb Mayo