Crispy Chicken Skins Recipes

CRISPY NASHVILLE CHICKEN SKINS

Steps:

• For the skins: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper and coat paper with oil.
• Trim chicken skins to palm-size pieces. This will provide a chip-like finished product, great for dipping.
• Spread chicken skins in a single layer on baking sheet and flatten. Lightly coat the skins with additional oil. Bake until fat is rendered out, 25 to 30 minutes. Transfer to paper towels to rest and cool.
• For the Nashville seasoning: Meanwhile, combine cayenne, brown sugar, salt, garlic powder, paprika, chili powder, onion powder, black pepper, ground mustard, lemon pepper, coriander, cumin and Reaper powder in a small bowl and mix thoroughly. Set aside.
• Pour oil into a large pot to measure at least 2 inches deep and bring up to 350 degrees F.
• Place a handful of skins in the oil and fry until warmed through and crispy, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from the pot using a metal strainer and place in a large bowl. Sprinkle the seasoning over the skins and toss to coat evenly. Make sure the oil returns to 350 degrees before starting a new batch.

CRISPY FRIED CHICKEN SKIN

Steps:

• Place chicken skins in a large stockpot. Cover with water. Bring to a boil and cook for 10 minutes. Drain and transfer to a cutting board. Using a sharp knife, scrape off excess fat and cut skin into 1/2-inch wide strips.
• Place skin on a baking sheet and refrigerate, uncovered, for at least 8 hours.
• Heat oil in a large stockpot to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lower a handful of skins carefully into the hot oil. Fry until crisp, about 4 minutes. Transfer to a plate lined with paper towels to drain and sprinkle with salt. Repeat with remaining chicken skin.

CRISPY-SKIN CHICKEN THIGHS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 220C/fan 200/gas 7. Wipe the chicken thighs with kitchen paper. Finely grate the zest from 1 lemon and squeeze the juice from both. Mix in a shallow dish with the tarragon, 1 tbsp of the oil, and some salt and pepper. Slash the skin of each chicken thigh three times, then turn in the marinade. The chicken pieces can be cooked immediately or left in the fridge for up to a day.
• Cut the potatoes into wedges and spread over a roasting tin. Toss in the remaining oil and sprinkle with paprika. Set a rack on top and arrange the chicken pieces on the rack. Bake for 30-40 mins, until the chicken is well browned and the potatoes tender. Serve with a simple green salad.

CRISPY FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• In a large shallow dish, combine 2-2/3 cups flour, garlic salt, paprika, 2-1/2 teaspoons pepper and teaspoons poultry seasoning. In another shallow dish, beat eggs and 1-1/2 cups water; add 1 teaspoon salt and the remaining 1-1/3 cup flour and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Dip chicken in egg mixture, then place in flour mixture, a few pieces at a time. Turn to coat., In a deep-fat fryer, heat oil to 375°. Working in batches, fry chicken, several pieces at a time, until skin is golden brown and a thermometer inserted into chicken reads 165°, about 7-8 minutes on each side. Drain on paper towels.

KATE'S CRISPY CRACKLINGS FROM LEFTOVER ROTISSERIE CHICKEN SKIN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375F degrees.
• Remove skin from rotisserie chicken. Remove excess fat from around cavity opening and remove tail. Remove small bones from tail and discard bones. Remove layer of fat along thighs.
• Arrange skin, tail, and removed fat (from cavity opening and thighs) in one layer in a metal baking pan that has sides (not a shallow cookie sheet). Do not line pan with aluminum foil or parchment paper because skin must be in contact with hot metal pan to sufficiently render oil in order to crisp. Almost all excess oil will render leaving a crispy "chip." Use rotisserie chicken meat for chicken salad, casserole, soup, etc.
• Sprinkle skin and fat with salt and black pepper if rotisserie chicken is not already seasoned or flavored. Bake, uncovered, for 15 minutes at 375F degrees. Remove from oven and drain off all oil. (While wearing oven mitts, I carefully tip the baking pan and use a paper towel to soak up the oil that pools in the bottom corner.) Bake for 15 more minutes. Drain off oil. Skin and fat should be golden brown (not burnt) and crispy (not limp and chewy). If not crispy, bake for 10 more minutes. Loosen cracklings from pan with spatula and transfer to paper towels. Eat while still warm.
• Note: this method works for any baked/roasted poultry including holiday turkey skin and fat. Furthermore, this method will still work for refrigerated leftovers- just add five extra minutes of baking time for skin to warm up.

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.