Make Ahead Fried Chicken Recipes

FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• In a large resealable plastic bag, combine first four ingredients. With paper towels, pat chicken dry; add to bag, a few pieces at a time. Seal bag and shake to coat. , In a large skillet over medium-high heat, heat 1/2 in. of oil; fry chicken until browned on all sides. Reduce heat; cover and cook for 30-35 minutes or until juices run clear, turning occasionally. Uncover and cook 5 minutes longer. Drain on paper towels.,

MAKE-AHEAD FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Make the marinade: Whisk together all the marinade ingredients, except the chicken, and place in a large bowl or plastic bag. Submerge the chicken in the marinade, cover bowl or seal bag, and let rest in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours or, better, overnight.
• Make the coating: In a bowl, whisk together the flour, cayenne, salt and chile powder. Place a paper bag inside another paper bag (to prevent seepage, use large bags or several small ones) and transfer the flour mixture into it. This is so you can shake the chicken pieces. (You can also just mix flour in a bowl and dredge the chicken parts in it, or use a heavy-duty plastic zipper bag for shaking.)
• Take a piece of chicken out of the marinade and place it in the bag with the flour mixture. Close the bag and shake it so the chicken is fully coated. (Or, if you are using a bowl, dredge the chicken in the flour mixture.) Remove and place on a plate or sheet pan. Repeat with remaining chicken pieces, one by one. Let chicken rest for 30 minutes so it can come to room temperature. Reserve the coating mixture.
• In a large Dutch oven or heavy skillet with a lid, heat the oil until it reaches 350 degrees. Just before frying, shake the chicken pieces in the coating mixture once again, one by one.
• Fry the chicken for 6 minutes, covered, then uncover the pot and flip the chicken with tongs. Continue frying for about another 6 minutes, or until the coating is dark golden brown and the juices run clear when the meat is pricked with a fork.
• Place chicken on a wire rack set over a paper-towel-lined baking sheet to drain and cool. Serve within 8 hours, but it's best to serve within 4 hours and leave the chicken at room temperature, rather than chilling it.

OVEN FRIED CHICKEN II

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Place flour in a shallow plate or bowl and season with salt and pepper to taste. Put the bread crumbs in another shallow plate or bowl and beat the eggs in another bowl.
• Dredge the chicken piece by piece in the flour, then the egg, then the bread crumbs, until all pieces are coated. Pour the oil into a 9x13 inch baking dish. Add the chicken to the dish and sprinkle with paprika to taste. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes, then turn pieces over and bake for another 30 minutes. Remove from oven and drain on paper towels. Enjoy!

MAKE-AHEAD CRISPY CHICKEN CUTLETS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 450°F. Spray large rimmed cookie sheet with cooking spray.
• In 12-inch skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add bread crumbs; cook 4 to 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until golden brown. Transfer to shallow bowl.
• Between 2 pieces of plastic wrap, place each chicken breast; gently pound with flat side of meat mallet or rolling pin until about 1/4 inch thick. Season chicken breasts with 1 teaspoon of the salt and 1/2 teaspoon of the pepper.
• In shallow pan, stir together flour, remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. In shallow bowl, mix eggs and water with whisk. Coat both sides of chicken with flour mixture. Dip chicken into beaten eggs; turn to coat. Dredge in browned bread crumbs, coating completely. If there are any bread crumbs left in bowl, pat them on top of chicken breasts to cover any bare spots.
• Place chicken breasts on cookie sheet. Bake 13 to 15 minutes or until juice of chicken is clear when center of thickest part is cut (at least 165°F).
• To freeze: Arrange unbaked breaded chicken breasts on two large cookie sheets. Cover loosely with plastic wrap; freeze 3 to 4 hours or until frozen solid. Wrap each breast in plastic wrap, and store together in 2-quart freezer bag up to 1 month. To bake: Heat oven to 450°F. Place desired number of frozen breaded chicken breasts in 1 layer on cookie sheet. Bake 20 minutes. Turn over; bake 8 to 10 minutes or until juice of chicken is clear when center of thickest part is cut (at least 165°F).

15-MINUTE FRIED HERBED CHICKEN

Steps:

• In a blender or the container of a food processor, combine garlic, onion, herbs and tahini. As you purée the mixture, slowly add just enough olive oil through the feed tube to make a thick, smooth paste; do not let it get too thin.
• Put flour in a shallow bowl. Place chicken in another bowl. Rub puréed mixture over chicken, then dredge each piece in flour. Gently shake off any excess flour, coat again with paste and dredge once more in flour.
• Heat 1/4 inch olive oil in a skillet; when it is hot, fry chicken for about 4 minutes each side, until well browned and cooked through; it will take longer if you use chicken with the bone in. Garnish with parsley and serve hot or warm, with lemon wedges.

SUPER-FAST FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Season chicken with coarse salt and pepper, then rub with garlic. Let sit 15 minutes. In a large zip-top bag, combine flour, paprika, cayenne, and fine salt. In batches, add chicken and shake well until evenly coated. If you have time, let chicken sit 15 minutes.
• In a 10-inch heavy skillet, heat oil over medium until it reaches 365 degrees. The oil is ready when a little flour dropped in bubbles and sizzles steadily.
• Shake excess flour off a piece of chicken, then carefully place in oil, skin side down. Repeat, adding just a few more pieces to skillet (do not crowd pan). Adjust heat to keep a steady sizzle and maintain 365 degrees. Cover and cook until chicken is browned on bottom, about 7 minutes. Carefully flip each piece, then cover and cook until chicken is cooked through, about 8 minutes.
• Drain chicken on paper towels. Repeat with remaining chicken, replenishing and reheating oil between batches, if necessary.

MAKE-AHEAD CRISPY CHICKEN CUTLETS

Steps:

• Whisk egg yolks, mayonnaise, and salt in a large bowl until smooth. Add chicken and turn several times with tongs until evenly coated.
• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high until shimmering. Add panko and cook, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon, making sure to get around the edges to incorporate darker breadcrumbs, until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Let cool slightly, then stir in mustard powder, if using.
• Using tongs, place a cutlet in skillet. Pat surrounding toasted panko onto cutlet with one of your hands, pressing firmly to adhere. Turn and repeat on the other side with more breadcrumbs. Lightly shake off excess breadcrumbs. Transfer to a wire rack set inside a rimmed baking sheet (if you are making these ahead and freezing, skip wire rack and place directly on a baking sheet). Repeat with remaining cutlets, spacing evenly apart on baking sheet. Discard any remaining panko. At this point, breaded cutlets can be frozen up to 3 months. Freeze chicken on baking sheets until firm, about 1 hour, then transfer to resealable freezer bags or layer in an airtight container with sheets of parchment between cutlets.
• Preheat oven to 450°F and bake cutlets until cooked through and juices run clear when pierced with a knife, 10-12 minutes. If cutlets are frozen, they will take a little longer, 14-16 minutes. You can also bake chicken 1 or 2 at a time in a toaster oven at 450°F. Bake directly on rack, 12-14 minutes.

CLASSIC HOT WINGS BY PIONEER WOMAN/ MAKE-AHEAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Heat 3 inches of canola oil in a heavy pot to 375 degrees F.
• Add half the chicken wing parts to the oil and fry them until they're golden brown and fully cooked, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove and drain on paper towels. Repeat with the other half of the wing parts.
• In a saucepan, heat the cayenne sauce and butter over medium-low heat. Add the Worcestershire and hot sauce. Let it bubble up, and then turn off the heat.
• Place the wings in an ovenproof dish and pour the hot sauce over the top. Toss to coat, and then bake in the oven for 15 minutes.
• Serve with blue cheese dip, celery sticks.

FRIED PICKLED JALAPEñOS WITH ZESTY LIME RANCH

Steps:

• Drain peppers and reserve 1/4 cup plus 1 teaspoon of brine from the jar. Pat peppers dry with paper towels.
• Combine sour cream, ranch seasoning, the zest and juice of the lime, and one teaspoon of reserved jalapeño liquid. Stir well and set aside. This could be made up to 3 days ahead.
• Pour oil in a small saucepan and heat over medium heat to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Whisk together flour, taco seasoning, remaining reserved jalapeño juice, and water in a shallow dish until smooth. Toss dried jalapeños in cornstarch until lightly coated and shake off any excess. Coat slices in flour mixture with a fork and allow the excess to drip off.
• Add several coated slices to the hot oil and fry until golden and crisp, 1 1/2 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel to drain and repeat with remaining jalapeños, in batches. Serve immediately with ranch dip.