Juicy, crunchy, crazy delicious fried chicken brushed with a spicy cayenne-based sauce for a superduper flavor explosion! If you love spicy food, you've got to try this recipe.
Place chicken in a large bowl or ziplock bag. Then, season it with salt, followed by crushed garlic, hot sauce, and Creole seasoning.
Next, pour the buttermilk on the seasoned chicken, cover the bowl with plastic wrap, and marinate in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours or overnight.
In a large bowl, whisk the flour, cornstarch, bread crumbs, baking powder, salt, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, herbs, and white pepper.
Remove all the marinated chicken from the buttermilk. Then, dredge the pieces in the flour mixture, shaking off excess flour. You can use a ziplock bag for this process, too.
Let the chicken rest for 10-15 minutes while heating the oil. That will help the coating stay on better.
Frying the Chicken
Heat oil over medium-high heat in a deep fryer or cast iron skillet to 375℉ (190℃). Remember that the temperature will drop when you add the chicken.
Use tongs to carefully and slowly place the chicken in the hot oil, working in batches to avoid overcrowding the skillet.
Fry the chicken until golden brown, turning every 10-15 minutes, depending on the size of the pieces. You will know when the chicken is done when it is no longer pink inside and its juices run clear. You can do a test by piercing the chicken with a fork.
Drain the chicken on paper towels and then transfer them on a wire rack.
Repeat with remaining chicken pieces; let it cool for at least 10 minutes.
Baking Method
Let the chicken rest in a single layer on a baking sheet pan for 10-15 minutes to help the coating stay on. Then place the baking pan in a 375℉ (190℃) oven and bake for 45-50 minutes or until the meat is no longer pink and its juices run clear. You can do a test by piercing the chicken with a fork.
Nashville Hot Sauce
To make the sauce, whisk the cayenne pepper, brown sugar, paprika, chili powder, salt, and hot sauce in a small bowl. Then, add the melted butter and oil and carefully mix until fully combined.
Finally, brush the top of the fried chicken with the desired amount of spicy hot sauce. Garnish with pickles and serve.
Notes
Substitute a cup of buttermilk with 1 cup of regular milk + 1 tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon. Let it stand for 5-10 minutes until the milk curdles. Then, pour it into the seasoned chicken meat.
Brush the chicken with hot sauce depending on your spiciness tolerance, or leave it out.
Please keep in mind that nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary greatly based on the products used.