Are you looking for the best fried chicken in Reading, PA? Redner’s Markets has two suggestions: come see us and purchase from our deli, or pick up the ingredients you need from our shelves and coolers and make your own following our recipe. Whether you want to DIY your delicious meal or purchase from us, count on Redner’s Markets to deliver flavor and affordability.
Fried Chicken Recipe
Prep Time: 15 min; Cook Time: 20 min; Chill Time: 6 hours; Total Time: 6 hrs, 35 min
Ingredients:
- 1 whole chicken or your choice of cut
- 4 tsp salt, divided
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp onion powder
- 2 ¼ cups milk
- 1 ½ TBSP hot sauce
- 2 cups flour
- ½ cup cornstarch
- 2 tsp paprika
- 2 tsp pepper
- Vegetable oil
Instructions:
- In a large bowl, season your cut-up chicken with 2 teaspoons of salt, garlic powder, and onion powder. Toss and coat the chicken well.
- Pour over the milk and hot sauce and stir to combine, covering the chicken thoroughly. Cover the bowl and allow it to marinate for about six hours.
- When ready to cook, mix the flour, cornstarch, rest of the salt, paprika, and pepper.
- Heat the vegetable oil to 350°F. Remember that the skillet will impact how hot the grease gets. Cast iron holds heat extremely well, so you’ll need to monitor the heat of your pan to avoid burning your chicken.
- Batter the chicken, one piece at a time, shaking off the excess and allowing the piece to rest for just a bit before adding to the hot oil.
- Fry the chicken in batches, avoiding overcrowding your skillet.
- Turn the chicken after every few minutes, cooking until the outside is golden brown and the temperature at the thickest point is 165°F. Cooking time will depend on the size of the chicken pieces.
- Rest and drain your fried chicken on a baking sheet lined with paper towels.
Helpful Tips:
- Marinating time is flexible but overnight is best. We suggest a minimum of two hours of marination.
- Cornstarch equals crunch. If you’re not a fan of crispy fried chicken, omit the cornstarch.
- The chicken pieces that you choose are up to you. Whole chickens are usually more affordable as are darker meat like thigh pieces. Dark meat is juicier, but many prefer the heftier size of breast pieces.
- This recipe uses vegetable oil, but you can substitute peanut or canola.
- Buttermilk is often considered a magic ingredient for moist chicken. You can purchase it from Redner’s Markets or make your own by adding 1 TBSP of vinegar for every cup of milk, letting it rest for ten minutes, and stirring.
Come to the deli here at Redner’s Markets for excellent fried chicken and other delicious food platters, from sandwiches to full meals. We have you covered for a lazy weeknight dinner or hosting a gathering.
When your crew calls for fried chicken in Reading, PA, give them the best with the help of Redner’s Markets’ quality ingredients or the deli staff’s expert cooking. We pair value, price, and top-notch quality for foolproof customer service and make happy diners in your household.