Ingredients:
1 1/4 cups buttermilk
4 teaspoons salt
1 tablespoon pepper
dash hot sauce
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
3 1/2 lb bone-in, skin-on chicken pieces (legs, thighs or breasts)
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 3/4 cups peanut (or vegetable) oil, for frying
Method:
In a large bowl, whisk together 1 cup of the buttermilk, 1 tablespoon salt, 1 teaspoon pepper, the hot sauce, 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/4 teaspoon paprika and 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper. Add the chicken, turning to coat both sides with the buttermilk mixture. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or up to 24 hours (mine soaked for about 4 hours).
Preheat oven to 400 F. Set a wire rack inside of a rimmed baking sheet. Add the oil to an 11-inch straight-sided saute pan (or Dutch oven) and set the pan over medium-high heat. Heat the oil to 375 F.
Meanwhile, in a wide, shallow bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, remaining 2 teaspoons pepper, remaining 1 teaspoon salt, remaining 3/4 teaspoon garlic powder, remaining 3/4 teaspoon paprika, and remaining 1/8 teaspoon cayenne. Add the remaining 1/4 cup buttermilk and, with your fingers, work it into the flour mixture until small clumps form. Working with 1 piece of chicken at a time, dredge the chicken in the flour mixture, pressing to ensure a thick, even coating. Transfer the coated chicken to a large plate, skin side up.
Once the oil has reached temperature, add the chicken pieces to the pan, skin side down (a few at a time so you don’t drop the oil temperature too drastically). Cook on the first side until golden brown, about 3-4 minutes, then gently flip and continue cooking on the second side until golden, about another 2-3 minutes (the crust will darken slightly in the oven while it cooks so no worries if it’s not as brown as you’d like at this point). Transfer the chicken to the wire rack. Repeat with the remaining chicken, allowing the temperature to climb back to 375 F if necessary.
Bake the chicken for 15-20 minutes, or until breasts register 160 F and thighs/legs 175 F on an instant-read thermometer. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
