Get ready to embark on a crispy, crunchy, and downright cluckin’ delicious journey! We’re about to introduce you to 22 irresistibly delicious fried chicken dishes.
Southern Fried Chicken
Let’s start with our fried chicken journey down south with an iconic southern comfort food. Southern fried chicken is all about crispy, golden-brown perfection.
It’s made by coating succulent chicken in a seasoned flour mixture and then frying them to juicy, crunchy goodness. This dish is enjoyed nearly everywhere in the south.
It doesn’t matter if it’s a picnic or Sunday dinner — there’s always a reason to enjoy fried chicken. This is a classic you don’t want to miss.
Korean Fried Chicken
Korean fried chicken makes fried chicken step up its crunch game! This fried chicken dish is double fried to ensure an unbeatable crunch.
After double frying, the chicken is coated in either a sweet and spicy glaze or a savory soy garlic sauce. It’s a popular late-night snack in South Korea.
You don’t have to wait until you get a midnight hankering to try it, though. Korean fried chicken is perfect for sharing with friends over drinks!
Nashville Hot Fried Chicken
Prepare your taste buds for a fiery adventure with Nashville hot fried chicken. This Music City favorite is renowned for its spicy kick.
So, how’s it made? First, the chicken pieces are marinated in a cayenne pepper-laden buttermilk mixture to get them all nice and spicy.
Then, they’re coated in seasoned flour, before being fried to crispy perfection. Served with pickles and bread, it’s a dish that’s hot in every sense of the word.
Japanese Karaage Fried Chicken
Travel to Japan without leaving your kitchen with a plate of karaage fried chicken. This Japanese twist on fried chicken involves marinating bite-sized chicken pieces.
For the marinade, you’ll need a mixture of soy sauce, sake, ginger, and garlic. After they’re marinated, coat them in a light, crispy batter.
Popular as both an appetizer and a bento box item, karaage is beloved for its juicy interior and flavorful exterior. The crunch helps, too.
Buttermilk Fried Chicken
Buttermilk fried chicken is like a warm hug for your taste buds. It starts with chicken pieces soaking in a tangy buttermilk bath to tenderize and flavor.
Then, it’s coated in a seasoned flour mixture and fried to crispy perfection. It’s often found at southern potlucks, as a favorite for everyone in the family!
Even though this style is popular in the south, we think it deserves wider usage. Apparently, it works a lot better than egg. Who knew?
Taiwanese Popcorn Fried Chicken
What’s better than a bite-sized snack that packs a flavorful punch? Maybe two bite-sized snacks! This fried chicken definitely dish delivers on that front.
Taiwanese popcorn fried chicken is a popular street food snack. It starts as chicken nuggets, which are then marinated with a blend of spices.
The spices vary, but they’re usually sugar, five-spice powder, and white pepper. Then, they’re coated in a crunchy batter, and deep-fried until they’re golden and crispy.
Jamaican Jerk Fried Chicken
Take your taste buds on a Caribbean vacation with Jamaican jerk fried chicken. This spicy and aromatic dish combines jerk seasoning with the crispy goodness of fried chicken.
The chicken is marinated in a fiery blend of spices, including Scotch bonnet peppers, allspice, and thyme. After that, it’s fried to perfection.
Served with traditional Jamaican sides like rice and peas, it’s a meal that’s as bold as it is flavorful. Be honest: you’re craving it right now.
Coconut Milk Fried Chicken
Want to elevate your fried chicken game? It’s not as hard as it sounds. Coconut milk fried chicken brings a fun twist to the classic buttermilk.
This tropical twist on the classic dish features chicken pieces soaked in a coconut milk marinade. This gives them a rich and creamy flavor.
Perfect for a taste of the tropics, this dish can be found in various Southeast Asian cuisines. It’s paired with edamame, rice, or a seaweed salad.
Garlic Soy Fried Chicken
Garlic soy fried chicken is a delightful fusion of Asian flavors. It’s made pretty much the same way as the rest of these fried chicken dishes.
Chicken pieces are marinated in a savory soy sauce mixture, which is infused with garlic and ginger. Then, they’re coated in a crispy batter and fried.
Everyone has their preferences. If you like salty, savory, and slightly sweet notes with a crispy texture, this is certainly the fried chicken dish for you.
Lemon Pepper Fried Chicken
When life gives you lemons, make lemon pepper fried chicken! This zesty variation of fried chicken combines the tangy brightness of lemon with bold black pepper.
Chicken pieces are coated in a lemony marinade. After, they’re covered in a peppery flour mixture before getting dunked in a hot oil bath.
The result? A citrusy, tangy, and utterly delicious fried chicken experience. If you want more dimension to the flavor, then add some herbs, like oregano.
Cajun Spiced Fried Chicken
Get ready to spice things up with Cajun spiced fried chicken. Hailing from Louisiana, this dish features chicken pieces coated bold spices like paprika, cayenne, and garlic powder.
After a quick fry, you’re left with a crispy and flavorful dish that’ll transport your taste buds to the bayou. Make sure you use buttermilk, not eggs.
If you don’t have all those spices on hand, don’t panic. Cajun seasoning blends, which typically include cayenne pepper and salt, among others, works great.
Honey Butter Fried Chicken
Honey and butter: one of the most classic combos the culinary arts have ever seen. Sweet meets savory in this delectable fried chicken dish.
For this dish, the chicken pieces are coated in a mixture of honey, melted butter, and a dash of hot sauce. Then, they’re fried to perfection.
This dish strikes the perfect balance between sticky-sweet and crispy-savory. It’s a delightful treat enjoyed at picnics, brunches (try it on waffles!), and beyond.
Thai Basil Fried Chicken
Prepare your palate for a Thai-inspired flavor explosion with Thai basil fried chicken. This dish combines crispy fried chicken pieces with fragrant Thai basil leaves, garlic, and chili.
Thai basil chicken isn’t traditionally fried, but that doesn’t mean you can’t try. You would just put most of the spices in the breading.
It’s both spicy and aromatic, often served with jasmine rice and a fried egg. It’s a street food favorite in Thailand and a must-try for spice lovers.
Indian Spiced Fried Chicken
Spice up your fried chicken game with Indian spiced fried chicken. This fried chicken dish incorporates the rich and aromatic flavors of Indian cuisine.
Much like the last dish, it’s a modern twist on traditional dishes. This borrows the flavors of Indian cuisine, rather than taking direct inspiration from a specific dish.
Chicken pieces are marinated in a blend of yogurt and spices like cumin, coriander, and garam masala. Served with chutney or raita, it’s absolutely tantalizing.
Gluten-Free Fried Chicken
Calling all gluten free lovers — don’t worry, we still got you covered! Instead of traditional wheat-based flour, this recipe uses gluten-free flour or alternative coatings.
You can still enjoy the crispy goodness of fried chicken without worrying about gluten sensitivities. Which alternative you go for depends on your preferences.
We suggest using something like almond meal or cornmeal to achieve that coveted crunch. Lots of supermarkets also sell gluten-free breadcrumbs and flour.
Beer Battered Fried Chicken
Raise a glass and toast to beer-battered fried chicken! This crispy creation involves dipping chicken pieces into a flavorful beer batter before frying them to golden perfection.
The beer lends a unique flavor and lightness to the batter, resulting in a delightfully crunchy and flavorful dish. It’s perfect for a football game tailgate spread.
This fried chicken dish is also great to eat at the bar with friends. It won’t get you drunk, but it’s much better than a tall, cold glass.
Malaysian Mamak Fried Chicken
Malaysian mamak fried chicken is a popular street food dish in Malaysia. It’s known for its bold flavors, which come from turmeric, cumin, and coriander.
The pieces of chicken are marinated in a mixture of those spices before being fried. Once cooked, the chicken is often served with a side of sambal sauce.
This is a chili sauce shrimp paste, garlic, ginger, shallot, scallion, palm sugar, and lime juice. The dish packs a punch and leaves you craving for more.
Fried Chicken Cutlets
Okay, so this isn’t what you think of when someone’s talking about fried chicken dishes. It’s technically fried chicken though, so we’re counting it.
It’s a hearty and filling dish that features large chicken cutlets pounded thin. It’s then coated in a seasoned flour mixture, and fried until crispy.
Serve it with creamy gravy, mashed potatoes, and a side of greens for a well-rounded meal. If you’re ever lacking dinner ideas, this’ll work in a pinch.
Honey Sriracha Fried Chicken
If you loved Nashville hot chicken, this honey sriracha fried chicken is for you. It strikes the perfect balance between sweet and spicy.
The chicken is coated in a mixture of honey and sriracha sauce (which will serve you well in the future). This creates that delectable balance.
It doesn’t matter what cut of chicken you choose for this fried chicken dish. You can go with nuggets, cutlets, wings — it’ll all be good.
Filipino-style Fried Chicken
Experience the flavors of the Philippines with Filipino-style fried chicken. This dish features chicken pieces marinated in a savory and tangy blend of flavors.
To create the marinade, mix together soy sauce, calamansi juice (or lemon), and garlic. Then, coat in a crispy batter and fry the meat.
It’s often served with a side of banana ketchup, a fruit ketchup condiment made from banana, sugar, vinegar, and spices. It’s a beloved dish in Filipino cuisine.
Vietnamese Five Spice Fried Chicken
Transport your taste buds to Vietnam with Vietnamese five spice fried chicken. Chicken pieces are marinated in a fragrant blend of five spice powder.
This is a traditional blend that unites the five flavors: sweet, sour, bitter, salty, and savory. Garlic and fish sauce are added to the mix before frying.
This dish offers a tantalizing mix of sweet, savory, and aromatic flavors. If you’re a fan of Vietnamese cuisine, then you’ll definitely love this.
Buffalo Fried Chicken
Buffalo fried chicken is a spicy twist on the classic favorite. The chicken is coated in a spicy buffalo sauce, a recipe which varies from person to person.
Generally, though, this sauce is made from hot sauce, butter, and vinegar. Once the coating is completed and fully seasoned, it’s fried until crispy.
That’s not the most important component of this fried chicken dish, though. No, the biggest question is this: ranch or blue cheese? You know the right answer.