My grandmother all the time stated the key to excellent fried hen was endurance – within the breading, in sustaining the oil temperature, and in resisting the urge to flip too early. This Cracker Barrel copycat recipe captures that very same cautious consideration to element that makes their hen distinctive. Cracker Barrel Southern Fried Rooster is crispy on the surface and juicy on the within. Buttermilk and seasoned flour give this fried hen a particular taste. Get pleasure from this straightforward recipe for the last word consolation meals. Who doesn’t love crispy hen?


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Crispy Fried Rooster Recipe
Cracker Barrel isn’t a elaborate restaurant, however they certain do home-style southern cooking accurately. On the menu, you’ll discover all of the classics like hen and dumplings and nation fried steak, however the southern fried hen platter retains the parents coming again.
The mixture of the dish’s tangy buttermilk breading and the sweetness of the nice and cozy honey is so addicting that it’s arduous to get sufficient. Now you can also make it anytime at residence with this Cracker Barrel Southern Fried Rooster recipe.
Why This Recipe Works
- Examined oil temperature ensures even cooking
- Double-breading method creates additional crispy crust
- Buttermilk tenderizes the meat
- Resting time permits coating to stick correctly
- Easy seasonings let hen taste shine
The Secret of Frying Rooster Appropriately
Making actually wonderful fried hen requires getting three issues proper. These are the fats, the temperature, and the time. Grasp all of them, and you’ll churn out completely cooked hen each time.
Lard is the basic fats for frying hen. It’s arduous to beat the style of hen fried in lard, however nowadays well being usually trumps taste, so most cooks use different varieties of oils. The secret’s to pick an oil that has a impartial style and may deal with the warmth. Peanut or canola oil are good selections.
Sustaining a relentless temperature is the important thing to scrumptious and protected fried hen, so all the time use a thermometer. Heavy cast-iron cookware is great at holding regular warmth, so use it when you can. To stop the oil from cooling down an excessive amount of, by no means fry chilly hen straight from the fridge or overcrowd the pot.
Nobody desires to eat undercooked hen, and getting the cooking time proper is important. Relying on the dimensions of the hen half, it ought to take between 12 – 18 minutes to cook dinner. By no means serve fried hen with out checking the temperature with a meat thermometer. You’re searching for a temperature of not less than 165°F.
Tools Wanted
- Deep fryer or giant Dutch oven
- Deep-fry thermometer
- Wire rack
- Baking sheet
- Massive mixing bowls
- Paper towels
- Meat thermometer
- Tongs
Fried Rooster Recipe Components
Right here’s an inventory of what you want:
- Complete hen – minimize up, supplies a wide range of items
- All-purpose flour – creates a crispy coating
- Salt – enhances taste all through
- Floor black pepper – provides delicate warmth
- Buttermilk – tenderizes meat, helps coating adhere
- Water – thins buttermilk for correct consistency
- Vegetable oil or peanut oil for frying – supplies clear, impartial frying medium


Find out how to Make Cracker Barrel Southern Fried Rooster
- Pour sufficient oil right into a deep fryer or giant pot like a Dutch oven to be 3 to 4 inches deep. Warmth the oil over medium-high warmth to 350°F.
- Mix flour, salt, and pepper in a big bowl.


- Mix buttermilk and water in a separate bowl utilizing a whisk or spoon.
- Pat the hen items dry with paper towels and season with salt and pepper.
- Dip the hen items into the flour combination and shake off extra.
- Dip flour-coated hen items into buttermilk combination and shake off extra.
- Dip the piece of hen once more within the flour.
- Place the breaded hen on a wire rack over a baking sheet.


- Let the breaded hen set for not less than 5 minutes.
- Deep fry the hen in two or three batches. About 15 to 18 minutes for chicken hen breast and hen thighs. About 12 to 13 minutes for darkish meat (wings, drumsticks, and legs). The hen ought to have a pleasant golden brown colour and the juices run clear.
- Drain the fried hen on a clear wire rack over a baking sheet.


Recipe Variations
Seasoning Choices
- Traditional Southern: Add paprika, garlic powder
- Spicy: Add cayenne, and sizzling sauce to buttermilk
- Herb-forward: Add thyme, oregano, sage
- Further crispy: Double-dip in all layers
Coating Alternate options
- Cornstarch mix for additional crunch
- Crushed crackers in flour combine
- Panko addition for texture
- Gluten-free flour mix
Frequent Questions & Troubleshooting
Why isn’t my hen crispy?
- Oil not sizzling sufficient
- Coating too thick
- Overcrowded pan
Coating falling off?
- Rooster too moist
- Didn’t relaxation after breading
- Oil temperature too low
How do I do know it’s accomplished?
- Inner temperature 165°F
- Juices run clear
- Golden brown colour
- Floats in oil
What to serve with Southern Fried Rooster
You aren’t going to serve hen alone, listed below are some aspect dishes that may assist you to spherical out your meal. Some sides that we like to serve with Southern fried hen are nation sides like inexperienced beans, mashed potatoes, buttermilk biscuits, and corn muffins.
Serving and Storing Cracker Barrel Southern Fried Rooster
- Don’t overlook the honey. Fried hen is nice by itself, however add a drizzle of honey on prime and switch it into one thing extraordinary. When you by no means tried honey in your fried hen, you don’t know what you might be lacking.
- Serve with sizzling sauce on the aspect for individuals who take pleasure in their fried hen with a kick of warmth.
- Serve loads of do-it-yourself biscuits. Nice southern fried hen wants amazingly flaky biscuits on the aspect. So, you’ll positively need to bake a batch or two of Cracker Barrel Biscuits.
- Retailer any hen leftovers within the fridge in an hermetic container for as much as 5 days. Reheat by wrapping the hen loosely in aluminum foil and cooking for 20 minutes in a 400-degree oven.
You will discover extra Cracker Barrel recipes on YouTube!


Love Cracker Barrel? Attempt these copycat recipes!
Widespread Rooster Recipes
Take a look at extra of my straightforward hen recipes for dinner and the most effective Cracker Barrel recipes right here on CopyKat!
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Cracker Barrel Southern Fried Rooster
You can also make Cracker Barrel Southern Fried Rooster at residence with this straightforward copycat recipe.
Servings:8
Energy:433kcal
Components
- oil for frying
- 3cupsall-purpose flour
- 3teaspoonssalt
- 3teaspoonsfloor black pepper
- 3cupsbuttermilk
- 3/4cupswater
- 1entire hen minimize up
Directions
Pour 3 to 4 inches of oil right into a deep fryer or giant pot and warmth the oil to 350 levels.
Put together seasoned flour by combining the flour,salt,and pepper in a bowl. Stir to mix effectively.
In one other bowl combine collectively the buttermilk and water.
Pat the hen items dry and season them with salt and pepper.
Dip hen items into the flour and shake off the surplus flour.
Dip flour-coated hen items into the buttermilk and shake off the surplus.
Dredge the hen once more within the seasoned flour.
Place the breaded hen on a wire rack resting on a baking sheet.
Permit the breading to arrange for not less than 5 minutes. This helps to set the breaded hen.
Cook dinner the hen in two or three batches. The hen will take about 15 to 18 minutes to cook dinner for the breasts and thighs. The wings and legs will take about 12 to 13 minutes to cook dinner.
Drain the fried hen on a clear wire rack on prime of a baking sheet.
Notes
Professional Suggestions
- Use moist hand/dry hand method for breading
- By no means crowd the fryer
- Let hen come to room temperature
- Examine oil temperature between batches
- Relaxation the hen on rack,not paper towels
- Season flour combination generously
Vitamin
Energy:433kcal| Carbohydrates:41g| Protein:26g| Fats:18g| Saturated Fats:6g| Polyunsaturated Fats:3g| Monounsaturated Fats:7g| Trans Fats:1g| Ldl cholesterol:81mg| Sodium:1035mg| Potassium:362mg| Fiber:1g| Sugar:5g| Vitamin A:286IU| Vitamin C:2mg| Calcium:126mg| Iron:3mg