How to Throw a Fried Chicken Party This Summer

Summer is right here, and it's time for us Americans to party and spend some time outdoors. At this time of year, many people like to throw pool or backyard parties for their loved ones. But do you know what makes your pool or backyard party the talk of the town? Great food.

While the summer heat sizzles, a fried chicken party would be great for the backyard, patio, pool, or outdoor picnic bash. From kids to grownups, crispy fried chicken is loved by all. It is undoubtedly the best comfort food here in America. Therefore why not throw a fried chicken party this summer to swoon over your guests?

Hosting a perfect summer party is easy as a breeze if you have the expert tips and the right recipes. Therefore to help you host a great summer party for your loved ones, we have gathered tips for perfect chicken frying and an array of tempting recipes to choose from.

5 Secrets to making the crispiest, and juiciest fried chicken

If you have ever tried a piece of crispy-on-the-outside and juicy-on-the inside fried chicken, you must know how delicious it can be. A great fried chicken has two things - juicy, flavorful meat and crunchy crust. However, both of them are not so easy to master. 

If you are concerned that your homemade fried chicken will not be crispy and juicy enough as restaurant ones, stress no more. Here are a few secrets to making your version of fried chicken right at home:

Soak it in buttermilk

Do you want your fried chicken to be tender and juicy? Soak it in buttermilk the day before you fry it. The buttermilk has acids and enzymes that will break down the proteins in the meat, resulting in extra tender fried chicken.

Double dredge

To make your chicken extra crispy and crunchy, you must double down on the flour. By doing so, you will be able to create a thick coat on your chicken, making it extra crispy and crunchy on the outside.

After dredging the chicken in seasoned flour, dip it in an egg wash or buttermilk mixture you prepared and place it back into the flour. Then repeat the process. Your fingers may get extra clumpy, but the result will be worth your effort.

Keep an eye on the frying temperature

The right temperature is undoubtedly the key to a perfectly fried chicken. Too-hot oil will make the exterior dark too quick, while the inside will still be raw. On the other hand, if the oil is cold, the breading will get oil-logged, resulting in a soggy chicken.

How do you know at what temperature to fry the chicken? The best temperature to fry your chicken is around 375° F. Therefore, use a meat thermometer to keep track of the temperature. Put your chicken pieces in the oil once it is at a temperature around 375° F.

Also, it is worth keeping in mind that the temperature will drop down a little as soon as you put your chicken pieces in the oil. Therefore, you must turn the heat up a bit to compensate. Once you start frying your chicken at the right temperature, your homemade fried chicken will be as crispy and juicy as the restaurant ones.

Fry in small batches

The most common mistake people make while frying chicken at home is overcrowding the pan. When too many chicken pieces are dropped in the oil at once, the temperature of the oil is dramatically reduced, resulting in soggy fried chicken. Suppose you set the oil temperature to 375° F and drop a potful of cold chicken. In that case, the oil temperature will drop by 100 degrees.

Instead, fry it in small batches. It may take a lot of your time and effort to fry multiple batches, but in the end, you will have crispy and crunchy chicken to munch on.

Don't let it sit on paper towels

After frying the first batch, it might be quite tempting to put your fried chicken pieces on a paper towel. However, you definitely should avoid doing that. Paper towels will not only soak up the excess oil, but they will also make your fried chicken soggy.

 After all that hard work you did to make your chicken crispy and flavorful, you should not lose your focus at the last moment. Therefore, drain your fried chicken on a wire rack set over a baking sheet and hold it hot in a 250° F oven until you serve it to your guests.

3 Best fried chicken recipes for the summer party

Here are a few great fried chicken recipes that you must try to light up your summer party:

 

Recipe #1: Southern Fried Chicken with lemon pepper dip

 

This fried chicken recipe can be an absolute delight for all chicken lovers. You can serve it alone or combine it with a creamy lemon pepper sauce. Make your summer parties a talk of the town with this fried chicken recipe.

 Also, with Southern Fry Kings' Chicken fry batter, you will not have to struggle a lot in the kitchen to find the perfect balance of spices.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of Kings Chicken Fry
• 1 cup of buttermilk
• 1 egg
• 8 pieces of chicken or more
• Vegetable oil for frying
• ¼ cup of sour cream
• ½ cup of mayonnaise
• 2 tablespoons of lemon juice
• 1 zested lemon
• 1 teaspoon of black pepper

 

Instructions:

1. Preheat oil on medium to high heat.
2. Whisk together buttermilk and egg in a bowl.
3. Take a medium-sized bowl and add Kings Chicken Fry to another bowl. Add more Kings Chicken Fry to your bowl if needed.
4. Dip your chicken pieces in the wet mixture properly and then into the dry fry mix.
5. Repeat step 4 if you want extra-crunchy fried chicken.
6. Deep fry in a skillet until golden brown.
7. For the sauce, add sour cream, mayonnaise, black pepper, lemon juice, and zest to a bowl. Mix thoroughly.
8. Serve your fried chicken hot with lemon pepper sauce. Enjoy!

 

Recipe #2: Caribbean fried chicken

Do you want to make your loved ones never miss your summer parties? Host a Caribbean fried chicken party for them this summer. They will absolutely love it and never miss any party, you host!

 Thanks to Southern Fry Kings's Chicken fry batter, making Caribbean fried chicken for a large gathering has become easier for the party hosts.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of Kings Chicken Fry
• 1 cup of buttermilk
• 1 egg
• 8 pieces of chicken or more
• Vegetable oil for frying
• ½ bunch of cilantro
• ½ bunch of parsley
• 1 stalk of celery
• 5 cloves of garlic
• 1 small onion
• 1 inch of ginger
• 4 sprigs of thyme
• 1 scotch bonnet pepper
• 1 tablespoon of Dijon mustard
• 2 teaspoons of salt
• ½ teaspoon of black pepper
• 1 teaspoon of oil

Instructions:

1. Preheat oil on medium to high heat.
2. Roughly chop up the parsley, cilantro, celery, and onion, and remove the stem from the pepper.
3. Add them into the blender along with the garlic, ginger, and thyme.
4. Blend for a few minutes until a smooth puree is formed.
5. Take a small bowl and mix 2 tablespoons of green puree prepared with Dijon mustard, salt, oil, and black pepper. (Save the rest of the green puree for later use)
6. Mix well and rub over chicken pieces properly. Set aside.
7. Whisk together buttermilk and egg in a bowl.
8. Take a medium-sized bowl and add Kings Chicken Fry to another bowl. Add more Kings Chicken Fry to your bowl if needed.
9. Dip your chicken pieces in the wet mixture properly and then into the dry fry mix.
10. Repeat step 9 if you want extra-crunchy fried chicken.
11. Deep fry in a skillet until golden brown.
12. Serve the Caribbean fried chicken hot with ketchup.
13.  

Recipe #3: Thai fried chicken

 

Are your loved ones fond of Thai cuisine? If yes, what could be better than to serve them a Thai fried chicken - marinated with cilantro, garlic, and Asian seasonings? With this recipe, you can bring a Thai vibe to your table without overworking yourself. The recipe requires ingredients that can be easily found in your pantry. Therefore, there is no reason not to give this recipe a shot.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of Kings Chicken Fry
• 1 cup of buttermilk
• 1 egg
• 8 pieces of chicken or more
• Vegetable oil for frying
• 6 cloves of peeled and pounded garlic
• 2 tablespoons of cilantro roots
• 2 tablespoons of oyster sauce
• 4 tablespoons of fish sauce
• 1 teaspoon of kosher salt
• ½ tablespoon of black pepper

Instructions:

1. Use a mini food processor to blend the garlic, cilantro roots, and salt until a fine paste is formed.
2. Add the paste, fish sauce, oyster sauce, and black pepper to the chicken and mix until the chicken is properly covered.
3. Transfer the chicken pieces into a Ziploc bag and marinate it for 6 to 8 hours.
4. Preheat oil on medium to high heat.
5. While waiting for the oil to heat up, whisk together buttermilk and egg in a bowl.
6. Take a medium-sized bowl and add Kings Chicken Fry to another bowl. Add more Kings Chicken Fry to your bowl if needed.
7. Take out your marinated chicken pieces from the refrigerator and dip your chicken pieces in the wet mixture properly, and then into the dry fry mix.
8. Deep fry in a skillet until golden brown.
9. Serve your Thai fried chicken hot with spicy chili sauce. Enjoy!