Fried Chicken with Italian Seasonings

For a flavorful meal try this fried chicken recipe. Serve it as an alternative to something you usually cook. Add baked sweet potatoes and a green salad for a full healthy meal.

Allow approximately 1 ½ hours for the recipe from start to finish. You can also meal prep this fried chicken if you are at work all day and need something to cook when you get home.

You will need the following items from your kitchen:

• Flat dish or pan
• Small mixing bowl
• Flat plate
• Skillet large enough for chicken
• Meat thermometer

Ingredients

• 6 Chicken Thighs, bones and skins removed
• 1 Cup Buttermilk, or enough to cover the chicken (You can use
• Salt
• 1 Cup flour or chickpea flour if you are gluten sensitive
• 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• 1 teaspoon Ground Pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon Paprika
• 1 teaspoon Dried Oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon Dried Fennel Seed (You can add more if you really like fennel)
• 1 teaspoon of red pepper flakes or 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne (optional)
• Olive oil, avocado oil or grape seed oil for frying

Directions for Cooking

1. In a flat dish or pan, cover chicken with buttermilk. Season with salt. Refrigerate for 1 hour.
2. In a small bowl mix the flour and spices together with a whisk, then spread on a flat plate.
3. In a large high-sided skillet (preferably a cast iron skillet) heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. The oil should be about 2 inches high so you probably need 2-4 cups of olive oil or avocado oil for this.
4. Remove chicken from buttermilk. Let the excess drip off.
5. Roll the chicken in the flour mixture, coating all sides. Dip the chicken back into the buttermilk and then back into the flour mixture.
6. When the oil is ready (Test the oil by dropping a piece of the breading into the skillet. It should sizzle and rise to the top of the oil), cook the chicken for about 3-5 minutes on each side, depending on the thickness of the chicken. Cook the chicken until it is crisp. Your meat thermometer should read at least 165ºF before you take it out of the skillet.

Directions for Meal Prepping

1. If you are going to prepare this meal a day or two before you cook it, then put the chicken and buttermilk together in a dish that can be covered in the refrigerator. You could also put the chicken and buttermilk together in a plastic bag that has a tight seal. Make sure the chicken is mostly covered by the buttermilk. Chicken can sit in buttermilk up to 48 hours so make sure to cook this meal before the 48 hours is up. You will add the salt to the flour mixture.
2. In a small bowl mix the flour, salt and spices together with a whisk. Cover and set aside.
3. When you are ready to cook the chicken whisk the flour mixture, then spread on a flat plate.
4. Roll the chicken in the seasoning mixture, coating all sides. Dip the chicken back into the buttermilk and then back into the flour mixture.
5. In a large high-sided skillet (preferably a cast iron skillet) heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. The oil should be about 2 inches high so you probably need 2-4 cups of olive oil or avocado oil for this.
6. Remove chicken from buttermilk. Let the excess drip off.
7. Roll the chicken in the flour mixture, coating all sides. Dip the chicken back into the buttermilk and then back into the flour mixture.
8. When the oil is ready (Test the oil by dropping a piece of the breading into the skillet. It should sizzle and rise to the top of the oil), cook the chicken for about 3-5 minutes on each side, depending on the thickness of the chicken. Cook the chicken until it is crisp. Your meat thermometer should read at least 165ºF before you take it out of the skillet.

How to Make Italian Seasoned Fried Chicken Dairy Free

For a long time milk has been used in marinades. Mainly because the calcium in the milk activates enzymes in the chicken and thus tenderizing the chicken.

This means you can use any milk substitute, but you’ll get the best result from the one non-dairy milk with the most calcium. 

Best Dairy Free Milk Substitutes for Buttermilk

The best dairy free substitute for marinating chicken is the one with the most calcium. Here is a list of dairy free substitutes and the amount of calcium per serving. Cow’s milk has 300 mg of calcium per serving with one serving being one cup or eight ounces.

1. Oat milk has 350 mg of calcium
2. Coconut milk 41 mg of calcium
3. Soy milk 19 mg of calcium

Make Italian Seasoned Fried Chicken Gluten Free

Finding a gluten free substitute for flour is a piece of cake these days. The options are quite extensive, and most people have a favorite.

For this fried chicken with Italian seasoning recipe we prefer to use chickpea flour as a flour substitute. Addition gluten free options are almond flour, amaranth flour, buckwheat flour, brown rice flour, quinoa flour, arrowroot flour, coconut flour or tapioca flour.

Others Tips for Fried Chicken with Italian Seasoning

• Use a meat thermometer to make sure the chicken is at 165 degrees.
• We added red pepper flakes and cayenne to the flour mixture.
• If you like the fennel taste, add a little more. Smell it before you coat the chicken.

What Else Can I Eat with Fried Chicken?

1. You can serve this Italian seasoned fried chicken with most types of pasta
2. Try slicing the chicken into thin strips and add it over penne with a marinara sauce
3. Roast sweet potatoes in the oven and serve with this fried chicken
4. Cut your chicken into thin strips and add to a green salad with crisp lettuce, spinach, tomatoes and sweet pepper

Try our spinach, chicken, cheese and mushroom lasagna or try making focaccia bread. We also have a hidden veggie pasta sauce that is packed with vegetables and is easy to cook.