Right, so if you know me, you’ll know I’m a big fan of fried chicken. Southern fried chicken is my vice. I could eat buckets of the stuff.

That is really what led me down the path of coming up with my own southern fried chicken seasoning. I wanted something I could make at home, with ingredients I understood, so I could get that proper crispy, spicy, well-seasoned coating without always reaching for a takeaway bucket.

I had been working on this seasoning on and off for a couple of years, tinkering with it here and there, but I never quite nailed it. Then, earlier in the year, the missus and I went on a trip to Ohio in the USA. We were looking for somewhere to get proper fried chicken and were recommended a place in Short North called The Eagle.

We ordered a whole southern fried chicken to share, with a side of cornbread, and it was incredible. Juicy chicken, loads of flavour, a little kick of chilli, smoked paprika, garlic, and that proper crispy coating. Having a whole chicken meant you got a bit of everything too: wings, drumsticks, thighs and breast.

That meal properly re-ignited my mission to finish this recipe. So I came home, tinkered a bit more, and here it is: my southern fried chicken seasoning, inspired by Ohio.

This seasoning mix makes enough to coat around 4 regular chicken breasts, but you can also use it on chicken thighs, drumsticks, wings, or strips.

What Is Southern Fried Chicken Seasoning?

Southern fried chicken seasoning is a dry coating mix made with flour or cornflour, spices, salt, pepper, and usually a little baking powder to help with crispness.

The seasoning should give you a coating that is savoury, lightly spicy, and full of flavour. For me, the key flavours are garlic, smoked paprika, chilli, mustard, black pepper and salt.

This version uses cornflour rather than plain flour, which helps create a lighter, crispier coating.

What Chicken Can You Use This Seasoning On?

This seasoning works well with most chicken cuts, including:

• Chicken breast
• Chicken thighs
• Chicken drumsticks
• Chicken wings
• Chicken strips
• Whole chicken portions

If you are using breast meat, slice it into fillets or strips so it cooks evenly. If you are using bone-in chicken, such as drumsticks or thighs, allow more cooking time to make sure the chicken is cooked through properly.

This seasoning mix makes enough to coat around 4 regular chicken breasts, but you can also use it on chicken thighs, drumsticks, wings, or strips.

Southern Fried Chicken Seasoning Ingredients

• 4 tablespoons cornflour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon onion powder
• ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon chilli powder
• ½ teaspoon mustard powder
• ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon sea salt

How to Make Southern Fried Chicken Seasoning

1. Mix the dry ingredients - Add the cornflour, baking powder, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, smoked paprika, chilli powder, mustard powder, black pepper and sea salt to a bowl.
2. Combine well - Mix everything together thoroughly so the spices are evenly distributed through the cornflour.
3. Store if needed - If you are not using the seasoning straight away, transfer it to an airtight container or resealable bag and store it in a cool, dry place.
4. Coat the chicken - When you are ready to use it, dip your chosen chicken pieces in beaten egg, then coat well in the dry seasoning mix.
5. Cook until crisp and cooked through - Deep fry, shallow fry, or oven cook after first sealing the coating in a pan.

How to Use the Seasoning on Chicken

For the best crispy coating, dip the chicken in beaten egg before coating it in the seasoning mix. The egg helps the dry mix stick to the chicken and gives you a better crust once cooked.

For extra coating, you can double dip:

1. Dip the chicken in beaten egg.
2. Coat in the seasoning mix.
3. Dip back into the egg.
4. Coat again in the seasoning mix.

This gives a thicker, crunchier coating, but it will also need careful cooking so the outside does not brown before the chicken is cooked through.

Can You Oven Cook Southern Fried Chicken?

Yes, you can oven cook southern fried chicken, but there is one important step: you need to cook off the coating first.

If you put coated chicken straight into the oven, the seasoning can stay pale and floury. For a better result, shallow fry each piece on all sides first, just until the coating starts to colour, then transfer the chicken to a wire rack and finish it in the oven.

This gives you a crispier coating without needing to deep fry the chicken completely.

Deep Frying, Shallow Frying or Oven Cooking?

The best method depends on what result you want.

• Deep frying gives the crispiest, most traditional result.
• Shallow frying works well for strips, fillets and smaller pieces.
• Oven cooking is easier and lighter, but the coating needs a quick fry first for best results.

Whichever method you use, always make sure the chicken is cooked through properly before serving.

How Spicy Is This Seasoning?

This seasoning has a gentle kick rather than being blow-your-head-off hot.

The cayenne pepper and chilli powder bring warmth, while the smoked paprika adds depth and colour. If you want it milder, reduce the cayenne. If you want more heat, add extra cayenne or a pinch of chilli flakes.

Can You Make This Seasoning in Advance?

Yes, this seasoning can be made in advance.

Mix the dry ingredients together and store in an airtight container or resealable bag in a cool, dry cupboard. For the best flavour, use it within a few months.

Do not store any seasoning mix that has touched raw chicken. Once it has been used for coating raw chicken, any leftover mix should be thrown away.

Final Thoughts

This southern fried chicken seasoning is simple, full of flavour, and easy to keep in the cupboard for when the fried chicken craving hits.

It works with chicken breast, thighs, wings, drumsticks and strips, and you can cook the chicken by deep frying, shallow frying, or oven finishing after a quick fry.

For me, the combination of garlic, smoked paprika, chilli, mustard and black pepper gives the coating that proper southern fried chicken feel, with just enough heat to keep you coming back for another piece.

FAQs

What is southern fried chicken seasoning made of?

Southern fried chicken seasoning is usually made with flour or cornflour, salt, pepper, garlic, paprika, chilli, and other spices. This version uses cornflour, baking powder, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne, smoked paprika, chilli powder, mustard powder, black pepper and sea salt.

Can I use plain flour instead of cornflour?

Yes, you can use plain flour, but cornflour gives a lighter, crispier coating. You can also use a mix of plain flour and cornflour if you prefer.

Do you need egg for southern fried chicken?

Egg helps the seasoning stick to the chicken and gives a better coating. You can also use buttermilk if you want a more traditional southern-style method.

Can you oven cook southern fried chicken?

Yes, but for the best coating you should shallow fry the chicken first to colour and crisp the outside, then finish it in the oven until cooked through.

How do you make southern fried chicken crispier?

Use cornflour, add a little baking powder, coat the chicken evenly, and fry the outside before oven cooking. Letting the coated chicken rest for a few minutes before cooking can also help the coating stick.

Can you use this seasoning on chicken wings?

Yes, this seasoning works well on chicken wings, drumsticks, thighs, breast fillets and chicken strips.

How long can you store homemade chicken seasoning?

If stored dry in an airtight container, homemade chicken seasoning should keep well for a few months. Throw away any mix that has touched raw chicken.