We pull out this fried chicken recipe once a year and we always can’t get enough.
My mother-in-law has one recipe that has been consistently on her menu anytime she’s hosting a fun party or get-together. It’s her famous fried chicken.
Over the years the recipe has adapted slightly (replacing the chicken soup consommé/mix with salt) to be a little more health-conscience. However, I believe that if you are going to make fried chicken once a year, if you do have consommé, use it. And after all, it’s fried chicken (so don’t make-believe we’re making it healthy).

With all the right ingredients in place, there is something quite addictive about this dish.

The two most important parts are cutting the chicken into smaller pieces, and properly letting it marinate so that the coating sticks to the chicken.

With a sharp knife and a kitchen mallet, cut the chicken through the meat and bone.

The bottoms can be cut into 4 pieces (or 3 if they’re small).

Pour Sprite into the bowl of oil + spices and chicken.

My mother-in-law always uses fine bread crumbs. For our photoshoot I used golden breadcrumbs (yellow-colored bread crumbs that are slightly more coarse.) Both will work well.
Best Fried Chicken
Ingredients
- 4 pieces chicken (bottoms or bottoms and tops)
- 2 tbsp oil
- 8-10 garlic cloves, crushed
- 3 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tbsp chicken soup mix or 1-2 tsp salt
- ½ cup Sprite or any lemon-lime soda
- 2 eggs
- breadcrumbs
- oil, for frying
Instructions
- With a sharp knife and a kitchen mallet (or hammer) cut the chicken (through the meat and bone). The bottoms can be cut into 4 pieces (or 3 if they're small). The tops can be cut into 3. You want pieces that are more bite-sized for easier eating and frying.
- In a bowl, combine the oil, garlic, paprika, black pepper, and chicken soup mix (or salt) with the chicken. Pour in Sprite and mix. Let sit for 1 hour to overnight to marinade.
- Dip into egg, pat well with breadcrumbs, and deep fry until insides are done and outside is crispy, about 8-10 minutes or more depending on the size of the chicken pieces.

To buckets of chicken and fun times together with family and friends!
Can these be made ahead and frozen?
My mouth is watering! Can these be made ahead and frozen?
And I would still definitely leave put the msg. It’s not about trying to “healthify” (I hereby inaugurate this new word) the recipe and pretend it’s not fattening. It’s about sparing your body the ingestion and ill affects of a chemical that has been compared to rat poison.
Ha! My phone auto-corrected in a crazy way! Amazing how a single letter can change the entire message. I wrote “leave OUT the msg” and it corrected to “leave put”.
Another great reason to proofread before hitting submit.
Can I use boneless chicken breast for the recipe? Thanks
Can this be done with chicken breast?