National Fried Chicken Day | Perfect Fried Chicken

It’s National Fried Chicken Day! It’s funny – no matter the diet, the place, the time, the day, the whatever – I will always be down for some fried chicken. Back in March, I made the most perfect Fried Chicken & Waffles for National Waffle Day. The waffle was supposed to be the highlight of the dish, which is pretty obvious since that’s what the food holiday is, but the fried chicken stole the show. I figured that I might as well share that post again here. I made one dish with two major elements so for all of my intents and purposes, I’m still making a recipe for all of the food holidays. Winning!

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I used to hate waffles. Hate hate hate. I still hate pancakes, but waffles are now okay in my book. My endless book of dislikes turned to likes, which is a forward progression, at least.

It’s National Waffle Day, but it was just National Oatmeal-Nut Waffles Day a couple weeks ago so I didn’t feel the need to reinvent the wheel this time around. Instead, I bring you….

Wait for it….

Oh, I suppose you read the title of this post already…

Fried Chicken & Waffles!

I love fried chicken and waffles, especially when a maple bourbon syrup is involved like you’ll find at a local restaurant called Ella’s here in Tampa, but I agree with those who think this craze is kind sorta played out. Yes, I absolutely love fried chicken and yes, I enjoy waffles now and again, but the two together is a trend I’m okay with letting go.

It’s just fried chicken + waffles + maple syrup, people!

Yet here I am, sharing a fried chicken and waffles dish with you fine folks and celebrating National Waffle Day while doing so. I decided to use frozen waffles, but my chicken was never frozen. I know that frozen waffles are so much less appealing than fresh waffles, but it’s hard to be Wonder Woman when you have 6 other dishes to make in a given Saturday.

So frozen Kashi Whole Grain Blueberry waffles it is.

But this fried chicken- my fried chicken is pretty solid. And look, it’s pretty too! Anyway, enjoy the day and come back later for National Lobster Newburg Day and National Pecan Day. Yes, there are three food holidays today. I need a nap.

Print Recipe

Perfect Fried Chicken

Ingredients:

• 1 whole chicken, cut into frying pieces
• Spice blend of salt, black pepper, paprika, garlic powder
• 3 large eggs, beaten
• 1 1/3 cup hot sauce (Texas Pete and Frank's are my favorites)
• 2 cups self-rising flour + black pepper
• Oil
• Waffles of your choosing, or my Oatmeal-Nut Waffles
• Maple syrup

Directions:

1. Fill a pot halfway with oil and turn on medium high. The oil should reach 350*F before frying the chicken.
2. Season chicken pieces with desired amount of each spice in the spice blend.
3. In a medium bowl, beat eggs with hot sauce. Set aside.
4. In a separate medium bowl, combine flour and your desired amount of black pepper.
5. Dip each piece of the chicken in the egg mixture and then coat well in the flour mixture. Fry in hot oil until cooked through.
6. Lay on a plate lined with a paper towel and sprinkle lightly with salt.
7. Serve with waffles and drizzle with maple syrup.