Pickle Fried Chicken Recipes

PICKLE-BRINED FRIED CHICKEN SANDWICH

Steps:

• Add the chicken thighs and 1/2 cup pickle brine to a resealable plastic bag and refrigerate at least 1 hour or up to 24 hours, turning the bag occasionally to marinate evenly.
• While the chicken marinates, prepare the pickle mayonnaise: Finely chop 8 dill pickle coins. In a medium bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, capers and chopped pickles; season generously with salt and pepper. Refrigerate until ready to use.
• When ready to cook the chicken, pour the buttermilk into a wide shallow bowl. In a separate wide shallow bowl, add the flour, cornstarch, onion powder and 1 tablespoon each salt and pepper; whisk to combine.
• In a large Dutch oven or deep cast-iron skillet, add 2 inches of oil and, over medium-high, heat to 325 degrees, about 5 minutes.
• Working with one piece at a time, remove the chicken from the brine, transfer to the buttermilk and turn to coat. Lift chicken from the buttermilk, allowing the excess liquid to drip off, then add it to the flour mixture and turn to coat, patting extra flour mixture on top to ensure the chicken is well coated on all surfaces. Transfer to a plate and repeat with the remaining chicken.
• Working in two batches, add the chicken to the hot oil and cook, turning every 1 to 2 minutes, until crust is deep golden and chicken is cooked through, about 6 minutes total. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to cool and season with salt and pepper. (An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center of the thickest part of the thigh should read at least 165 degrees.) Repeat with the remaining chicken, adjusting the heat to ensure that the oil maintains a temperature of 325 degrees.
• Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a large, preferably nonstick, skillet over medium. Add 2 buns, split-side down, and cook until warmed and toasted, about 2 minutes. Repeat with remaining butter and buns.
• Make the coleslaw by tossing the cabbage with half of the pickle mayonnaise and season with salt and pepper. Slather the remaining pickle mayonnaise on the bottom of the buns and top with the chicken, red onion, remaining pickles and coleslaw. Serve with hot sauce, if using.

PICKLE-FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Place chicken thighs in a resealable plastic bag; cover with pickle juice. Seal and refrigerate for 3 hours.
• Drain pickle juice from thighs. Cover chicken; refrigerate until ready to fry.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Heat 2 inches oil in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Pour buttermilk and flour into 2 separate bowls. Season flour with salt and pepper. Dredge chicken in buttermilk. Toss in flour. Return to buttermilk and toss in flour a second time. Place chicken on a rack set over a baking sheet.
• Fill Dutch oven with as many thighs as possible without crowding. Cook at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) until golden brown, 5 to 7 minutes per side. Place thighs on the baking sheet. Repeat until all pieces are fried. Transfer thighs to the oven.
• Bake in the preheated oven until no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear, 5 to 8 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C). Season with a pinch of salt.

PICKLE-BRINED FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Brine:
• Toast mustard and coriander seeds in a dry medium saucepan over medium heat, tossing often, until mustard seeds begin to pop, about 3 minutes. Add vinegar, salt, and sugar and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, stirring often, until salt and sugar are dissolved, about 4 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in dill and 4 cups water. Let cool.
• Chicken:
• Place chicken and brine in a large resealable plastic bag; chill 3 hours. Remove chicken from brine, scraping off seeds, cover, and chill until ready to fry.
• Fit a large pot with thermometer and pour in oil to measure 2". Heat over medium-high heat until thermometer registers 350°F.
• Meanwhile, place buttermilk in a large bowl. Place flour in another large bowl; season with kosher salt. Working in batches, coat chicken in buttermilk, then dredge in flour, dipping your fingers in buttermilk as you pack flour on to help create moistened, shaggy bits (the makings of a super-crisp crust); transfer to a baking sheet.
• Working in batches and returning oil to 350° between batches, fry chicken, turning occasionally, until skin is deep golden brown and crisp and chicken is cooked through, 6-8 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack set inside a baking sheet.
• Drizzle chicken with honey; sprinkle with sea salt and benne seeds. Serve with hot sauce alongside.

PICKLE FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Butterfly the chicken breasts lengthwise. For larger pieces, cut the butterflied chicken piece in half.
• Place in a gallon bag and pour in 1 cup pickle juice from the jar of pickle slices. Close the bag and let rest in a flat layer in the refrigerator for 1 hour, flipping halfway between.
• While the chicken is resting, combine buttermilk and egg in one bowl, whisking until incorporated.
• In another large bowl, mix together flour, paprika, salt, garlic powder, and pepper. Line a large plate with paper towels.
• When the chicken is done in the brine, heat a 12" skillet with high edges over medium high heat with peanut oil filling the skillet about ½" full. Use a candy thermometer to determine when the oil reaches 350°F.
• While the peanut oil is heating, dip chicken pieces in dry mixture, covering entirely, then the wet mixture and back into the dry mixture. Set these aside on another plate until ready to fry.
• Carefully place chicken in the peanut oil, not crowding the skillet. Check the temperature of the oil once the skillet is full and adjust temperature if needed.
• Cook on both sides about 5-6 minutes or until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165°F as read on an instant read thermometer.
• Remove from skillet and place on paper towel lined plate. Serve immediately on a hamburger bun with dill pickle slices.

PICKLE-BRINED FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Drain the juice from the jars of pickles into a baking dish or bowl. Add the chicken and flip to coat. Let brine, refrigerated, for at least 1 hour and up to 4 hours.
• Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F and line a baking sheet with a cooling rack. Fill a Dutch oven halfway with oil. Heat the oil over medium-high heat to 320 degrees F.
• In 3 bowls or baking dishes, set up a breading station. In the first dish, mix the flour with the salt, paprika and pepper. In the second dish, mix the hot sauce, mustard and eggs. Put the cracker crumbs in the third dish.
• Dredge each chicken piece first in the flour mixture, then in the egg mixture, then in the crackers. Place the breaded chicken pieces in the oil a few at a time. Don't overcrowd the pan; the pieces should not be touching in the oil. Fry, turning occasionally, until the chicken is a deep golden brown and fully cooked to 165 degrees F when checked with a thermometer, 5 to 6 minutes per side. Transfer to a baking sheet and place in the oven until ready to serve.

PICKLE-BRINED FRIED CHICKEN SANDWICHES WITH PICKLE SLAW

Steps:

• Arrange the chicken thighs on a work surface, smooth side up. Using kitchen shears, make a few cuts in the thickest part of the chicken thigh. This will help the chicken cook evenly and will also help the brine absorb. Add the chicken to a large bowl and cover with 2 cups of pickle juice. Cover with plastic wrap and let marinate in the fridge for 2 hours.
• After 2 hours, remove the chicken from the pickle juice and pat dry. Let the chicken sit at room temperature for 20 to 30 minutes.
• Fill a large Dutch oven with about 3-inches of vegetable, attach a deep fat fry thermometer and heat to 350 degrees F.
• When the oil is almost heated, make your batter: Add the tempura mix, tapioca flour, 1 teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon pepper to a medium bowl, pour in the club soda and whisk to combine. It should be slightly thinner than pancake batter.
• Working in batches, dredge the chicken in the batter, allowing the batter to cover the chicken fully. Shake off any excess batter. Transfer the chicken to the hot oil and fry until golden and crisp with an internal temperature is 165 degrees F, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove the chicken to a wire rack and sprinkle with salt. Fry the remaining chicken.
• To assemble the sandwiches: open the buns and lay them cut side-up on a clean work surface. Spread the mayonnaise evenly over the top and bottom halves of the buns. Place a piece of chicken on each bottom bun. Top each piece of chicken with a heaping 1/2 cup of slaw. Place the top buns on the sandwiches and serve.
• Add the shredded cabbage to a medium bowl and add the pickle juice, vegetable oil and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Using clean hands, massage the cabbage to help it slightly break down. Add the mustard, pickle, onion and dill. Toss well to combine. Keep the slaw refrigerated until you're ready to assemble the sandwiches. Any leftover slaw can be stored in an airtight container for 3 to 5 days.

PICKLE-BRINED KETO FRIED CHICKEN BITES W/ SWEET MUSTARD DIPPING SAUCE

Steps:

• For the sweet keto "honey" mustard sauce: In a small bowl, mix together mayonnaise, dijon mustard, vinegar, garlic powder, turmeric, onion powder, and stevia until well combined. Cover or place in a sealed container. Set aside until chicken bites are ready to serve. (Note: Mustard sauce can be stored in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.)
• For the chicken: Place the cubed chicken in a ziplock bag or shallow dish, then add pickle juice and kosher salt. Mix well and make sure that all chicken pieces are submerged in pickle brine. Place chicken in the refrigerator to marinate for 30 to 60 minutes. Remove from fridge about 25 minutes prior to frying to let the chicken come toward room temperature. This helps promote even cooking and superior texture. Once marinated, drain the brine and pat chicken pieces dry. Set aside.
• For pan frying: Place a large, high-sided frying pan over low to medium/low heat. Pour oil into pan to create a minimum depth of 1/2 inch oil. For best results, use a thermometer and keep the oil temperature around 350 degrees. (If the oil is too hot, it will burn the batter. Alternatively, if the oil isn't hot enough, the batter will absorb excess oil and may not crisp up very well.) For deep frying: Turn on your fryer and set to about 350-degrees (if it has a temperature gauge.)
• While the oil is heating, combine whey protein powder, baking powder, erythritol, salt, garlic powder, paprika, and pepper in a medium low-rimmed bowl. Mix well.
• Roll each piece of chicken in the mixture until all sides are thoroughly covered. Place coated bites on a pan or dish lined with parchment paper. Once all pieces are coated, you can re-roll any pieces that need additional coating until all the mixture has been used up.
• Drop chicken bites into hot oil and allow to fry for 4-6 minutes or until cooked through. If pan frying, flip halfway through cooking. The length will depend on oil temperature and size of chicken bite. I suggest cutting into larger pieces to check for doneness and gauge cooking time. Place fried nuggets on a cooling rack lined with paper towels.
• Chicken is best eaten right away while hot and crispy. Serve with sweet mustard sauce or your favorite dipping sauces. Enjoy!

PICKLE-JUICE AND BUTTERMILK-BRINED FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Drain 1 cup pickle juice from jar (reserve any remaining juice and pickles). Whisk together pickle juice, buttermilk, 1 tsp kosher salt, cayenne and egg. Pour into a large heavy-duty zip-top bag. Add chicken. Seal; turn bag to coat. Place in a dish. Refrigerate 4 hours and up to overnight, turning bag occasionally. Fill a large Dutch oven or pot with 2 inches oil. Heat oil to 375°F. Line a baking sheet with paper towels. In a shallow baking dish, whisk together flour, cornmeal, remaining 1 tsp kosher salt and pepper. Working with one piece at a time, remove chicken from brine, shaking off excess. Dredge in flour mixture; add to hot oil. Fry 8-10 minutes or until golden and done, turning to cook evenly (fry chicken in batches to avoid overcrowding the pan). Drain on paper towels; sprinkle with flake sea salt, if desired. Serve with pickles.