Buffalo Fried Chicken
My husband and I lived in Buffalo, New York for almost 7 years when I was working in television. We fell in love with Buffalo Chicken Wings, which inspired this recipe. If you like spicy food, you will want to try my recipe for Buffalo Fried Chicken, a flavor combination of spicy wings and my Mom’s fried chicken recipe. Serve this crispy, spicy chicken with a creamy ranch dipping sauce to cool things down!
Chicken legs, or drumsticks as kids like to call them, have always been an affordable choice when buying chicken. If you have a large family or a small family with a big appetite, then this recipe is economical and puts a hint of spicy flavor in a classic fried chicken dinner. Chicken legs are coated in a egg mixture with Frank’s Hot Sauce and then dipped into a zesty bread crumb mixture before frying. They are finished in the oven and get served with vegetables and rice or potato salad for a meal packed with spicy flavors. Buffalo Fried Chicken will have you lickin’ your fingers!
Buffalo Fried Chicken Recipe
What’s needed?
- 8 chicken drumsticks
- canola oil for frying, about two cups
- 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup hot sauce
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 1/2 cup bread crumbs
- 1 cup Ritz Crackers, crushed
- 2 teaspoon red cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
- ranch dressing or sour cream for dipping
How to make Buffalo Fried Chicken?
- Set up a dredging station with 2/3 cup flour on a plate. Place the hot sauce, milk and egg in a shallow bowl and beat well to combine. Place the bread crumbs, cracker crumbs, cayenne pepper, paprika and garlic salt on another plate and mix well.
- Place 1/2 inch of canola oil in a medium skillet over medium high heat. Coat the drumsticks with flour, then dip them in the egg mixture and lastly coat each with crumb mixture. Place drumsticks in the skillet and brown on all sides. Turn the chicken when it is golden, about 4 minutes per side.
- Put a wire rack inside of a large baking pan and place the drumsticks on the rack when golden brown. This will allow the chicken to get crispy on all sides while baking.
- Bake for 35 minutes at 350 degrees until a meat thermometer reads 175 degrees. Remove the chicken from the oven and let it rest for 10 minutes. Recipe makes 8 servings. Add a dash more of hot sauce after baking, if you really like it spicy.
Sauces to serve with the fried chicken?
- Frank’s Hot Sauce– We will start with those who like it HOT! Drizzle more hot sauce over the fried chicken before serving. This will really get their attention!
- Honey– Make things sweet by drizzling some honey over the chicken before serving. Sticky, spicy, and comforting, this addition to the chicken checks all the boxes.
- Ranch Dip or Dressing– This cool, dill dip is a perfect match for these spicy drumsticks. It will cool down the punch of spices and make you lick your lips. So good!
- Sour Cream– This is a great choice, as you probably already have some in your refrigerator and it is the ultimate thick and creamy way to balance the spiciness and take the heat down a notch or two.
Along with a variety of dipping sauces, I served Buffalo Fried Chicken with rice and vegetables and a tall glass of cold iced tea. It’s a flavorful meal for your family, no matter the season.
Buffalo Fried Chicken
Ingredients
- 8 chicken drumsticks
- canola oil for frying, about two cups
- 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup hot sauce
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 1/2 cup bread crumbs
- 1 cup Ritz Crackers, crushed
- 2 teaspoon red cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
- ranch dressing or sour cream for dipping
Instructions
- Set up a dredging station with 2/3 cup flour on a plate. Place the hot sauce, milk and egg in a shallow bowl and beat well to combine. Place the bread crumbs, cracker crumbs, cayenne pepper, paprika and garlic salt on another plate and mix well.
- Place 1/2 inch of canola oil in a medium skillet over medium high heat. Coat the drumsticks with flour, then dip them in the egg mixture and lastly coat with crumb mixture. Place drumsticks in the skillet and brown on all sides. Turn the chicken when it is golden, about 4 minutes per side.
- Put a wire rack inside of a large baking pan and place the drumsticks on the rack when golden brown. This will allow the chicken to get crispy on all sides while baking.
- Bake for 35 minutes at 350 degrees until a meat thermometer reads 175 degrees. Remove the chicken from the oven and let it rest for 10 minutes. Recipe makes 8 servings. Add a dash more of hot sauce after baking, if you really like it spicy.
Equipment
- 1 skillet
- 1 large baking sheet, with a wire rack
Notes
- Frank’s Hot Sauce– We will start with those who like it HOT! Drizzle more hot sauce over the fried chicken before serving. This will really get their attention!
- Honey- Make things sweet by drizzling some honey over the chicken before serving. Sticky, spicy, and comforting, this addition to the chicken helps you check all the boxes.
- Ranch Dip or Dressing– This cool, dill dip is a perfect match for these spicy drumsticks. It will cool down the punch of spices and make you lick your lips. So good!
- Sour Cream– This is a great choice, as you probably already have some in your refrigerator and it is the ultimate thick and creamy way to balance the spiciness and take the heat down a notch or two.