Bite into a taste of the South with our Cajun fried chicken. The recipe starts with a spiced-up milk marinade that penetrates flavor into the chicken for hours. Then, the chicken gets dredged in a Cajun-seasoned flour blend. Once the chicken is deep-fried to golden perfection, you’re left with crispy, golden Cajun fried chicken with a delicious, juicy tenderness.
Ingredients for Cajun Fried Chicken
- Chicken: Chicken breast and thighs provide a nice array of white and dark meat to choose from.
- Whole milk: The natural sugars in whole milk add browning power to the breading, plus flavor to the chicken.
- Cajun seasoning: Cajun seasoning usually contains cayenne pepper, black pepper, white pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, oregano, parsley, thyme and basil. It’s a perfectly balanced flavor boost filled with herbaceous notes and kicking spices.
- All-purpose flour: All-purpose flour is great for coating chicken and crisping up into a beautiful breading.
- Lemon-pepper seasoning: Lemon-pepper seasoning creates a subtly citrusy and piney taste among the spices in this Cajun fried chicken recipe.
- Garlic salt: Garlic salt adds a nice pungency to the dredge.
- Oil: Peanut oil is considered to be among the best oils for frying thanks to its high smoke point and delicious taste. Canola oil is another popular option if you are looking for a flavorless oil.
Directions
Step 1: Marinate the chicken
In a large bowl, whisk together the milk and 1 tablespoon of Cajun seasoning. Submerge the chicken in the seasoned milk. Cover the bowl, and refrigerate for at least two hours or overnight.
Editor’s Tip: Don’t skimp on the marinating time. Marinating the chicken in milk breaks down the chicken’s proteins, resulting in a more tender chicken. Plus, marinated chicken recipes are just more flavorful.
Step 2: Dredge the chicken
In a large shallow dish, combine the flour, lemon pepper, garlic salt and remaining Cajun seasoning. Drain the chicken, and discard the milk mixture. Place the chicken, a few pieces at a time, in the flour mixture, and turn to coat.
Step 3: Deep-fry the chicken
In a large skillet or Dutch oven, heat 1/4 inch of oil to 375°F. Fry the chicken, a few pieces at a time, until the chicken is golden brown, the juices run clear, and the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°, seven to eight minutes per batch. Place the cooked chicken on a paper plate lined with paper towels to drain the excess oil.
Editor’s Tip: Do not overcrowd the chicken in the oil. Overcrowding will bring down the oil’s temperature, which will cause the breading to absorb too much oil. It’s one of our best fried chicken tips.
Cajun Fried Chicken Variations
- Swap out the milk: Replace the whole milk for buttermilk with a 1:1 substitution. Buttermilk will provide more flavor, and the extra acid in buttermilk will tenderize the meat more than regular milk.
- Buy skin-on cuts: Chicken skin holds a lot of extra flavor, and the skin will crisp up nicely in the oil.
- Double-dredge the chicken: Get an extra-thick breading on your chicken by double-dredging the chicken. After the initial turn in the flour dredge, dip the chicken pieces back into the milk mixture, then turn the chicken in the dredge one more time.
How to Store Cajun Fried Chicken
To store Cajun fried chicken, let the cooked chicken cool to room temperature, then transfer it to a paper towel-lined airtight container. If you ever wonder how long does cooked chicken last in the fridge, it’s usually up to three days.
To reheat fried chicken from the fridge, allow the chicken to sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes. Preheat an air fryer to 350° or a toaster or oven to 400°. Cook until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°, around five minutes in the air fryer or 15 minutes in the oven.
Can you freeze cajun fried chicken?
Yes, you can freeze Cajun fried chicken. Allow to cool to room temperature, then arrange the chicken on a baking sheet. Place in the freezer for an hour to flash-freeze the chicken, then transfer the chicken to a resealable bag. Place the bag in the freezer, and freeze the chicken for up to three months.
To reheat, thaw chicken in the fridge overnight, then allow to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes. Preheat an air-fryer to 350°F or a toaster or oven to 400°F. Cook until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F, around five minutes in the air-fryer or 15 minutes in the oven.
Cajun Fried Chicken Tips
What is Cajun chicken made of?
Cajun chicken is made of chicken that’s flavored with Cajun seasoning. Cajun seasoning usually contains a balanced mix of cayenne pepper, black pepper, white pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, oregano, parsley, thyme and basil.
What sides go well with Cajun fried chicken?
Sides that go well with Cajun fried chicken include honey cornbread, tangy southern potato salad and especially lemony green beans for a snappy crunch and fresh flavor to offset the heaviness of fried chicken.
If none of those sound like your cup of tea, don’t worry. There are a lot of sides dishes for fried chicken. Just make sure you know how to make white gravy!
