Cheesy Fried Chicken

This Cheesy Fried Chicken is breaded in finely ground Chedz cheese cracker crumbs and dipped in a buffalo egg wash for a crispy, cheesy crust over juicy fried chicken your whole family will fight over.

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Keyword Cheesy Fried Chicken

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 25

Total Time 40

Servings servings

Calories 410kcal

Author Jason Decker

Ingredients

3 eggs
1/3 cup water
1/4 cup buffalo sauce
1 whole chicken, cut up into parts or 8 pieces of your favorite parts
1 tsp kosher salt
25 cracks black pepper divided
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp onion powder
2 cups ground Chedz cheese cracker crumbs about 4 oz of crackers
peanut oil, for frying

Instructions

Heat oil to 350°F in a deep fryer, heavy bottomed skillet, or dutch oven with at least 3 inches of oil up the sides of the pan. Do not overfill the pan.
Whisk eggs, water, and buffalo sauce together in a large bowl. Set aside.
Season chicken on all sides with kosher salt, 5 cracks of pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. Set aside.
In a large bowl, mix the Chedz cheese cracker crumbs and the remaining black pepper together. Set aside.
When the oil is heated, dip each chicken piece in the egg mixture. Let excess egg drip off, then press chicken into the Chedz crumbs and coat on all sides. Shake off any excess.
Slowly and carefully lower chicken into the hot oil. Do not overcrowd; work in batches. Dark meat takes 13 to 14 minutes, white meat takes 8 to 10 minutes. Internal temperature should reach 165°F. Drain on a wire rack and sprinkle with kosher salt. Serve warm.

Notes

4 oz of Chedz cheese crackers grinds down to about 2 cups of crumbs. Adjust based on the cheesy intensity you want.
The buffalo sauce in the egg wash adds a gentle kick. Skip it for mild, or swap to plain hot sauce for more heat.
Dark meat needs more time than white meat. Pull each piece based on internal temperature, not the clock.
Drain on a wire rack, not paper towels. Paper steams the bottom of the crust and softens it.
A thermometer in the oil is the best tool for crispy fried chicken. 350 degrees is the magic number.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 410kcal