CAJUN FRIED CHICKEN

Overview:
A Louisiana-style fried chicken built on heat, tang, and crunch. Marinated in Louisiana Hot Sauce, soaked in a buttermilk + hot sauce bath, seasoned, and finished with a garlic salt + cayenne dusting.

Ingredients:

Marinade:

  • 1/2 cup Louisiana Hot Sauce (Tabasco is a fine substitute)
  • 8–10 pieces chicken (drums, thighs, or mixed)

Wet Mix:

  • 2 cups buttermilk
  • 1 cup Louisiana Hot Sauce
  • 1 egg
  • 1 tbsp black pepper

Dry Mix:

  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 cups cornstarch
  • 2 ramen chicken flavored seasoning packets or
    powdered chicken bouillon
  • 2 tbsp black pepper
  • 2 tbsp paprika
  • 1 tbsp garlic powder
  • 1 tbsp onion powder
  • 1.5 tbsp cayenne
  • 2 tsp thyme
  • 2 tsp cumin
  • 1 tbsp kosher salt

Finishing Dust:

  • Garlic salt
  • Cayenne pepper

Instructions:

  1. Hot Sauce Marinade:
    Coat chicken heavily in Louisiana Hot Sauce and let it marinate for 1 hour.
  2. Wet Mix:
    Combine buttermilk, Louisiana Hot Sauce, egg, and black pepper. Move the marinated chicken into this wet mix and let sit 15–30 minutes.
  3. Dry Mix:
    Combine flour, cornstarch, ramen seasoning, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne, thyme, cumin, salt, and black pepper.
  4. Dredge:
    Move chicken from wet mix into dry mix. Press firmly to build texture. Rest on a rack for 10 minutes.
  5. Fry:
    Heat oil to 350°F. Fry in small batches.
    Drums: 12–14 minutes
    Thighs: 14–16 minutes
    Pull when crust is deep golden and internal temp is 165°F.
  6. Finishing Dust:
    While chicken is still hot, sprinkle garlic salt and cayenne pepper over the top.

Chef’s Notes:

  • Louisiana Hot Sauce gives the perfect tang for frying.
  • Garlic salt + cayenne dusting is the signature finish.
  • Cornstarch creates the shatter-crust.
  • Ramen seasoning adds umami depth.