Endless Crispiness and Deliciousness
Let’s start by being honest: There’s nothing more delicious than a crispy and crusty piece of fried chicken. Sure, it might seem a bit intimidating to try to fry your own fried chicken at home, but to be fair, it is a straightforward process and turns out way better than the fast-food fried chicken. In fact, if you have a thermometer available for the oil, you can produce restaurant-quality fried chicken. If not, no worries. You can still make finger-licking fried chicken!
To Use Cornstarch or Flour? Here’s the Question!
For the crispiest fried chicken, opt for cornstarch instead of flour. Besides, cornstarch is used in Asian fried chicken recipes. It is the secret ingredient behind every crispy dish. However, for the best flavor, combine cornstarch with flour. Not only does this combination produce the crispiest result, but it also makes the chicken meat taste incredibly juicy.
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(4.6 / 5) How Long to Cook the Chicken?
Fry each piece of chicken for about 15 minutes. That said, keep in mind also that each piece might be different, so strive to cook each one to at least 165°F (73°C). White meat reaches its peak tastiness and juiciness at the 165°F mark. Conversely, darker meat must be cooked at 175°F (80°C) for the best outcome.
What Wines Pair Well With Fried Chicken?
By far, when it comes to pairing wine with fried chicken (or seafood for that matter), sparkling wine is the best choice. Some people might favor beer over wine, but once you’ve tried your fried chicken with a Brut Champagne, for example, you will never go back to soda or other beverages again. Sparkling wine is abundant in acidity and effervescence, cutting through fried chicken’s oily texture, salty flavor, and fats with every sip.
On top of this, sparkling wine is refreshing and packed with vibrant green fruit flavors, counterbalancing the richness of the fried chicken meat perfectly. For the best fried chicken wine match, uncork anything in the vein of Tokaji, dry Riesling, Brut Champagne, and Rioja. Read on to find out our own choices for the best fried chicken wine pairing.
Best White Wines With Fried Chicken
Királyudvar Tokaji Furmint Sec
- Winery — Királyudvar
- Country/Region — Hungary, Tokaj
- Type — Hungarian Furmint
- Aroma — Honeysuckle, Orange Blossom, Meyer Lemon, Grapefruit, Flint, Campfire
- Grapes — Furmint
- Taste — Honey, Wax, Pineapple, Lychee, Pepper, Almond, Acacia, Pear, Cherry, Cream, Brioche Bread
- Alcohol Content — 13.5%
- Sugar — Dry
- Pairing — Fried Chicken, Shellfish, Oysters, Red Snapper, Sushi, Spicy Indian, Dried Fruits
Exotic Europe
Pronounced aromatics of honeysuckle, orange blossom, and citrus define this dry Tokaj’s nose, as honeyed and beeswax characteristics form the delicious palate. Fragrances of white flowers, such as honeysuckle and orange blossom, mingle with Meyer lemon, grapefruit, flint, and campfire on the bouquet.
The palate is packed with honeyed and waxy elements as well as luscious tastes of pineapples, lychees, pepper, and almonds. Meanwhile, subtle notes of acacias, pears, and cherries contribute depth and drive into a yeasty and creamy aftertaste. The ripeness is balanced out by stimulating acidity.
Producing Wine for the Habsburg Imperial House
Királyudvar winery belongs to Tony Hwang, who decided to purchase it after drinking a Tokaji Aszú. For centuries, Királyudvar has supplied wine to the German-Austrian royal house of Hapsburg-Loreinne. As the chateau was rebuilt, Tony Hwang contracted famed Tokaj winemaker Ivan Szepsy to help him rehabilitate the vineyards. After some time, Hwang was counseled by Noël Pinguet to convert the estate to biodynamic viticulture. Today, he continues the tradition of producing world-class dry, off-dry, and sparkling Tokaj wines.
Trefethen Dry Riesling
- Winery — Trefethen
- Country/Region — United States, California, North Coast, Napa County, Napa Valley, Oak Knoll District
- Type — Californian Riesling
- Aroma — Orange Blossom, Jasmine, Apple, Grapefruit, Passion Fruit, Mango, Peach
- Grapes — Riesling
- Taste — Nectarine, Apricot, Pear, Fennel, Lemon, Lime, Honey
- Alcohol Content — 12.5%
- Sugar — Dry
- Pairing — Fried Chicken, Seafood, Sea Bass, Shrimp Linguini, Oven-baked Chicken, Pizza, Havarti
Mouthwatering Palate
Whiffs of orange blossom and jasmine on the nose are accompanied by vibrant notes of apple, grapefruit, and passion fruit, as they give way to a mouthwatering palate of stone fruit and minerals. Orange blossom, jasmine, apple, and grapefruit create an aromatic bouquet complemented by fresh touches of passion fruit, mango, and white peach. In the mouth, flavors of nectarines, apricots, and pears, framed by notes of fennel, lemons, limes, and honey, dominate. The delicate acidity refreshes as the invigorating and mineral-driven finish make the fun last longer.
A Historic Landmark of the California Wine Scene
John and Janet Trefethen began restoring the Trefethen winery in 1973. Originally built in 1886, Trefethen is considered a historic landmark in the Napa Valley. On top of this, Trefethen is one of Napa’s largest estate wineries, with over 600 acres of vineyards. The people behind the winery produce fantastic expressions of Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Riesling, and Merlot.
Lelarge-Pugeot Tradition Extra Brut Champagne Premier Cru N.V.
- Winery — Lelarge-Pugeot
- Country/Region — France, Champagne
- Type — French Champagne
- Aroma — Apple, Pear, Grapefruit, Brioche Bread, Almond
- Grapes — Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier
- Taste — Peach, Apricot, Nectarine, Strawberry, Passion Fruit, Celery, Blackberry, Hibiscus, Hazelnut
- Alcohol Content — 12%
- Sugar — Dry
- Pairing — Fried Chicken, Caviar, Oysters, Beefsteak, Mushroom-based Dishes, Halibut, Beaufort, Camembert
Vibrant and Aromatic
This low dosage Champagne has a ripe but super dry character that calls for maturation. Dynamic and creamy, it offers flavor depth and plenty of vibrant green fruit aromas and flavors. Tight in texture, with a pleasant minerality that gives a crisp finish. Therefore, Lelarge-Pugeot Tradition Extra Brut Champagne could be the best white wine with fried chicken, hands-down. Perfect after a long hard week along with a plate of crispy fried chicken, this Champagne begins with a vibrant appearance of a medium yellow hue.
On the nose, fresh scents of apples, pears, and grapefruits combine with notes of brioche bread and almonds for an immersive aromatic experience. As the fragrances welcome you to the palate, flavors of white peaches, apricots, and nectarines emerge and mingle with elegant touches of strawberries, passion fruits, and celeries. Hints of blackberries and hibiscus interlace with the gratifying minerality to deliver a lingering, hazelnut-driven finish. Further, the mousse is medium and persistent and complements delightfully the racy acidity.
Entirely Organic and Biodynamic Viticulture
Lelarge-Pugeot is an eight-generation winery based in the Premier Cru village of Vrigny on the rolling slopes of the Montagne de Reims, near Reims. It is a family-owned winery planted with Pinot Meunier, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay. Since 2014, the estate has been certified as organic, and in 2017 Demeter-certified biodynamic. Lelarge-Pugeot produces bright wines with remarkable fizziness, with limited dosage cuvée.
Best Red Wines With Fried Chicken
La Rioja Alta Viña Alberdi Reserva
- Winery — La Rioja Alta
- Country/Region — Spain, Rioja
- Type — Spanish Rioja
- Aroma — Cherry, Raspberry, Plum, Honeysuckle, Violet, Charred Wood, Cinnamon Spice, Paprika, Tobacco
- Grapes — Tempranillo
- Taste — Blackberry, Prune, Grapefruit, Lemon, Cedar, Cassis
- Alcohol Content — 12.6%
- Sugar — Dry
- Pairing — Fried Chicken, Roast Pork, Pigeon, Venison, Chorizo, Iberian Jamon, Manchego
Tasting Notes
This Rioja begins with the uplifting aromas of spices, cherries, raspberries, and plums. They are complemented by charred wood, cinnamon spice, and dried flowers, such as lavender. Touches of paprika and tobacco also surface on the bouquet. Finally, subtle sensations of prune and leather are discernible, as well.
As the wine flows into the mouth, flavors of prunes and blackberries mix with grapefruit and Meyer lemon tastes. At the same time, bitter cherry elements produce dynamism, contributing depth to the medium body. The lengthy finish is defined by smooth tannins, which end the tasting profile after lingering undertones of cassis, smoke, and cedar contribute a last-minute complexity and depth.
Technology and Tradition Combine to Produce Classy Rioja
Founded back in 1890 by five different families, La Rioja Alta has become known as a high-quality Spanish winery that focuses on producing (what else?), Rioja wine! Since its inception, it has pursued excellence and adapted to new and exciting tastes. To stay true to its original vision, La Rioja Alta combines traditional winemaking with modern technologies.
Bodegas Ateca Atteca Garnacha
- Winery — Bodegas Atteca
- Country/Region — Spain, Aragón, Calatayud
- Type — Spanish Grenache
- Aroma — Raspberry, Strawberry, Redcurrant, Forest Floor, Tobacco, Tangerine
- Grapes — Grenache
- Taste — Plum, Blackberry, Prune, Orange Blossom, Sassafras, Brown Sugar, Molasses, Clove, Cinnamon Spice
- Alcohol Content — 15%
- Sugar — Dry
- Pairing — Fried Chicken, Pulled Pork, Grilled Trout, Barbecued Sausages, Rib-eye Steak, Pheasant
Full of Character
Rich flavors of cherries and plums are accented by bright notes of mint, orange blossoms, and sassafras to create this expressive Garnacha blend, which is packed with smooth tannins, vibrant acidity, and a smoky, oak-influenced finish. Perhaps, the best red wine with fried chicken.
Ripe and dynamic on the bouquet, Bodegas Ateca Atteca Garnacha displays aromas of raspberries, strawberries, and redcurrants, interlaced with subtle hints of forest floor, tobacco, and tangerine peel. The mouth is rounded and soft, loaded with tastes of plums, blackberries, prunes, orange blossoms, and sassafras. Overtones of barnyard and grapefruits combine with brown sugar and molasses, driving into a smoky aftertaste characterized by notes of cloves and cinnamon spice. The tannins are velvety, adding complexity.
Dry-Farming Old-Vine Garnacha
Founded outside the town of Ateca in Calatayud by the Gil Family in 2005, Bodegas Ateca focuses on cultivating Old-Vine Garnacha on stale-based vineyards about 3,000 ft. above sea level. In addition, clay loam below the rocky slate enables the vines to attain perfect moisture and the vineyards to be dry-farmed. That lends to low-yields of incredibly concentrated flavor.
The grapevines also are bush-trained and hand-harvested without the use of pesticides. After the wines ferment in stainless steel vessels, they are moved into French oak barrels for aging and malolactic fermentation.
Conclusion
Next time you are craving fried chicken, do not visit a fast-food chain. Instead, head to the grocery store and purchase some juicy chicken cutlets. Then, coat them in cornflower and dried herbs. Deep fry them. Once done, turn on your TV, find your favorite series on cable, and uncork one of the above wines as you take a mouthful of delicious chicken crispiness. Yummy!
