Instant Pot Soul Food Southern Fried Chicken
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What happens if you deep fry in a pressure cooker?
Frying in the Instant Pot’s stainless steel inner pot will yield an undesirable chicken. The skin exposed above the oil may sauté too gummy to enjoy.
So how do you fry chicken in a pressure cooker?
We’re not going to attempt pressure-frying chicken in this recipe!
Instead, we’re using the pressure in the pot to tenderize the chicken with a buttermilk brine. This helps the soul food seasoning and flavors to quickly infuse into the meat.
Instant Pot pressure cooking the chicken before frying will shorten the marinating process from 24 hours to only 20 minutes!
The answer is soul food Southern fried chicken. A recipe that Black people created and perfected!
There’s no denying that chicken with a balance of tender meat on the inside and crispy skin seasoned to perfection on the outside is a recipe for success when making Southern fried chicken!
What is the difference between fried chicken and Southern fried chicken?
The difference has everything to do with the fried chicken seasoning and flavor!
Here’s how you can tell if a batch of fried chicken (chicken battered in flour) is a Southern soul food recipe:
Crunchy, flavorful outside with juicy, seasoned tender meat inside.
Yep – that’s a Black folks’ soul food Southern fried chicken recipe!
Does meat get more tender the longer you pressure cook it?
It’s not necessary to pressure cook for a long time. Simply for the correct amount of time to get tender meats.
The pressure cooker’s shorter cooking times lend to better preservation of vitamins and minerals while intensifying each recipe’s soulful flavors while tenderizing the texture and adding to the taste. Yum!
Kitchen equipment for Instant Pot Southern fried chicken
Shop my kitchenware!
Instant Pot Duo Nova | Hamilton Beach deep fryer | Instant Pot Dutch oven | Kate Aspen heart-shaped measuring spoons | The Pioneer Woman measuring bowls | Amazon baking pan | Amazon stainless steel mixing bowls | Target marble-like serving platter | MacKenzie Childs similar dish towel |
Ingredients for Instant Pot Southern fried chicken
Ingredients for the buttermilk chicken brine
- 3 cups buttermilk (Buttermilk = 3 cups of milk & 3 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar)
- 1 teaspoon salt
Ingredients for the Southern fried chicken
- 6-8 pieces chicken or one 3-pound chicken cut into pieces
- 48 oz peanut oil or vegetable oil
- 2 cups all-purpose flour divided
- 1 ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 1 ½ teaspoon paprika
- 1 tablespoon poultry seasoning or all-purpose seasoning
- 1 ½ teaspoon salt
- ¾ teaspoon red pepper (chili pepper)
- ¾ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 egg
- ½ cup of buttermilk (½ cup of buttermilk = ½ cup of milk & ½ tablespoon of apple cider vinegar)
Instant Pot soul food Southern fried chicken
How to make Instant Pot chicken at home within a short time
Is it safe to fry chicken in a pressure cooker?
No, that’s why this recipe does not attempt to attempt pressure-fry chicken!
Instead, follow the detailed instructions below using the Instant Pot to first tenderize the chicken in a buttermilk brine marinade.
Why is buttermilk good for fried chicken?
People often ask, “What does marinating chicken in buttermilk do?”
Marinating chicken in buttermilk makes for extraordinarily tender, moist, and flavorful chicken!
The buttermilk’s acidity helps break down protein structures in the chicken, so it becomes way less chewy and retains better moisture.
Instructions for Instant Pot Southern fried chicken
Instructions for the Instant Pot buttermilk marinade chicken brine
- To make homemade buttermilk, use 3 cups of milk and 3 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar. In a medium-sized bowl, stir the two ingredients together and let them sit for 5 minutes.
- Open the Instant Pot lid and add the buttermilk and 1 teaspoon of salt to the stainless steel inner pot.
- Add the chicken pieces, skin-side up, to the pot with the buttermilk. (How can you use this recipe without the Instant Pot? Allow the chicken to marinate in the buttermilk for 4 hours to overnight.)
- Close the Instant Pot lid (make sure the valve is in the sealing position – up) and pressure cook on high for 20 minutes.
- When the cooking time is finished, allow a natural pressure release for at least 10 minutes.
- To open the Instant Pot lid, move the valve to ‘venting’ and manually release any remaining pressure, if applicable.
- Remove the chicken from the Instant Pot (you can discard the buttermilk) and set the chicken pieces aside on a rimmed baking sheet to cool off to the touch.
Instructions for the Southern fried chicken
- Mix the poultry seasoning, salt, and pepper in a small bowl.
- Rub the seasoning mixture all over each piece of chicken.
- Pour the peanut oil (preferred) or vegetable oil into a deep fryer, 6-quart skillet, or Dutch oven until the oil is 1-inch deep.
- Heat the oil over medium heat or until it reaches 350 degrees F.
- While you’re waiting for the oil to heat up. Place 1 cup of the divided flour, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and red pepper in a medium-size mixing bowl (or 1-gallon resealable food storage bag).
- Shake (or mix) the sealed bag to combine the ingredients for a homemade poultry seasoning, and set the flour mixture aside.
- Pour the second cup of flour into a second resealable bag (or medium-sized mixing bowl) and set it aside.
- Whisk together ½ a cup of buttermilk and egg in another medium-sized bowl, and set that mixture aside too.
- The chicken will go through a 3-step process from here.
- First, place the chicken in the bag (or bowl) of seasoned flour and shake or toss to coat the chicken evenly.
- Second, shake off the excess flour and dip the chicken into the buttermilk mixture.
- Third, transfer the chicken to the last bag (or bowl) of flour and shake or toss until it’s very well coated.
- Place the coated chicken into the pre-heated oil, skin-side down, and be careful not to overcrowd the chicken in the oil. You can fry a second batch if need be to avoid overcrowding by frying all the chicken at once. Just make sure the hot oil remains at 350 degrees F.
- Cook the chicken pieces for 10 to 12 minutes, occasionally turning to prevent excessive browning.
- As the chicken batter turns golden brown, remove it from the hot oil.
- Allow the chicken to drain in a closed container (to keep the fried chicken warm) with a paper towel under the chicken.
- Serve Instant Pot Southern fried chicken right away, and enjoy!
How to cook fried chicken the traditional way?
No Instant Pot?
No problem!
Use this classic Southern fried chicken recipe HERE or this buttermilk Southern fried chicken recipe HERE!
Can this be made in an air fryer?
People often ask, do air fryers work for soul food Southern fried chicken?
The answer is yes, and you won’t believe how good and crispy chicken is when it’s air fryer fried chicken!
Does Instant Pot have an air fryer?
Yes! Check out the Instant Pot Vortex (with an air fryer basket). Or my favorite, the Instant Pot Omni Plus Air Fryer (with an air fryer tray) for any air fryer recipe!
What do you serve with soul food Southern fried chicken?
Several soul food recipes are favorites when serving Southern fried chicken.
And for dessert Black folks Southern banana pudding, Black folks Southern peach cobbler recipe, or Southern red velvet cake!
And don’t forget the Southern sweet tea!
Some folks even use Southern fried chicken in their Black folks Southern chicken and dressing recipe and soul food chicken salad recipe!
What sauce goes with Black folks soul food Southern fried chicken?
Whether it’s for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or an afternoon snack, one of these condiments is sure to be a favorite when it comes to Southern fried chicken.
- Hot sauce
- Ranch dressing
- Pure honey
- Honey mustard
- Ketchup
- BBQ sauce
Instant Pot Southern fried chicken FAQs
Can you fry in a pressure cooker?
Can you fry in the Instant Pot?
In your home pressure cooker, I wouldn’t recommend it. The Instant Pot’s not built for such measures.
What is broasted fried chicken?
It’s an invention of restaurant equipment where chicken is fried in oil inside a pressure cooker.
How does a pressure fryer cook things?
A speedy restaurant appliance is called a pressure fryer because it can simultaneously fry and pressure cook chicken.
Can you pressure fry at home?
The pressure frying appliance is a larger machine/restaurant equipment not made for at-home use.
Is pressure cooker chicken healthy?
Instant Pot pressure cooking is a healthier way to prepare traditional Southern soul foods, including chicken!
The shorter cooking times lend to better preservation of vitamins and minerals while intensifying each recipe’s soulful flavors and enhancing the texture and taste.
How long does chicken take in the Instant Pot?
For the Instant Pot buttermilk brine, pressure cook for 20 minutes and allow a natural pressure release for at least 10 minutes.
How long does it take to pressure fry chicken?
So how long do you cook this soul food Southern fried chicken recipe?
After the Instant Pot 30-minute brining time, cook the chicken pieces in the pre-heated oil for 10 to 12 minutes, occasionally turning to prevent excessive browning.
At what temperature do you cook soul food fried chicken?
The temperature to maintain the hot oil when deep-frying this Instant Pot Southern fried chicken recipe is 350 degrees F.
Can you substitute the buttermilk with regular milk?
Milk doesn’t add much flavor to your chicken, even when marinating.
Marinating chicken in buttermilk is not for flavor. It’s for the acidity that’s used to tenderize the meat.
So, you can easily substitute water for milk, which would also make this a Kosher recipe (still add the ½ a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar).
You could also use Kosher salt.
Can you put frying oil in a pressure cooker?
It’s not at all recommended.
Frying in the Instant Pot’s stainless steel inner pot will yield an undesirable chicken. The skin exposed above the oil will sauté too gummy to enjoy.
Is a deep fryer the same as a pressure fryer?
Not at all.
A deep fryer is a wonderful invention that quickly fries foods like Southern fried chicken in deep oils at high temperatures, indoors or outdoors.
Contrastly, the restaurant equipment pressure fryer (not an Instant Pot, Ninja Foodi, or similar) simultaneously fries and pressure cooks.
Can you use a pressure cooker without water?
The pressure cooker requires liquid in the pot to pressurize the food.
Some liquid options include water, chicken broth, stock, buttermilk, or fruit juice.
Will this recipe work in a 3-quart Instant Pot?
Yes, although you may not be able to fit 6-8 chicken pieces in the pot at once.
How do you keep fried chicken crispy?
Hot oil is essential when preparing fried chicken in a deep fryer, Dutch oven, or skillet because it’s the cooking agent for frying the chicken and achieving crispy skin.
Why is your fried chicken not crispy?
The oil in the fryer is either too high or too low. The oil should be maintained at 350 degrees F.
Which part of the chicken should you use for this Black folks soul food Southern fried chicken recipe?
Would this recipe also work with chicken breast?
You can use whatever chicken pieces you like. Whole chicken, half, or just your favorite parts of the chicken – frozen chicken wings, legs, chicken breast, chicken thigh, boneless skinless chicken thighs, chicken tenders, chicken legs, quarters, or drumsticks!
Pro tips:
- Some Southern cooks like to use a baking sheet or a large bowl to separate the dark meat and white meat. They dredge the dark meat first, fry, and then dredge the remaining chicken (the white meat) and fry.
- What else can you use to season the flour? Other than a sprinkle of salt and pepper, some Southern fried chicken recipes even call for cornstarch to thicken the batter for extra crunch or hot sauce for more heat!
- The Instant Pot Duo Crisp is also perfect for achieving crispy chicken skin (not fried) in one pot – straight to plate!
What type of flour is best for fried chicken?
All-purpose flour.
But if you’re using almond flour for this recipe, keep an eye on the chicken while it’s frying, as almond flour tends to cook faster than other wheat flour.
What else can you add to your Instant Pot Southern fried chicken recipe?
You can use your favorite all-purpose seasoning or a combination of these soul food seasonings:
- Paprika
- Mustard seed
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper
- Grated bell pepper
- Lemon zest
- Salt
- Black pepper
Some Southern cooks also include a little soy sauce or Worcestershire sauce, olive oil cooking spray, or a baking dish when gathering their ingredients.
Do you dip chicken in egg or milk first?
The milk is mixed with the egg. Then, before placing the coated chicken into the pre-heated oil, the chicken will go through a 3-step dredging process.
- First, place the chicken in the bag (or bowl) of seasoned flour and shake or toss to coat the chicken evenly.
- Second, shake off the excess flour and dip the chicken into the buttermilk and egg mixture.
- Third, transfer the chicken to the last bag (or bowl) of flour and shake or toss until it’s very well coated.
Bake, sauté, roast, slow cooker – is there a recipe for this for your Instant Pot?
Yes, check out these favorite soul food Instant Pot chicken recipes HERE!
Did you enjoy this crispy pressure cooker Instant Pot fried chicken recipe?
Have you had it?
Would you make it?
Comment below and lemme know.
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Servings: 6
Calories: 2251kcal
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Instant Pot electric pressure cooker
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Deep fryer, large cast-iron skillet or Dutch oven
Ingredients for the buttermilk chicken brine
- 3 cups buttermilk Buttermilk = 3 cups of milk & 3 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon salt
Ingredients for the Southern fried chicken
- 6-8 pieces chicken or one 3-pound chicken cut into pieces
- 48 oz peanut oil or vegetable oil
- 2 cups all-purpose flour divided
- 1 ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 1 ½ teaspoon paprika
- 1 tablespoon poultry seasoning or all-purpose seasoning
- 1 ½ teaspoon salt
- ¾ teaspoon red pepper (chili pepper)
- ¾ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 egg
- ½ cup buttermilk (½ cup of buttermilk = ½ cup of milk & ½ tablespoon of apple cider vinegar)
Instructions for the Instant Pot buttermilk marinade chicken brine
-
To make homemade buttermilk, use 3 cups of milk and 3 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar. In a medium-sized bowl, stir the two ingredients together and let them sit for 5 minutes.
-
Open the Instant Pot lid and add the buttermilk and 1 teaspoon of salt to the stainless steel inner pot.
-
Add the chicken pieces, skin-side up, to the pot with the buttermilk. (How can you use this recipe without the Instant Pot? Allow the chicken to marinate in the buttermilk for 4 hours to overnight.)
-
Close the Instant Pot lid (make sure the valve is in the sealing position – up) and pressure cook on high for 20 minutes.
-
When the cooking time is finished, allow a natural pressure release for at least 10 minutes.
-
To open the Instant Pot lid, move the valve to ‘venting’ and manually release any remaining pressure, if applicable.
-
Remove the chicken from the Instant Pot (you can discard the buttermilk) and set the chicken pieces aside on a rimmed baking sheet to cool off to the touch.
Instructions for the Southern fried chicken
-
Mix the poultry seasoning, salt, and pepper in a small bowl.
-
Rub the seasoning mixture all over each piece of chicken.
-
Pour the peanut oil (preferred) or vegetable oil into a deep fryer, 6-quart skillet, or Dutch oven until the oil is 1-inch deep.
-
Heat the oil over medium heat or until it reaches 350 degrees F.
-
While you’re waiting for the oil to heat up. Place 1 cup of the divided flour, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and red pepper in a medium-size mixing bowl (or 1-gallon resealable food storage bag).
-
Shake (or mix) the sealed bag to combine the ingredients for a homemade poultry seasoning, and set the flour mixture aside.
-
Pour the second cup of flour into a second resealable bag (or medium-sized mixing bowl) and set it aside.
-
Whisk together ½ a cup of buttermilk and egg in another medium-sized bowl, and set that mixture aside too.
-
The chicken will go through a 3-step process from here.
-
First, place the chicken in the bag (or bowl) of seasoned flour and shake or toss to coat the chicken evenly.
-
Second, shake off the excess flour and dip the chicken into the buttermilk mixture.
-
Third, transfer the chicken to the last bag (or bowl) of flour and shake or toss until it’s very well coated.
-
Place the coated chicken into the pre-heated oil, skin-side down, and be careful not to overcrowd the chicken in the oil. You can fry a second batch if need be to avoid overcrowding by frying all the chicken at once. Just make sure the hot oil remains at 350 degrees F.
-
Cook the chicken pieces for 10 to 12 minutes, occasionally turning to prevent excessive browning.
-
As the chicken batter turns golden brown, remove it from the hot oil.
-
Allow the chicken to drain in a closed container (to keep the fried chicken warm) with a paper towel under the chicken.
-
Serve Instant Pot Southern fried chicken right away, and enjoy!
- Some Southern cooks like to use a rimmed baking sheet or a large bowl to separate the dark meat and white meat. They dredge the dark meat first, fry, and then dredge the remaining chicken (the white meat) and fry.
- What else can you use to season the flour? Other than a sprinkle of salt and pepper, some Southern fried chicken recipes even call for cornstarch to thicken the batter for extra crunch or hot sauce for more heat!
Calories: 2251kcal | Carbohydrates: 39g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 232g | Saturated Fat: 41g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 73g | Monounsaturated Fat: 106g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 41mg | Sodium: 1108mg | Potassium: 244mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 316IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 159mg | Iron: 3mg
Nutrition Facts
Instant Pot Soul Food Southern Fried Chicken
Amount per Serving
% Daily Value*
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
