5 Tips For Making Fried Chicken A Hit At Your Dinner Soirée

Fried chicken is favored by many, and happens to be one of the best comfort foods. Why not make it a hit at your next dinner party? Sarah Simmons, chef and owner of Birds & Bubbles in New York City, has a few great tips to help your next fried chicken experience be a great one.

Whether you're preparing Southern Fried Chicken, oven-fried chicken, or Jalapeño Fried Chicken, these tips will have you feeling confident the next time you serve fried "yard bird" at your dinner soirée. Don't forget to add the bubbly, a great playlist, and, of course, lots of laughter.

Let It Be

You only need to turn the bird once. Everyone wants to move the chicken around as it cooks, but I promise that it develops a better crust when you just let it be.

Make It Ahead

The best part about making fried chicken for a dinner party is that you can make it ahead of time, and hold it in a convection oven! It'll stay crispy in there, so you'll have time to clean up and enjoy chatting with your guests until you're ready to serve. Your house will smell amazing when they arrive, and you won't have to stand over the cast-iron skillet all night.

Pair with Bubby

Fried chicken is great with Champagne! Pop a bottle of bubs with your guests. The bottle I am really digging with fried chicken right now is the Larmandier-Bernier Latitude.

Shake It Off

Always make sure to shake off the excess buttermilk before dredging your chicken in the seasoned flour.

Use a Thermometer

An infrared thermometer is your best friend. Make sure the oil reaches 350 degrees F before you fry!

Effortless Bonus Tip: For even easier prep, Sarah's signature CITY GRIT fried chicken is available in three different ready-to-make kits (classic, spicy, and gluten-free) at Williams-Sonoma.