Golden Corral Fried Chicken Recipe

Golden Corral Fried Chicken is a crunchy golden classic with juicy, tender meat and a golden brown, seasoned exterior. This Copycat food has all the comfort of fried restaurant chicken smack dab in your kitchen.

Would you like to devour the crispy, crunchy golden fried chicken from Golden Corral?

This homemade version will have the family raving about the fried chicken, moist and tender while the crispy coating is seasoned just right. It’s simple yet satisfying and the epitome of comfort food for a family dinner, party or weeknight meal.

If you are looking for even more Easy Air Fryer Chicken Recipes, some of my favorites are AIR FRYER PICKLE-BRINED CHICKEN TENDERS, AIR FRYER FROZEN ORANGE CHICKEN, AIR FRYER SESAME CHICKEN, and AIR FRYER BUTTERMILK CHICKEN TENDERS.

Why You Will Love This Recipe!

• Crispy, golden coating like Golden Corral has.
• Moist, juicy chicken from the inside, and flavorful.
• Simple stuffs you can find in your pantry.
• Great for Sunday get-togethers or holiday dinners.
• An affordable way to enjoy a restaurant favorite at home.

Golden Corral Fried Chicken Ingredients

• Buttermilk – acidic foundation that help to both tenderize and season the chicken.
• Hot Sauce – for some spicy kick and flavor boost.
• Smoked Paprika – provides smoky hue and subtle pepper flavor.
• Onion Powder – to add flavor concentrate for the garlic flavor.
• Garlic Powder — for flavor and a hint of garlic.
• Salt – it seasons to buff + polish so flavors can shine!
• Black Pepper – gives a bite of sharp earthy heat to each spoonful.
• Drumsticks – a juicy pieces of chicken, great for frying!
• Flour – I prefer All-Purpose that makes a crispy layer for a golden crust.
• Cornstarch – Helps crisp up the coating
• Baking Powder – Crisps up the coating

How To Make Golden Corral Fried Chicken Recipe

Step One: In a small bowl, mix the smoked paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper.

Step Two: In a large bowl or a sealable gallon-sized bag, mix the Buttermilk, Hot Sauce, and half of the spice mixture. Add your chicken legs to the brine, and let soak for about one to two hours.

Step Three: In a large bowl, add the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, and the rest of the spice mixture. Mix well.

Step Four: When the chicken has finished marinating, shake the chicken leg off the excess buttermilk mixture and then place them into the dredge/coating.

Step Five: Re-dip the chicken into the buttermilk mixture, and then recoat with the dredge/coating. As you double dip, place them on a baking sheet or plate.

Step Six: Preheat your air fryer temperature to 400 degrees F, air fryer setting. If you do not have a preheat function, run the air fryer at 400 degrees F, air fryer setting for 5 minutes.

Step Seven: After preheating, spray your basket with cooking spray, add your chicken, spray your chicken well with cooking spray, coating the entire coating. Air Fry at 380 degrees F, air fryer setting for 20-25 minutes. Flipping halfway and respraying your chicken.

Golden Corral Fried Chicken Recipe Tips

• If you find that your air fryer smokes a bit, add a few drops of water. But please read your manual before you do so. Some air fryers will be ruined by this method.
• The other method is to add a piece of bread under the basket, so the grease collects on the bread and helps reduce the smoking.
• For best results, spray your chicken coating generously with cooking spray.
• If you have any white spots, that means that the coating was dry. It did not absorb enough of the buttermilk.

Storing, Freezing & Reheating Instructions

• Storing: Storing leftover fried chicken can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for 3 –4 days. Once cooked, leave pieces separated by parchment paper to retain crispness.

• Freeze: Once cooled, place on a baking sheet at transfer to a zip lock freezer bag for up to 2 months. Best texture if reheated directly from frozen.

• Reheating: You can rewarm your fried chicken in the oven or air fryer at 350°F until it is hot and crispy. No nuking it in the microwave to keep the coating from getting soggy.

Golden Corral Fried Chicken Recipe Faq

Can I use boneless chicken in place of drumsticks? Yes! Use boneless thighs or breasts if you like, but don’t cook them as long to prevent drying.

Can I use buttermilk, or do I need it? If you don’t happen to have buttermilk lying around, you can make your own by combining milk with a little splash of lemon juice or vinegar.

How can I make sure fried chicken remains crisp after frying? Instead of paper towels, set the cooked chicken on a wire rack so that its coating doesn’t get soft while it cools.

More Golden Corral Recipes

Golden Corral Meatloaf Recipe

Golden Corral Chocolate Chess Pie

Golden Corral Peach Cobbler Recipe

Golden Corral Bread Pudding

Golden Corral Brownie Recipe

Golden Corral Yeast Rolls Recipe

Golden Corral Cornbread Recipe

Golden Corral Bourbon Street Chicken Copycat

Golden Corral Sausage and Peppers

Copycat Golden Corral Pot Roast

Golden Corral Banana Nut Bread Recipe (Copycat Version)

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