If you like fried chicken, then this copycat Bojangles Fried Chicken Recipe is for you. Delicious crispy breading on the outside and yummy soft, tasty chicken inside - fried chicken doesn't get better than this.
As you can see above I actually like to use the chicken thighs when making fried chicken sandwiches. I love the flavor from the dark meat. However, Bojangles actually use chicken breast - and you can too if you prefer.
If you were to be making fried chicken to eat without the sandwich then you might rather use chicken drumsticks or wings.
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❤️ Why you'll love it
- North Carolina Bojangles restaurant really makes some delicious fried chicken. They're one of the best, which is why this recipe is so good and the chicken tender.
- This fried chicken recipe is actually quite versatile in that it will work with any piece of chicken you like to use.
🧅 Ingredients
- Buttermilk
- Hot Sauce
- Salt & Black Pepper
- Chicken Thighs
- Self-Rising Flour
- Cayenne Pepper
- Garlic Powder
- Onion Powder
- Thyme
- Eggs
- Milk
- Peanut oil
- (plus the extra sandwich items for making a sandwich)
See recipe card at the bottom of this post for quantities.
🥣 Instructions
- Step 1: Add the buttermilk to a large mixing bowl along with the hot sauce and salt. Mix well.
- Step 2: Add the chicken thighs, cover in plastic wrap and allow to marinate at room temperature for one hour.
- Step 3: In a medium mixing bowl add all the remaining dry ingredients and mix with a whisk.
- Step 4: In another medium mixing bowl add the wet ingredients and beat until smooth.
- Step 5: Pass the chicken thighs first through the flour mixture, then through the buttermilk mixture and back through the flour. Repeat and dredge all the chicken pieces.
- Step 6: Add to the hot oil in a pan and deep fry until golden brown (about 3 minutes each side) - until internal temperature reads 165°F with a meat thermometer.
- Step 7: Remove and drain on a wire rack or on some paper towels on a baking sheet.
Hint: using buttermilk that is room temperature will help bring the temperature of the chicken up while it is marinating. It's best to fry chicken that is not too cold.
🔄 Substitutions and Variations
- Lemon Juice - try squeezing a little lemon juice.
- Chicken Breasts - instead of chicken thighs.
- All purpose Flour - instead of the self-rising. I would add some baking powder to your recipe though.
- Buttermilk biscuits - try adding the Bojangles fried chicken to a buttermilk biscuit instead.
- Vegetable Oil - instead of peanut oil.
- Cajun Seasoning - add some of this for some Cajun flavor.
- Spicy Fried Chicken - add a little more cayenne if you like more heat and spicy food.
- Honey Mustard - try offering this to dip, or add to a sandwich.
- Chicken Fingers - try this recipe with some chicken tenders.
- White Vinegar - Add a little to the marinade.
- Cajun Marinade - try injecting or just marinating the chicken in this delicious homemade Cajun Marinade.
- Cornstarch - works great to make crispy chicken too.
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🔌 Equipment
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I have links to the equipment I used in the recipe card below.
What you'll need to make the famous Bojangles Fried Chicken Recipe Sandwich - a buttery brioche bun, some classic mayonnaise and pickles. That's it. Super simple yet out of this world delicious.
📘 Related Recipes
- Ranch Chicken Wings
- Smoked Chicken Thighs
- Chicken and Waffles
- Chicken and Rice
- Chicken and Sausage Gumbo
- What to Serve with Chicken and Waffles
- Wingstop Louisiana Rub Recipe
🍽 What To Serve With This Recipe
Depending on if you're making a sandwich, or eating the chicken with some other sides the following is a list of popular side dishes you might need:
- Brioche buns
- Pickles
- Creamy Mayo
- Dirty Rice
- Bo-berry biscuit
- Cinnamon biscuits
- French fries
- Hash Browns
- Southern Biscuits
- Cajun Potato Salad
- Mac and Cheese
🧊 Storage
Once completely cooled store in an airtight container lined with paper towel in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
💡 Tips
Expert Tip: When reheating fried chicken I prefer to use my air fryer. It really helps keep the delicious outside nice and crispy.
👩🍳 FAQs
The spices you use. What you use to coat the chicken. The type of oil, and the temperature are important components to making the best fried chicken.
This is a preference thing. Neither way is better. I prefer with a flour for a more crispy coating.... others might disagree though.
There are enzymes and acids in the milk that aid in making the chicken a lot more tender.
The egg helps ensure the coating sticks to the chicken when frying.
350°F is the ideal temperature for frying chicken. If you have an electric fryer, this makes it easier to keep up with the temp, however, if you don't - try to use a thermometer to make sure your temperature is right.
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Bojangles Fried Chicken Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 Cups Buttermilk room temperature, divided
- 1 Tablespoon Hot Sauce
- 1 Tablespoon Salt
- 6 Chicken Thighs skinless boneless
- 1 Cup Self-Rising Flour
- ¼ Teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
- 1-½ Teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 1-½ Teaspoon Onion Powder
- ½ Teaspoon Thyme
- 2 Large Eggs
- ⅓ Cup Milk
- Salt and Pepper to taste
- Peanut Oil for Frying
Instructions
- In a large bowl add 2 cups of the buttermilk and the hot sauce and salt. Mix well.
- Add the chicken thighs to this bowl, cover with cling wrap and allow to sit at room temperature to marinate for one hour.
- Add enough peanut oil to a large frying skillet to fry the chicken and it cover ½ way up the chicken. Turn on the heat to medium and bring to about 360°F.
- To a medium mixing bowl add the flour, cayenne, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme and salt and pepper to taste. Mix well with a whisk.
- In another medium bowl add the 1 cup of buttermilk, the regular milk and the two eggs. Beat until smooth.
- Take one marinated chicken thigh and place into the flour mixture first. Coat completely then pass through the milk mixture and back to the flour to coat again.
- Repeat this with all the chicken thighs. They are now ready to fry.
- Fry on one side for about 3 minutes, flip over and fry the other side. 6 minutes should be enough to cook the chicken thighs but to be on the safe side use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature has reached a safe 165°F.
- Remove from the oil and allow to dry on a wire rack or on paper towels.
- Serve how you like, with biscuits and another side dish or as a fried chicken sandwich like I did here.
Notes
Nutrition
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Lisa says
Can you use bone in skin on chicken thighs? Does Bojangles leave the skin on or off?
Melanie Cagle says
Bojangles chicken sandwich is boneless. They do serve bone-in chicken though, which does have the skin. That would not be used on a sandwich though.
HenryPatrick says
I had to double all of the spices for the dredge, then also sift cayenne over the ckn as it drained on the rack before my crowd agreed it was close to bo's spicy chicken sandwich. Infact my daughter in law went and bought one and we all cut it into bite size chunks and tasted each.
But the recipe is good thank you. Maybe our local Bojangles seasons a little hotter?
Melanie Cagle says
Perhaps? I don't find their chicken sandwich to be that spicy? Just a little kick...