Tag: fried chicken

Krispy Country Chicken using the Vortex

There are two choices when it comes to making ‘fried’ chicken using a Vortex. You can make your own batter from scratch or you can use a mix from the store. I’ve done both time and time again and have never ever been disappointed. This time I picked up a box of Fry Krisp Krispy Country chicken mix. It’s the easiest mix in the world, giving you nicely crunchy, juicy, flavorful chicken in less than an hour with no oil used for frying. This Krispy Country Chicken using the Vortex was amazing.

Krispy Country Chicken using the Vortex

When I make Krispy Country Chicken using the Vortex I like to brush my chicken with just a bit of oil just before I pull it off the grill. It gives the chicken a bit more crunch and coats any leftover batter that might be hanging around. It’s completely optional, but I always do it. This really tastes like fried chicken.

Also try my easy Cajun fried chicken using the Vortex.

VORTEX (IN)DIRECT HEAT for Charcoal Grills, Medium Size - For Weber Kettle 22 26.75 WSM Smokey Mountain XL Kamado XL Big Green Egg
VORTEX (IN)DIRECT HEAT for Charcoal Grills, Medium Size – For Weber Kettle 22 26.75 WSM Smokey Mountain XL Kamado XL Big Green Egg
Krispy Country Chicken using the Vortex
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5 from 1 vote

Krispy Country Chicken using the Vortex

The easiest mix in the world, giving you nicely crunchy, juicy, flavorful chicken in less than an hour with no oil used for frying.
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword fried chicken, Vortex
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings 4
Calories 249kcal
Author Mike

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Fire up your grill with the Vortex BBQ. Let the coals get good and hot.
  • Prepare chicken per package instructions.
  • Transfer chicken to your grill grate around the Vortex and cook until done, about 45 minutes.
  • Lightly brush the chicken with oil the last 5 minutes of cooking to get a crispier skin.

Nutrition

Calories: 249kcal | Protein: 22g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 87mg | Sodium: 81mg | Potassium: 218mg | Vitamin A: 162IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 13mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Genuine Medium BBQ Vortex GIFT PACK for wsm Kettle 22 26.75 Big Green Egg kamado - 3 PC
Genuine Medium BBQ Vortex GIFT PACK for wsm Kettle 22 26.75 Big Green Egg kamado – 3 PC

Copycat Church’s Fried Chicken Using the Vortex

I could make (and eat) ‘fried’ chicken using my Vortex BBQ all day long. It has never let me down. It has never been anything but easy. This copycat of Church’s fried chicken using the Vortex was no exception. Incredibly crunchy skin. Unbelievably moist and flavorful meat. And as easy as coating it, grilling it, eating it. Done.

Copycat Church's Fried Chicken Using the Vortex

There are no tricks or special handshakes that you need to know to get fried chicken right using the Vortex. And although a lot of sites say to rotate the lid every 15 minutes while cooking, I’ve not found that it makes a difference. I don’t over-crowd my grill and I make sure I have a super-hot fire. If you’ve found that rotating the lid is a requirement, let me know but so far, I’ve not had anything but success just keeping the lid right where it is. I also do not flip my chicken while it is cooking. Doing so will result in ‘batter loss’, a bad thing. Just keep it right where it is.

VORTEX (IN)DIRECT HEAT for Charcoal Grills, Medium Size - For Weber Kettle 22 26.75 WSM Smokey Mountain XL Kamado XL Big Green Egg
VORTEX (IN)DIRECT HEAT for Charcoal Grills, Medium Size – For Weber Kettle 22 26.75 WSM Smokey Mountain XL Kamado XL Big Green Egg

Also try my insanely-awesome proper pub fried chicken, another fantastic recipe for deliciously crispy tasty chicken cooked using the Vortex. You can also use off-the-shelf fried chicken coating to make spectacular chicken on the Vortex. Check out my Kentucky Kernel chicken too!

Copycat Church's Fried Chicken Using the Vortex
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3.67 from 3 votes

Copycat Church’s Fried Chicken Using the Vortex

This copycat of Church’s fried chicken was no exception. Incredibly crunchy skin. Unbelievably moist and flavorful meat. And as easy as coating it, grilling it, eating it. Done.
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword fried chicken, Vortex
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings 4 servings
Calories 373kcal
Author Inspired by a recipe from Just A Pinch

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 8 pieces chicken I prefer bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs

For the dry mixture

For the wet mixture

  • 2 eggs
  • ¼ cup cold water

For a crispier coating

Instructions

  • Fire up your grill with the Vortex BBQ. Let the coals get good and hot.
  • Combine all of the dry mixture ingredients in a pie plate.
  • In another pie plate, whisk together the eggs and water.
  • Working in batches, dip the chicken into the wet mixture, then into the dry mixture.
  • One more time, dip the chicken into the wet mixture and then the dry mixture.
  • Transfer chicken to your grill grate around the Vortex and cook until done, about 45 minutes.
  • Lightly brush the chicken with oil the last 5 minutes of cooking to get a crispier skin.

Nutrition

Calories: 373kcal | Carbohydrates: 68g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 84mg | Sodium: 2963mg | Potassium: 184mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 202IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 62mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Genuine Medium BBQ Vortex GIFT PACK for wsm Kettle 22 26.75 Big Green Egg kamado - 3 PC
Genuine Medium BBQ Vortex GIFT PACK for wsm Kettle 22 26.75 Big Green Egg kamado – 3 PC

Proper Pub Fried Chicken using the Vortex

Tom Kerridge is a Michelin-starred pub chef in England. Yes, pub chef. That’s why I knew that his recipe for proper pub fried chicken using the Vortex would be something special, something incredible. And, oh me, was it ever.

Proper Pub Fried Chicken using the Vortex

The seasonings give every single bite the most fantastic flavor. Tender, moist. And crunchy skin? Oh yes. You could deep fry it, but I cooked this chicken over charcoal using the Vortex and no oil. Yep, no oil (except for like a tablespoon to help crunch up the skin at the very end).

I have to admit something. I made a change to Chef Kerridge’s original recipe when I made this proper pub fried chicken using the Vortex. Please don’t hate me, but I added hot sauce to the buttermilk brine. I could not help myself. I ALWAYS add hot sauce to my buttermilk when using it for chicken. Not a whole lot, just a little bit to add a slight kick and offset the sourness. You don’t have to do it, and you don’t have to tell anyone if you do.

Also try my copycat of Church’s fried chicken, also made using the Vortex.

VORTEX (IN)DIRECT HEAT for Charcoal Grills, Medium Size - For Weber Kettle 22 26.75 WSM Smokey Mountain XL Kamado XL Big Green Egg
VORTEX (IN)DIRECT HEAT for Charcoal Grills, Medium Size – For Weber Kettle 22 26.75 WSM Smokey Mountain XL Kamado XL Big Green Egg
Proper Pub Fried Chicken using the Vortex
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5 from 1 vote

Proper Pub Fried Chicken using the Vortex

The seasonings give every single bite the most fantastic flavor. Tender, moist. And crunchy skin? Oh yes. 
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword fried chicken, Vortex
Prep Time 12 hours
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 12 hours 45 minutes
Servings 4 servings
Calories 259kcal
Author Inspired by a recipe from Chef Tom Kerridge

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Place chicken into a large resealable container.
  • Add enough buttermilk to cover the chicken. Add hot sauce, if using.
  • Seal and shake gently to coat the chicken and combine the hot sauce. Refrigerate overnight.
  • Fire up your Vortex. Fill completely with coals. You’ll need at least a 22″ charcoal grill.
  • Combine all dry ingredients and pour into a pie pan or alternatively, place in a large resealable bag.
  • Working in batches, remove chicken from the buttermilk. Shake off excess and roll in the coating. Alternatively, add the chicken to the bag, seal and shake to coat.
  • Place chicken around the edges of your grill. Cover and cook 30-45 minutes or until the chicken has reached 160 F as measured in several locations.
  • Lightly brush the chicken with the oil and cook another 5 minutes or until the chicken reaches 165 F as measured in several locations.

Nutrition

Calories: 259kcal | Carbohydrates: 43g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 16mg | Sodium: 2491mg | Potassium: 372mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 2399IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 193mg | Iron: 3mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Genuine Medium BBQ Vortex GIFT PACK for wsm Kettle 22 26.75 Big Green Egg kamado - 3 PC
Genuine Medium BBQ Vortex GIFT PACK for wsm Kettle 22 26.75 Big Green Egg kamado – 3 PC

Easy Crispy Fried Chicken using the Vortex

There’s definitely no wrong way to make ‘fried’ chicken on your charcoal grill using the Vortex. I absolutely love it. For a long time I’ve been making my chicken using batter made from scratch. This time I decided to try an off-the-shelf batter mix usually meant for actual deep frying in oil. The result? Absolutely delicious, crunchy, moist fried chicken with about as little fuss and mess as possible. And no oil.

Easy Crispy Fried Chicken using the Vortex

Any good fried chicken batter mix will work. It’s called easy crispy fried chicken using the Vortex for a reason. Just dip and put onto the grill. I prefer to use split bone-in chicken breasts or thighs. I recommend bone-in chicken because it will have more flavor and won’t dry out as easily as boneless.

You can use boneless chicken but you might have to adjust the cook time. When I do need boneless ‘fried’ chicken I still cook it bone-on then remove the meat from the bone when done. If you prefer to make your own batter from scratch, try my super easy Vortex fried chicken recipe. For something a bit more fru-fru, make my spicy BBQ fried chicken. You’ll quickly see why fried chicken on the Vortex is fantastic!

VORTEX (IN)DIRECT HEAT for Charcoal Grills, Medium Size - For Weber Kettle 22 26.75 WSM Smokey Mountain XL Kamado XL Big Green Egg
VORTEX (IN)DIRECT HEAT for Charcoal Grills, Medium Size – For Weber Kettle 22 26.75 WSM Smokey Mountain XL Kamado XL Big Green Egg
Easy Crispy Fried Chicken using the Vortex
Print Pin
5 from 1 vote

Easy Crispy Fried Chicken using the Vortex

Absolutely delicious, crunchy, moist fried chicken with about as little fuss and mess as possible. And no oil.
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword fried chicken, Vortex
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings 6 servings
Calories 332kcal
Author Mike

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Fire up your charcoal grill with the Vortex insert. Get the coals good and hot.
  • In a large bowl combine 5 tablespoons of the batter mix with 1/4 cup of cold water.
  • Place the remaining batter mix in a shallow pie pan.
  • Working piece-by-piece, dredge the chicken in the wet batter mix. Shake off any excess then roll the chicken in the dry batter mix.
  • Transfer chicken to the grill, placing along the edges.
  • Cover and cook for 45 minutes, rotating the lid 90 degrees every 15 minutes.
  • Check for doneness (165 F as measured in the thickest pieces of chicken), remove and serve.

Notes

I’ve found that rotating the lid isn’t very necessary, specially on smaller grills. You can experiment by not rotating and checking the chicken after 30 minutes. If the pieces are cooking evenly you can skip rotating the lid.

Nutrition

Calories: 332kcal | Protein: 29g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 116mg | Sodium: 108mg | Potassium: 291mg | Vitamin A: 216IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 17mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Genuine Medium BBQ Vortex GIFT PACK for wsm Kettle 22 26.75 Big Green Egg kamado - 3 PC
Genuine Medium BBQ Vortex GIFT PACK for wsm Kettle 22 26.75 Big Green Egg kamado – 3 PC

Fried Chicken Salad Sandwiches

I had some fried chicken leftover in the fridge. I’m completely ok with chowing down on cold leftover chicken. But I’m even more ok with chopping it up and using it in fried chicken salad sandwiches. It’s the perfect way to use up leftovers, and the perfect sandwich for a picnic.

Fried Chicken Salad Sandwiches

This is an incredible version of chicken salad. I love the buttermilk in the mayonnaise. The mustard adds a bit of kick. But all the flavors in the sauce mixture do not overpower the chicken. You can still tell that there’s fried chicken in there. It’s a great twist.

I recently discovered Blue Plate mayonnaise, which I think is the best around. If you can’t find it locally you can pick it up online for a fair price.

Blue Plate Real Mayonnaise, Homestyle Mayo For Chicken Salad to Deviled Eggs, 30 Fl Oz (Pack of 1)
Blue Plate Real Mayonnaise, Homestyle Mayo For Chicken Salad to Deviled Eggs, 30 Fl Oz (Pack of 1)

Don’t have leftover fried chicken on hand? Any cooked chicken will do just fine in this salad. Want a spicier chicken salad? Try my spicy chicken salad sandwiches or my fried chicken breast sandwiches. And one of my all-time favorites, Big Daddy’s Kick’n chicken salad is a must-make too!

Fried Chicken Salad Sandwiches
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5 from 1 vote

Fried Chicken Salad Sandwiches

I had some fried chicken leftover in the fridge. I’m completely ok with chowing down on cold leftover chicken. But I’m even more ok with chopping it up and using it in fried chicken salad sandwiches. 
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword chicken, chicken salad, deep-fried, sandwich
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 675kcal
Author Based on a recipe Damaris Phillips

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Whisk together the mayonnaise, buttermilk, mustard, Italian seasoning, cayenne and lemon in a large bowl.
  • Add in the chicken, parsley, celery and green onions. Stir gently to combine and coat with the dressing ingredients.
  • Add salt and pepper to taste.
  • Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
  • Serve chicken salad on croissants.

Nutrition

Calories: 675kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 53g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 100mg | Sodium: 807mg | Potassium: 382mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 1245IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 110mg | Iron: 3mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Fullstar Mandoline Slicer for Kitchen, Cheese Grater Vegetable Spiralizer and Veggie Slicer for Cooking & Meal Prep, Kitchen Gadgets Organizer & Safety Glove Included (11 in 1, White)
Fullstar Mandoline Slicer for Kitchen, Cheese Grater Vegetable Spiralizer and Veggie Slicer for Cooking & Meal Prep, Kitchen Gadgets Organizer & Safety Glove Included (11 in 1, White)
Pyrex 3 Piece Glass Measuring Cup Set, Includes 1-Cup, 2-Cup, and 4-Cup Tempered Glass Liquid Measuring Cups, Dishwasher, Freezer, Microwave, and Preheated Oven Safe, Essential Kitchen Tools
Pyrex 3 Piece Glass Measuring Cup Set, Includes 1-Cup, 2-Cup, and 4-Cup Tempered Glass Liquid Measuring Cups, Dishwasher, Freezer, Microwave, and Preheated Oven Safe, Essential Kitchen Tools
Ozeri Pronto Digital Multifunction Kitchen and Food Scale
Ozeri Pronto Digital Multifunction Kitchen and Food Scale

Fried Chicken Breast Sandwich

I was watching an old Food Network show the other day. Bobby Flay was visiting this great little place in Nashville, Tennessee, that was famous for Nashville-style fried chicken. I drooled through the entire episode. The fried chicken looked fantastic. Done right, in cast iron over gas and made it Nashville-style by adding a bunch of cayenne pepper. You just knew it was good (and perhaps painful for some). I decided to take the same approach to a sandwich and make a fried chicken breast sandwich.

Fried Chicken Breast Sandwich

I fried up a couple of coated chicken breasts. By themselves they were absolutely outstanding. Crunchy outside, moist and flavorful inside. I made one Nashville-style and realized I had made the perfect fried chicken breast sandwich. Seriously kicked up chicken on a bun with cooling lettuce, tomato and mayo.

If I’m cooking for a crowd, I’ll break out my big deep fryer. But, if it’s just the two of us, I’ll fire up my Fry Daddy fryer. It’s the perfect size for both of us. It fries everything perfectly. And as an added bonus, it doesn’t use a lot of oil, which saves me money.

T-fal Ultimate EZ Clean Stainless Steel Deep Fryer with Basket 3.5 Liter Oil and 2.6 Pound Food Capacity 1700 Watts Oil Filtration, Temp Control, Digital Timer, Dishwasher Safe Parts Stainless Steel
T-fal Ultimate EZ Clean Stainless Steel Deep Fryer with Basket 3.5 Liter Oil and 2.6 Pound Food Capacity 1700 Watts Oil Filtration, Temp Control, Digital Timer, Dishwasher Safe Parts Stainless Steel

Can’t take the heat? Tone it down or just make it ‘normal’, but you won’t be disappointed either way.

Also try my fried chicken salad sandwiches.

Fried Chicken Breast Sandwich
Print Pin
5 from 1 vote

Fried Chicken Breast Sandwich

I fried up a couple of coated chicken breasts. By themselves they were absolutely outstanding. Crunchy outside, moist and flavorful inside. I made one Nashville-style and realized I had made the perfect fried chicken breast sandwich.
Course Main
Cuisine American
Keyword chicken, deep-fried, sandwich
Prep Time 3 hours
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 3 hours 20 minutes
Servings 8
Calories 630kcal
Author Based on a recipe from Bon Appetit

Ingredients

To make it Nashville-Style Hot

For the sandwiches

Instructions

  • Toss the chicken breasts with black pepper and 2 tablespoons of the salt. Cover and refrigerate at least 3 hours.
  • Whisk the eggs, buttermilk, and hot sauce together in a large bowl.
  • Whisk the flour and remaining 4 teaspoons of salt in another large bowl.
  • Heat 2″ of oil to 325 F in a deep fryer or Dutch oven.
  • Working in batches, dredge chicken in flour.
  • Shake off excess then dip into the buttermilk mixture.
  • Shake off excess then dip again into the flour mixture.
  • Shake off excess then fry until golden brown on both sides, 10-12 minutes.
  • Transfer to a rack or paper towel-lined plate to cool.

To make it Nashville-Style Hot

  • Whisk cayenne, brown sugar, chili powder, garlic powder, and paprika in a medium bowl.
  • Carefully whisk in 1 cup of the deep fryer oil.
  • Brush mixture onto both sides of the cooked chicken breasts.

For the sandwiches

  • Slather buns with mayo. Add tomatoes, chicken, lettuce, and pickles.

Nutrition

Calories: 630kcal | Carbohydrates: 89g | Protein: 42g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 172mg | Sodium: 2360mg | Potassium: 706mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 1931IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 118mg | Iron: 15mg

Nutritional values are approximate.

Presto Fry Daddy 4-Cup Electric Deep Fryer, Aluminum
Presto Fry Daddy 4-Cup Electric Deep Fryer, Aluminum
T-fal Ultimate EZ Clean Stainless Steel Deep Fryer with Basket 3.5 Liter Oil and 2.6 Pound Food Capacity 1700 Watts Oil Filtration, Temp Control, Digital Timer, Dishwasher Safe Parts Stainless Steel
T-fal Ultimate EZ Clean Stainless Steel Deep Fryer with Basket 3.5 Liter Oil and 2.6 Pound Food Capacity 1700 Watts Oil Filtration, Temp Control, Digital Timer, Dishwasher Safe Parts Stainless Steel