Election Day Fried Chicken

As far as we know, Election Day fried chicken is not a tradition, though maybe it should be?

If, like the rest of the country, your nerves are a little shot after this election cycle (give it a rest, 2020!), Election Day Buttermilk Fried Chicken might be the thing for you!

It's a bit of a project, though not unmanageable after a day of work. The pay-off is a salty, crunchy comfort food that you eat with your hands, meaning you get a break from scrolling the news on your phone. This is a real win-win all around.

If you've never made fried chicken, it might seem intimidating, but this recipe truly is as simple as they get. No batters to get right, just a quick dip in a buttermilk egg wash before coating with a seasoned flour mixture. And we aren't deep frying! Just a shallow bath of oil is enough to get both sides crispy and golden brown. A thermometer is helpful to keeping an eye on your oil temperature, but if you don't have one, take the chicken out when the crust is browned and finish cooking in the oven. How easy is that?

The beauty of fried chicken is that you can flavor it however you like, so let this be the night you indulge your greatest fried chicken fantasies. Add garam masala to the flour mixture, toss the fried chicken in Buffalo wing sauce, or drizzle with hot honey and serve alongside waffles. Pull the chicken off the bone and make fried chicken tacos or use it to top a salad. Is this getting out of hand?

For sides, you can look to classic picnic sides, like coleslaw (we like this Mango version), Mac and Cheese, or Green Bean and Potato Salad.