The Ultimate Southern Fried Chicken Platter
The secret to this platter is the variety of textures—the shattering crunch of the chicken skin against the creamy mac and soft, glazed yams.
⏱️ Recipe Details
- Yields: 1 generous serving
- Prep time: 30 minutes
- Cook time: 1 hour
- Difficulty: Medium
🛒 The Ingredients
The Main & Bread:
- 3-4 pieces of Fried Chicken, double-breaded for extra crunch
- 1 Golden Cornbread Square, baked until light and airy
The Classic Sides:
- Baked Macaroni & Cheese, featuring a thick, bubbly cheese crust
- Candied Yams, simmered in a sweet cinnamon and brown sugar glaze
- Slow-Cooked Collard Greens, seasoned with smoked meat
- Sautéed Yellow Squash, sliced into rounds for a fresh, buttery finish
👩🍳 Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Prepare the Slow-Cooked Sides
Start your collard greens early, simmering them with smoked turkey or bacon until tender. Simultaneously, slice your yams and simmer them in a buttery sugar glaze until they are soft and the sauce has thickened into a syrup.
2. Bake the Mac and Cornbread
Whip up a rich cheese sauce for your macaroni, top with shredded cheddar, and bake until the edges are crispy. Use the same oven time to bake your cornbread until the top is slightly domed and golden.
3. Fry the Chicken
Season your chicken pieces with a blend of paprika, garlic powder, and cayenne. Dredge in seasoned flour, dip in buttermilk, and dredge again before frying in hot oil until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
4. Sauté the Squash and Plate
Quickly sauté the yellow squash in a pan with butter and light seasoning until just tender. Arrange the fried chicken on a matte black plate, surrounding it with generous scoops of the mac, greens, yams, and squash, placing the cornbread on the edge to stay dry.
