The Secret To Joanna Gaines' Crispy Fried Chicken Is This Expert Technique

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The Secret To Joanna Gaines' Crispy Fried Chicken Is This Expert Technique By Allison Beussink June 7, 2025 8:20 am EST

You probably know Joanna Gaines as one half of the husband and wife duo who runs the Magnolia home design empire in Waco, Texas. But you might not know her genius hack for creating perfectly golden, extra-crispy Southern fried chicken on repeat.

After soaking the chicken pieces in a mixture of hot sauce and buttermilk, she whips up a blend of all-purpose flour ( the best flour for fried chicken ), baking powder, cornstarch, and spices. Each piece of chicken is dredged, or thoroughly coated, with the flour mixture . But instead of placing the chicken directly into hot frying oil, Joanna lets each flour-and-spice-steeped thigh and drumstick