Lighter Pan-Fried Chicken with Green Beans and Tomatoes Recipe

Photo: Stephen DeVries, Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford; Food Styling: Torie Cox
Active Time:
25 Mins
Chilling Time:
8 Hours
Total Time:
8 Hours 45 Mins
Yield:
Serves 8
Emily Nabors Hall

Cast iron is excellent for frying, but you don’t always have to deep-fry. Quickly pan-fry the chicken to get a crispy, golden exterior; then pop it in the oven until it’s cooked through. Add some tangy green beans and tomatoes to make this a winning meal.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups whole buttermilk
  • 2 large eggs, beaten
  • 3 garlic cloves, smashed
  • 4 3/4 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons black pepper, divided
  • 2 pounds bone-in, skinless chicken thighs (about 8)
  • 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 4), cut in half
  • 2 cups canola oil
  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 1 pound trimmed fresh green beans
  • 1 large shallot, thinly sliced (about 1/2 cup)
  • 1 pint cherry tomatoes
  • 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice (from 1 lemon)

How to Make It

Step 1

Whisk together buttermilk, eggs, garlic cloves, 2 teaspoons of the salt, and 1 teaspoon of the pepper in a large bowl. Place chicken in a large ziplock plastic freezer bag; pour buttermilk mixture over chicken. Seal bag, removing as much air as possible. (Or combine in a large bowl, and cover with a tight-fitting lid.) Chill 8 to 24 hours.

Step 2

Preheat oven to 425°F. Pour oil into a large cast-iron skillet, and heat over medium-high.

Step 3

Drain chicken well; discard buttermilk mixture. Whisk together flour, cornstarch, 2 teaspoons of the salt, and 1 teaspoon of the pepper in a large bowl. Working with 1 piece at a time, dredge chicken in flour mixture until well coated. Place coated chicken pieces on a large piece of aluminum foil, and let stand to allow coating to dry out, about 15 minutes.

Step 4

Fry chicken, in batches, 4 pieces at a time, in hot oil until golden, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer browned chicken to a wire rack in a large rimmed baking sheet. Bake in preheated oven until chicken is deep golden brown and cooked through, about 10 minutes.

Step 5

Meanwhile, let skillet rest off heat about 5 minutes while chicken bakes. Carefully pour all of the frying oil into a metal bowl; allow flour to settle to bottom of bowl. Wipe skillet clean.

Step 6

Add 2 tablespoons of the frying oil to skillet, and place over medium-high. Add green beans and shallot, and cook, without stirring, until beginning to brown, about 4 minutes. Stir in tomatoes, and cook, without stirring, until beans and shallot are charred and tomatoes begin to burst, about 2 minutes. Stir in remaining 3/4 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Transfer vegetables to a serving platter, and toss with lemon juice. Serve the vegetables immediately with the fried chicken.

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