CHICKEN FRIED STEAK NUGGETS RECIPES

Steps:

• Place chicken pieces into a plastic container and cover with buttermilk. Cover and refrigerate for 12 to 24 hours.
• Melt enough shortening (over low heat) to come just 1/3-inch up the side of a 12-inch cast iron skillet or heavy fry pan. Once shortening liquefies raise heat to 325 degrees F. Do not allow oil to go over 325 degrees F.
• Drain chicken in a colander. Combine salt, paprika, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper. Liberally season chicken with this mixture. Dredge chicken in flour and shake off excess.
• Place chicken skin side down into the pan. Put thighs in the center, and breast and legs around the edge of the pan. The oil should come half way up the pan. Cook chicken until golden brown on each side, approximately 10 to 12 minutes per side. More importantly, the internal temperature should be right around 180 degrees. (Be careful to monitor shortening temperature every few minutes.)
• Drain chicken on a rack over a sheet pan. Don't drain by setting chicken directly on paper towels or brown paper bags. If you need to hold the chicken before serving, cover loosely with foil but avoid holding in a warm oven, especially if it's a gas oven.

Steps:

• First, make the breading assembly line: In one bowl, stir together the flour, seasoned salt, salt and pepper. In a separate bowl, beat the eggs and water. In a third bowl, add the breadcrumbs. Bread a few pieces of chicken at a time by dredging them with flour, then quickly dunking them in the egg mixture, then rolling them in the breadcrumbs until they're coated. Shake off the excess and place them on a plate or pan as you bread the rest. In a large nonstick skillet over medium heat (place the skillet on the backburner!), heat 1 1/2 to 2 inches of vegetable oil over medium-low to medium heat. (You want it to be hot enough to sizzle gently when you add the chicken, but not so hot that it browns too quickly.) Carefully drop in 8 to 10 pieces of chicken and use metal tongs to spread them out to give them room. Let them fry on the first side for a minute or so, then carefully turn them over to brown on the other side. The chicken should cook until the breadcrumbs are deep golden brown, about 2 to 3 minutes total; if the chicken pieces are small, this should be enough time for the chicken to cook through. Remove the chicken to a paper towel lined plate and repeat with the rest of the chicken until it's all fried. Serve warm with ketchup and/or mustard!