Fried chicken has graced prairie tables for generations — at church picnics, harvest meals, and family reunions, the big cast-iron skillet was made for exactly this. It is the food that shows up in baskets at every summer gathering, and the recipe every prairie cook learned at someone’s elbow.
This version gets its deep flavor from an overnight soak in buttermilk and a well-seasoned flour coating that turns shatteringly crisp in the hot oil. The meat stays juicy and tender inside while the crust crackles with every bite. It is a little work, but the payoff is the best fried chicken you will ever make.

