McDo-Style Fried Chicken

This Filipino-style McDo chicken features tender marinated meat inside a flavorful, crispy coating. A comforting fast-food classic you can now enjoy at home with rice and gravy!

Ingredients

• 2 lbs chicken (thighs or drumsticks)
• 3 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tbsp calamansi juice (or lemon juice)
• 3 cloves garlic (minced)
• 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
• 1/4 tsp MSG (optional)
• For the coating:
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup cornstarch
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• For frying:
• Vegetable oil (for deep frying)

Directions

1. Marinate the Chicken:
2. In a bowl, combine soy sauce, calamansi (or lemon), garlic, black pepper, and MSG (optional). Add chicken and coat well. Cover and marinate for 4 hours or overnight in the fridge.
3. Prepare the Coating:
4. In a shallow bowl, mix flour, cornstarch, baking powder, salt, and pepper.
5. Dredge the Chicken:
6. Remove chicken from marinade and pat dry slightly. Dredge each piece in the flour mixture, pressing to adhere. Let rest for 10 minutes to set the coating.
7. Fry the Chicken:
8. Heat oil in a deep pan to 350°F (175°C). Fry chicken in batches for 10–12 minutes, turning occasionally, until golden brown and cooked through (internal temp: 165°F / 74°C).
9. Drain and Serve:
10. Let the chicken drain on a wire rack. Serve hot with steamed rice and gravy.