Name: Fried Chicken Thighs with Cheesy Grits
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups buttermilk; 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; 1 teaspoon kosher salt; 1 teaspoon smoked paprika; 1 pound skinless, boneless chicken thighs; Kosher salt; 1 1/2 cups white grits (not instant); 4 ounces cream cheese; 2 ounces finely grated Parmesan; Freshly ground black pepper; 2 cups all-purpose flour; 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; 1 teaspoon smoked paprika; 2 teaspoons kosher salt, plus more; 2 cups vegetable oil; 2 tablespoons unsalted butter; 2 bunches kale, or Swiss chard, ribs and stems removed, leaves torn into 2" pieces; Freshly ground black pepper; 1 tablespoon distilled white vinegar; 1 tablespoon hot pepper jelly, plus more for serving; A deep-fry thermometer

Fried chicken thighs with cheesy grits and kale on a white plate.

Photo by Nicole Franzen

If you prefer white-meat chicken, use skinless, boneless breasts that have been cut in half crosswise.

Recipe notes

See Related Recipes and Cooking Tips

41 Time-Saving Boneless Chicken Thigh Recipes
Forget chicken breasts—boneless chicken thighs are just as easy to cook and so much more flavorful.
How to Avoid a Grease Fire
If you never have a kitchen fire in the first place, you won't have to put one out.
Five Great Boutique Grains You Can Order Online
There's never been a better time to find farro, rice grits, and locally milled wheat. Welcome to the American grainaissance.
How to Tell the Difference Between Cornmeal, Corn Flour, Polenta, and Grits
There’s no shortage of dried corn products. Here’s how to tell them apart.
It's Fried Chicken Time
Break your fear of frying at home with these 31 recipes for the quintessential Southern staple.

Homemade Corn Dogs

Just like the state fair, minus the crowds.

Chicken Croquettes

Rather than breaded and fried as you might expect croquettes to be, these are something more akin to a seared chicken salad patty.

Rotisserie Chicken Congee

Leftover rotisserie chicken finds new purpose in this endlessly comforting dish.

Slow-Smoked Chicken

An espresso-and-cumin-spiked rub (or brine) gives this smoked chicken impressive flavor.

Southern Thai Fried Chicken (Gai Tod Hat Yai)

This is one of the best fried chickens ever. From southern Thailand, gai hat yai is known for its crispy skin, great aromatics, and super juicy meat.

Spaghetti With Cabbage, Pancetta, and Calabrian Chile

Cabbage is the unsung hero of the winter kitchen—available anywhere, long-lasting in the fridge, and super-affordable. It’s also an excellent partner for pasta.

Brussels Sprouts Latkes

Who says latkes have to be potato? Brussels bring a delicious cruciferousness.

Smothered Italian Sausage

This is what I call a fridge-eater recipe. The key here is getting a nice sear on the sausage and cooking the tomato down until it coats the sausage and vegetables well.

Recipe notes

41 Time-Saving Boneless Chicken Thigh Recipes

How to Avoid a Grease Fire

Five Great Boutique Grains You Can Order Online

How to Tell the Difference Between Cornmeal, Corn Flour, Polenta, and Grits

It's Fried Chicken Time