Instantly Spice Up Classic Fried Chicken With One Smoky Ingredient

Golden, crackling skin. Meat so tender it falls right off the bone. Your classic fried chicken is perfect — until it's the same perfect thing for the fifteenth time in a row. That's when the magic starts to fade. You're not tired of fried chicken, you're tired of too-familiar fried chicken. The good news? One ingredient can change everything: smoked paprika.

To get paprika, red peppers (either mild or spicy varieties) are ground down to a powder, and this is then smoked on top of smoldering oak wood over the course of days to infuse it with an essence that's best described as deep and almost meaty. When you add a pinch to your chicken, smoked paprika can create layers of taste on top of the spiciness that regular paprika could never dream of achieving. 

It's able to do a lot more, though — did you know that paprika can actually help the browning process of your chicken along? That's right, this spice, thanks to its lower smoke point, can crispen up your chicken's coating to a far greater degree, while simultaneously dyeing it this gorgeous, burnished color that photographs like a dream. Just work it into your flour mixture or shower it over oil-brushed pieces before cooking, and your regular weeknight dinner will instantly become story-worthy (plus, your kitchen will smell like an actual smokehouse — just minus the actual smoke).

Smoked paprika is more than capable of amping up the flavor of your fried chicken alone. Combine it with other spices, though? That's where things get interesting. Garlic powder amplifies depth without competing for attention. Onion powder slides in sweetness. Black pepper brings heat without aggression. Cayenne — if you're feeling bold — introduces fire that, layered with paprika's smoke, becomes sophisticated rather than simply painful.

Once you've settled on your spice combo and got to work and your chicken's golden and out of the fryer, it's time to deal with the best sides for your chicken. Salads dressed in sharp vinaigrettes can help cut through the fried chicken's richness beautifully. You can also go rogue and pair the chicken with more unconventional sides — Mediterranean accompaniments featuring bright lemon, savory cheese, and fresh herbs like a Greek-style seven-layer salad. These unexpected flavor combinations create a brightness that plays off smoked paprika's hidden sweetness in the most delicious ways.

Whatever you choose, go all out. Plate generously on your first attempt — it's only right to pull out all the stops to welcome a new recipe that's all but guaranteed to become a regular staple.