National Fried Chicken Day might belong to drumsticks, but these 17 fried recipe hits are ready to take the crown. Each one brings serious crunch, big flavor, and the kind of crispy edge that can stand toe-to-toe with the classics. Whether you're cooking for family, hosting a summer cookout, or just skipping the drive-thru, these fried recipes bring something bold to the table. If you're not making one of these this year, you're already behind.
Classic Mushroom Bourekas Recipe
Classic Mushroom Boursekas are a flaky fried recipe that sneaks up on National Fried Chicken Day with serious crunch. These savory pastries bake up golden with buttery layers and an earthy mushroom filling. If you’re bringing a fried recipe that stands out, this one checks every box. It’s like pastry and fried chicken had a very flaky cousin.
Get the Recipe: Classic Mushroom Bourekas Recipe
Cheese Fried Bread
Cheese Fried Bread brings major crunch and nostalgia to the fried recipe conversation on National Fried Chicken Day. Coated in golden cheese and crisped to perfection, it’s the kind of fried recipe that wins over every age group. It’s fast, filling, and packs more texture than most main courses. This fried recipe doesn’t play nice—it plays to win.
Get the Recipe: Cheese Fried Bread
Crispy Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts With Feta, Pomegranate And Balsamic
Crispy Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts with Feta, Pomegranate and Balsamic bring a full-flavored fried recipe into the National Fried Chicken Day arena. Each sprout crisps up beautifully, giving this fried recipe serious texture and contrast with sweet and tangy toppings. It’s a bold move away from basic chicken, but one that holds its own. This fried recipe could start a veggie uprising.
Get the Recipe: Crispy Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts With Feta, Pomegranate And Balsamic
Fried Ripe Sweet Plantains
Fried Ripe Sweet Plantains give your National Fried Chicken Day spread a crispy, caramelized, and slightly sweet fried recipe. They cook quickly in a pan and perfectly balance out the savory side of fried recipes. This one adds a hit of nostalgia and comfort to your plate. When the fried recipe game needs a little curveball, this is the one to play.
Get the Recipe: Fried Ripe Sweet Plantains
Vegetarian Kofta Kebabs Recipe
Vegetarian Kofta Kebabs bring heat and crispness to the fried recipe list for National Fried Chicken Day. They cook quickly in a pan and come out with crispy edges and a spiced center that’s full of flavor. As a fried recipe, they’re perfect for mixing up the standard table without sacrificing that must-have sear. Think of these as the underdog fried recipe ready to shock the crowd.
Get the Recipe: Vegetarian Kofta Kebabs Recipe
Stuffed Potato Patties With A Mushroom Filling
Stuffed Potato Patties with a Mushroom Filling are a fried recipe for winning over every National Fried Chicken Day table. They’re pan-fried until golden and packed with a savory center that makes a meal on its own. This fried recipe adds a comfort-food vibe that goes beyond poultry. It’s the kind of fried recipe you bring when you’re trying to outshine the host.
Get the Recipe: Stuffed Potato Patties With A Mushroom Filling
Colombian Marinated Chicken Drumsticks
Colombian Marinated Chicken Drumsticks are a fried recipe that proves you don’t need a deep fryer to make something bold for National Fried Chicken Day. These drumsticks crisp up beautifully while locking in a citrusy, peppery marinade that puts bland fried chicken to shame. As a fried recipe, it brings high-impact flavor with low-effort cooking that works any day of the week. This fried recipe hits harder than your uncle’s “secret” BBQ rub.
Get the Recipe: Colombian Marinated Chicken Drumsticks
Circassian Fried Cheese With A Middle-Eastern Field Salad
Circassian Fried Cheese with a Middle-Eastern Field Salad is a fried recipe that balances indulgence and freshness like a pro on National Fried Chicken Day. The cheese crisps beautifully in the pan while the salad adds brightness without losing crunch. It’s the kind of fried recipe that covers both bold and balanced in one plate. Skip the wings—this one steals the spotlight.
Get the Recipe: Circassian Fried Cheese With A Middle-Eastern Field Salad
Fried Marinated Tofu
Fried Marinated Tofu stands out as a fried recipe that can challenge any chicken dish on National Fried Chicken Day. Its flavorful soak and crispy sear mean it’s far from bland, and it cooks well in a pan, air fryer, or oven. As a fried recipe, it’s flexible and full of character, with just the right crunch. Even tofu skeptics might start asking for seconds.
Get the Recipe: Fried Marinated Tofu
Spicy Air Fryer Cabbage Steaks With Tahini
Spicy Air Fryer Cabbage Steaks with Tahini flip the script on what counts as a fried recipe for National Fried Chicken Day. Crisp edges, tender cores, and a spicy-smooth finish make this one a crowd-shocker. This fried recipe proves you don’t need meat to make noise on the plate. Call it cabbage with main-character energy.
Get the Recipe: Spicy Air Fryer Cabbage Steaks With Tahini
Argentinian Empanadas
Argentinian Empanadas are a fried recipe with golden pockets and enough crunch to rival any drumstick on National Fried Chicken Day. Whether pan-fried or baked to crisp perfection, these handhelds are filled with seasoned vegetables that don’t hold back. It’s a fried recipe that travels well, pleases everyone, and disappears in seconds. Some chicken dishes wish they had this kind of pull.
Get the Recipe: Argentinian Empanadas
Crispy Plantain Chips
Crispy Plantain Chips make a strong case for being the crunchiest fried recipe on the table for National Fried Chicken Day. They’re thin, golden, and done in minutes in the air fryer with just two ingredients. If you’re looking for a fried recipe that brings texture without the heaviness, this one scores high. It’s the kind of fried recipe that disappears faster than grandma’s chicken thighs.
Get the Recipe: Crispy Plantain Chips
Crispy Ottolenghi's Air Fryer Asparagus
Crispy Ottolenghi’s Air Fryer Asparagus is a fried recipe that shows vegetables can play just as loud on National Fried Chicken Day. With crisp edges and deep flavor, this dish roasts fast in the air fryer with zero hassle. It’s a smart fried recipe for anyone who wants to skip the meat without skipping the crunch. Even the die-hard chicken fans might reach for seconds.
Get the Recipe: Crispy Ottolenghi's Air Fryer Asparagus
Air Fryer Fried Cheese Curds
Air Fryer Fried Cheese Curds deliver everything you want in a fried recipe for National Fried Chicken Day—crunchy outside, gooey inside, no grease puddle required. These cheese curds are easy to prep and perfect for snacking or party platters. When it comes to fried recipes that can compete with chicken, these grab attention fast. One bite and you’ll forget fried chicken was even the point.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Fried Cheese Curds
Air Fryer Almond Crusted Chicken
Air Fryer Almond Crusted Chicken takes the fried recipe idea in a fresh direction, adding a crunchy almond coating and keeping it crisp without deep frying. It’s fast to prep and cooks evenly in the air fryer, making it great for weeknight meals. This fried recipe gives National Fried Chicken Day a textured upgrade that goes beyond breadcrumbs. It’s like fried chicken dressed for a job interview.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Almond Crusted Chicken
Sesame Chicken
Sesame Chicken is a fried recipe with sticky-sweet power and serious crunch—perfect for a National Fried Chicken Day showdown. Quick to fry and coated in a glossy glaze, it’s a fast favorite that holds its heat and flavor. This fried recipe delivers the same crispy satisfaction with an Asian takeout vibe. It’s what happens when fried chicken gets a flavor remix.
Get the Recipe: Sesame Chicken
KFC Fried Chicken
KFC Fried Chicken is the classic fried recipe benchmark that everyone measures against on National Fried Chicken Day. With its iconic crispy crust and seasoned bite, it’s the fried recipe that started more than a few copycats. It takes a bit more time, but the payoff is big flavor and big crunch. No National Fried Chicken Day list is complete without it.
Get the Recipe: KFC Fried Chicken
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