Chicken Fried Chicken

Name: Chicken Fried Chicken
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Cuisine: Southern
Ingredients: 2 boneless skinless chicken breasts cut in half lengthwise to create 4 thinner ones; ⅔ cup buttermilk; 1 large egg; ⅔ cup flour; ¼ cup cornstarch; 1 teaspoon kosher salt; ½ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper; ½ teaspoon garlic powder; ½ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper; Vegetable oil for frying; 4 tablespoons unsalted butter (can sub cooking oil that you fried the chicken in or bacon fat); ¼ cup all purpose flour; 2 ½ cups milk; 1-2 pinches ground cayenne pepper; Kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper

January 30, 2023 by Beth Pierce 28 Comments

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Chicken Fried Chicken is crispy breaded boneless skinless chicken breasts fried to golden perfection and served slathered with country white gravy seasoned with lots of fresh ground black pepper.

I love to serve this dish with creamy mashed potatoes and fresh green beans or baby peas. Comfort food does not get much better than this. If you like my Chicken Fried Steak, then this is a must-try recipe.

How to make Chicken Fried Chicken

Start by slicing your chicken breasts in half horizontally or lengthwise to create 4 thinner chicken breasts. Then if needed, cover the chicken breasts with plastic wrap and pound the thick parts with a meat mallet. This will ensure that the chicken cooks evenly.

Set up your breading stations. In one shallow wide bowl, whisk together the buttermilk and the egg. Then in another shallow bowl, whisk together the flour, cornstarch, salt, fresh ground black pepper, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper. Using a heavy pan or Dutch oven, heat about 1-inch vegetable oil to 325 degrees. Now dip each chicken breast in the flour mixture, then in the egg mixture, then back in the flour mixture.

Fry the chicken until it is golden brown on the bottom, then flip and fry until it is golden brown on the other side. Remove to a paper towel-lined baking sheet to drain any excess grease. To keep the chicken breasts warm and crispy, place them in a 225-degree oven on an uncovered baking sheet or wire rack.

Meanwhile, in a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and cook for about 2 minutes, whisking continuously. Slowly whisk in the milk until smooth and creamy. Then whisk in the cayenne pepper, salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Continue cooking while frequently whisking until the gravy has thickened to your desired consistency.

How to make Chicken Fried Chicken and white country gravy.

Helpful recipe tips

Use thin-cut chicken breasts (also known as culets) or cut 2 chicken breasts in half horizontally or lengthwise. You can also pound the chicken breast thin and split them in half.
This recipe is easy and quick, but it is also busy, so have your sides prepared and ready to go. This recipe is best served promptly. If it needs to be reheated, an air fryer works well.
The cayenne pepper in this recipe is very mild. In fact, if you like a lot of zest and flavor, add a little more. If you are still apprehensive about it, substitute paprika.
Keep the chicken in the oven on warm and uncovered while you finish them and while you are making the gravy. It will keep them crispy till the meal is served.
I like making white gravy with butter, but you can use the oil from frying or bacon grease.
Though traditionally deep-fried. You can fry the breaded chicken up in about 1/8 – 1/4 inch oil in a cast iron skillet or in a Dutch oven.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Bring the chicken to room temperature for about 30 minutes, then reheat it in the air fryer at 400 degrees for about 5 minutes.

I love to serve Chicken Fried Chicken with creamy mashed potatoes and fresh green beans or baby peas.

What sides to serve with Fried Chicken

You can serve virtually any side, but some of our favorites are southern green beans, baby peas, mashed potatoes, corn on the cob, cucumber salad, steamed broccoli, roasted cauliflower, dill pickle potato salad, buttermilk biscuits, and mac and cheese.

How to tell when Chicken Fried Chicken is done

How do you know when fried chicken is done? Everyone knows that it is golden brown and crispy on the outside, but you don’t want to fry it so long that the meat becomes dry and dense. Chicken is cooked through when it reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit. The best way to know that is to use an instant-read thermometer.

How to freeze Chicken Fried Chicken

To freeze first, cool completely. Then place the cooked chicken on a baking sheet covered with parchment paper and place it in the freezer on a flat level surface. Once frozen, place the breasts in a sturdy freezer container and freeze for up to 3 months. Reheat chicken from frozen on an uncovered baking sheet in a 350-degree oven for 10-15 minutes. Then increase the temp to 400 degrees and bake for another 5 minutes or until heated through.

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