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Move over, Cracker Barrel, this homemade Southern-style Chicken Fried Chicken is battered up and smothered in a white pepper gravy. This nostalgic crispy chicken dish is a down-home classic and guaranteed to be a family favorite.
Pair this chicken fried chicken with your favorite country sides like my mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, and honey butter cornbread, and you will have one hearty family dinner.
The white pepper gravy is full of so much flavor that it will make you want to smother it over everything, and even dip a biscuit or dinner roll in it. This is a Sunday dinner you must make!
What is Chicken Fried Chicken?
Often found at restaurants and diners here in the south and made nationally popular by Cracker Barrel, Chicken Fried Chicken is a southern-style breaded chicken that is fried and served with a delicious white gravy. Many recipes I’ve tried are good, but you’ll find two issues: the gravy lacks flavor (or is gummy), or the chicken is bland, or not crispy. We solve that in this recipe, as a food blogger who was raised by country cooks and spent the last 15 years in the heart of the South (Georgia), rest assured, this is a truly Southern addition to chicken fried chicken that will impress your family and friends.
What Makes this The Best Southern Chicken Fried Chicken?
In this recipe, we’ll be nailing the flavor and the crispiness of fried chicken, which are the two important indicators of whether or not this is a great dish. There are a few tips to ensure the chicken is crispy.
- Do not use buttermilk to batter the chicken, instead use whole milk. it’s a common misconception that buttermilk should be used for dredging chicken, but it actually softens the breading. Now buttermilk is amazing if you want to marinate chicken BEFORE battering, but we don’t use that step in this recipe.
- Make sure to drain your fried chicken directly on a cooling rack and do not let it come into contact with any paper towels after you remove it from the oil. Laying your chicken on a trapped surface will allow moisture to build, resulting in soggy breading that will pull away from the chicken.
- The flavor of the gravy is imperative. Don’t be shy about the amount of salt, pepper, and poultry seasoning you use in your gravy. There is nothing worse than bland, milky gravy. That’s a no go. Be sure to taste the gravy as you go, adjusting the seasonings until it’s just right. I use a blend of peppers from ground pepper, ground white pepper, and freshly ground black and green peppercorns.
- Choosing the right ingredients for this recipe: adding hot sauce to your egg mixture is a must! Just a splash will do if you’re not looking to add a kick of heat. The other key ingredient I ADORE is the Chicken Fried Steak seasoning from The Savory Spice Shop. I discovered them while shopping with my parents in Franklin TN. My mom smelled it and said OH MY GOSH – this smells exactly like Grandma’s fried chicken seasoning – instant purchase! You can’t find this seasoning on amazon (but you can find their other stuff there). But it is available on their website here.
What Sides to Pair with Southern Chicken Friend Chicken?
This meal will not be complete without incredible country sides like:
Green beans or peas
Honey Butter Cornbread (or dinner rolls or biscuits)
You May Also Like:
Prince’s Nashville Hot Chicken Copycat Recipe
The Best Chuy’s Creamy Jalapeno Dip Recipe
Cheesecake Factory Orange Chicken Copycat Recipe
Popeye’s Famous Spicy Chicken Sandwich Recipe
Nashville Hot Chicken Nuggets Cheesecake Factory Recipe
I look forward to your questions and feedback. Please be sure to tag me @BadBatchBaking using hashtag #badbatchbaking if you made this recipe and I will feature you on my story! Plus, I LOVE to see your baking accomplishments!
The Best Southern Chicken Fried Chicken
Ingredients
Chicken Fried Chicken
- 6-8 thinly sliced chicken breasts or thinly pound regular breasts air-chilled chicken is beast, like Bell & Evans or similar
- 2 cups flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried onion flakes or onion powder works too
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- 1 1/2 cup whole milk do not use buttermilk, it will soften breading
- 2 eggs
- 1 tablespoon hot sauce
- peanut oil for frying (vegetable oil works too) I use one quart in a cast iron skillet
Pepper Gravy
- 3 tablespoons reserved oil from frying with pan bits
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 1/4 cup flour
- 2 cup whole milk
- 1-2 teaspoons salt add in increments to taste
- 1 teaspoon poultry seasoning
- 1-2 teaspoons white pepper and fresh ground pepper to taste
Serve With:
- biscuits, mashed potatoes, green beans, corn, peas, etc.
Instructions
Prep Chicken Dredge and Heat Oil
- In a shallow dish whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and dry seasonings. In a second shallow dish whisk together milk, eggs, and hot sauce until smooth.
- In a cast iron skillet or fry-safe pan on stove over medium, heat oil (a few inches deep) until it reaches about 350 degrees. Begin dredging the chicken while it comes up to temp.
Coat the Chicken
- Flour-egg-flour: Fully coat each chicken breast in the flour mixture, dip into the egg mixture (not letting it drip off first), than back into the flour mixture. Make sure to press the flour onto the chicken. Put finished pieces on a foil/parchment lined baking sheet.
Pan Fry Chicken
- Place chicken in hot oil and fry on each side 3-5 minutes until golden brown, remove and drain directly on a cooling rack placed on top paper towel lined baking sheet. Do not place directly on paper towels as it will make chicken soggy. (Place chicken tray in the oven at 200 degrees if you want to keep it warm while you prep gravy and finish up side items.)
Make Gravy
- To make your gravy, in a saucepan add 3 tablespoons oil + pan bits, butter over medium heat, stir in your flour until absorbed and cook for about 1 minute (it'll bubble slightly).
- Slowly add in your milk whisking to blend and heat until thickened then stir in seasonings until it's nice and seasoned. This part is very important as all the flavor is in the salt, pepper and poultry seasoning.
- To serve, plate your chicken and pour spoonfuls of gravy directly over each piece (and over the potatoes if serving).
As a born-and-raised Southerner, I can confirm that chicken fried chicken is a beloved staple of Southern cuisine. This recipe looks absolutely delicious, and the photos are making my mouth water! I appreciate that the post includes tips on making sure the chicken is cooked properly and staying crispy.