Description
Country Fried Chicken is a classic comfort food featuring juicy, pan-fried chicken coated in seasoned flour and often paired with creamy white gravy. It’s a cozy, satisfying meal perfect for any day of the week.
Ingredients
- 4 boneless chicken breasts or thighs, pounded to even thickness
- 2 cups buttermilk
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup cornstarch (optional)
- 1 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
- Oil for pan frying (canola or vegetable)
- 2 tbsp butter (for optional white gravy)
- 2 tbsp all-purpose flour (for optional white gravy)
- 1 1/2 cups milk (for optional white gravy)
Instructions
- Marinate chicken in buttermilk for at least 1 hour or overnight.
- In a shallow dish, mix flour, cornstarch, salt, pepper, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne.
- Remove chicken from buttermilk and dredge in seasoned flour, pressing to coat.
- Let chicken sit for 10–15 minutes to help the coating stick.
- Heat about 1/2 inch of oil in a cast iron skillet over medium heat.
- Fry chicken 4–6 minutes per side, until golden and cooked through (165°F/75°C internally).
- Drain on a wire rack or paper towels and let rest a few minutes.
- (Optional) For gravy: leave 2 tbsp oil in skillet, whisk in flour and cook 1–2 minutes. Gradually add milk, whisking until thickened. Season with salt and pepper.
Notes
- Use Cajun seasoning or fresh herbs for a flavor twist.
- Try chicken tenders for quicker cooking.
- Bake at 400°F (200°C) for 20–25 minutes for a lighter option.
- Mix milk with lemon juice or vinegar if buttermilk is unavailable.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 piece with gravy
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 640mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 24g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 110mg
