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Home > Meal Type > Main Dishes > Easy Homemade Chicken Fried Chicken

Easy Homemade Chicken Fried Chicken

Updated: Feb 17th 2020 • Published: Jan 8th 2020 • 4 Comments

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white gravy on chicken fried chicken with text at the top
crispy golden fried chicken on a grey plate on top of a green plate with text at the top
white gravy on chicken fried chicken with text at the top and bottom
fried chicken, mash and green beans with text at the top and bottom
crispy golden fried chicken on a grey plate on top of a green plate with text at the top and bottom
white gravy on chicken fried chicken with text at the top and bottom
fried chicken, mash and green beans with text at the top and bottom
crispy golden fried chicken on a grey plate on top of a green plate with text at the top and bottom
white gravy on chicken fried chicken with text at the top
fried chicken, mash and green beans with text at the top
white gravy on chicken fried chicken with text at the bottom
white gravy on chicken fried chicken with text at the top
white gravy on chicken fried chicken with text at the top

Chicken Fried Chicken is the ultimate outrageous comfort food. Crispy, juicy chicken packed with flavor and served with a peppery, creamy white gravy. 

This is better than your typical fried chicken! The ratio of crisp golden coating to juicy chicken is higher, meaning you get more of that delicious crispy coating with every bite. And let’s face it! That is the best bit of the fried chicken! 

Plus, this is quick to cook and so much easier to make at home that you think! Serve it with mashed potatoes, green beans, and white gravy for an authentic southern comfort food dinner! A family favorite!

a chicken fried chicken fillet with white gravy and green beans

EVERYONE who eats chicken loves fried chicken. It is just packed with flavor, and that crispy coating is the BEST! 

With this chicken fried chicken recipe, you get more of that crispy coating per bite of chicken. Plus, because this uses chicken fillets, it takes just a few minutes to cook.

Serve it with country/white gravy for a southern treat. I have included my white gravy recipe under the chicken recipe at the bottom of this page. Or you can read the full post over on my Homemade White Gravy post.

Jump Menu

  • So what is chicken fried chicken?
  • How to make great chicken fried chicken
  • How to fillet a chicken breast
  • What to serve with Chicken Fried Chicken
  • Easy Homemade Chicken Fried Chicken Recipe
  • Easy Homemade White Gravy Recipe

So what is chicken fried chicken?

It’s an odd name, isn’t it? The chicken that was named twice 😉 

To understand it, we need to start with chicken fried steak! 

Chicken fried steak isn’t chicken at all! It is cubed steak that is breaded and fried in the same way you would fried chicken. 

Chicken Fried Steak comes from when the Germans immigrants settled in Texas. Due to the abundance of beef, they started making their wiener schnitzel with beef instead of veal. To convince locals to try it, they likened it to fried chicken. Hence chicken fried steak.

Then as the popularity of chicken breasts grew, the steak was often replaced with chicken. Hence Chicken Fried Chicken.

The bottom line – Chicken fried chicken, is good!

crispy chicken fillet on a grey plate on a wooden table

How to make great chicken fried chicken

  • Cut large chicken breasts into chicken fillets. This ensures they cook quickly and evenly. (see details below)
  • Marinate the chicken in the seasoned buttermilk to add tenderness and flavor. Do this for 30 minutes at room temperature; this will help the chicken cook quickly.
  • Use well-seasoned flour to coat the chicken breasts, my mixture of herbs and spices gives the coating so much flavor!
  • A little baking powder and baking soda in the flour mixture makes the chicken so crispy! 
  • Shallow fry in a heavy-based skillet. This spreads the heat well and allows you to get that perfect crisp coating. 
  • Work in batches, so you don’t cool the oil down. Cool oil will make your chicken fried chicken greasy rather than crispy. Cook two pieces at a time and keep them warm in the oven.
  • Don’t mess with the chicken once it is in the oil, let it cook undisturbed for the best crispy, crunchy coating.
a wooden board with two stacked plates topped with fried chicken, mash and beans

How to fillet a chicken breast

Filleting a chicken breast is one of my favorite tricks for quick-cook chicken! The thinner fillet cooks more quickly, saving time and keeping it juicy. Plus, this keeps the cost of dinner down because two large chicken breasts will serve four people.

Place the chicken breast on a cutting board and, with your knife parallel to the board, cut sideways through the chicken breast. Continue cutting through, keeping your knife flat, until you have two even-sized chicken fillets.

Cutting through a chicken breast on a wooden board, to produce two fillets.

What to serve with Chicken Fried Chicken

  • Traditional: Mashed potato, green beans, and white gravy (recipe below)
  • Not a fan of white gravy: try this fantastic brown gravy!
  • Brunch: Hash brown, sunny side up egg and fried mushrooms.
  • Lunch: Stuff in a bread roll with lettuce and mayo.
  • A bit out there but so good: Serve it with a side of cheesy pasta.
fried chicken with mash and green beans on a grey plate

Enjoy x

For more comfort foods try:

  • Lasagna
  • Fish Pot Pie
  • Tuscan Mushrooms
  • Chicken Gnocchi
  • Chorizo Hash

For more amazing chicken recipes try:

  • Crispy Oven Baked Chicken Schnitzel
  • Garlic Butter Pasta with Garlic Chicken
  • Baked Chicken with Cherry Tomatoes
  • Dill Pickle Stuffed Chicken Breasts
  • Lemon Pepper Chicken Pasta

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close up on white gravy sliding down crispy fried chicken
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5 from 2 votes

Easy Homemade Chicken Fried Chicken Recipe

Chicken Fried Chicken is the ultimate comfort food. Crispy, juicy chicken packed with flavor – better than fried chicken! The ratio of crisp golden coating to juicy chicken is higher, so you get more of that delicious crispy coating with every bite. And that is the best bit of the fried chicken! This is quick to cook and so much easier to make at home that you think! Serve it with mashed potatoes, green beans, and white gravy for an authentic southern comfort food dinner! A family favorite!
Prep Time10 mins
Cook Time8 mins
Marinading Time30 mins
Course: Main
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4
Calories: 448kcal
Author: Claire | Sprinkles and Sprouts
For more great recipes follow me on PinterestFollow @sprinklessprout
Need Metric Measurements?Use the options below to toggle between cups and grams (if relevant)

Ingredients

US Customary – Grams

For the chicken

  • 2 large chicken breasts
  • 2 cups buttermilk
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp black pepper
  • 1 egg

For the seasoned flour

  • 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp ground black pepper
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • ½ tsp smoked paprika
  • ½ tsp cayenne pepper optional
  • ½ tsp onion powder
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • ½ tsp baking powder

To Cook

  • 1 cup vegetable oil

Instructions

Prepare the chicken

  • Mix 2 cups of buttermilk, in a non-metallic bowl, with 1 tsp of salt and 1 tsp of black pepper.
  • Lay your chicken breast flat on the board, then keeping your knife parallel to the chopping board, use a large sharp knife to cut sideways through the breast.
  • Continue to cut through the chicken breast, keeping the knife flat until you have two plump fillets.
  • Repeat with the second chicken breast.
  • Add the chicken to the buttermilk and let it sit at room temperature for 30 minutes to an hour.

To make the coating

  • Mix:
  • 1 1/2 cups of flour, 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp black pepper, 1 tsp paprika, 1/2 tsp smoked paprika, 1/2 tsp onion powder, 1/2 tsp cayenne (if using), 1/2 tsp baking soda, and 1/2 tsp baking powder. Set aside.

When you are ready to cook.

  • Preheat oven to 230ºF/110ºC.
  • Remove the chicken from the buttermilk and whisk one egg into it.
  • Dip the chicken into the seasoned flour until it has a light coating. Then dredge it into the buttermilk mixture. Place it back into the flour mixture and turn to coat fully.
  • Place the coated chicken on a plate.
  • Pour 1 cup of vegetable/canola oil into a large heavy-based skillet/frying pan and place over medium heat.
  • The oil wants to be at around 340ºF/170ºC. If you have a thermometer, you can use it. If not, drop a little bit of the flour coating into the oil. It should instantly sizzle and bubble, but not burn.
  • Cook the chicken fillets two at a time.
  • Carefully slide the chicken into the hot oil and cook for 2 minutes on each side or until lightly browned. Only turn each fillet once; this helps to develop the crust.
  • Drain the chicken fried chicken on a piece of kitchen paper towel and place it in the oven while you fry the next two fillets breasts.
  • Serve immediately. (see note 1)

Notes

  1. Serve immediately with:
    • Traditional: Mashed potato, green beans, and white gravy (click for full post or see the recipe below)
    • Not a fan of white gravy: try this fantastic brown gravy!
    • Brunch: Hash brown, sunny side up egg and fried mushrooms.
    • Lunch: Stuff in a bread roll with lettuce and mayo.
    • A bit out there but so good: Serve it with a side of cheesy pasta.

Nutrition

Calories: 448kcal | Carbohydrates: 43g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Cholesterol: 90mg | Sodium: 609mg | Potassium: 498mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 748IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 176mg | Iron: 3mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @sprinklesandsprouts or tag #sprinklesandsprouts
close up on the white gravy in a gravy boat on a wooden board
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
5 from 2 votes

Easy Homemade White Gravy Recipe

Learn how to make Homemade White Gravy from scratch. This simple recipe is so easy and uses just 3 staple ingredients (5 if you count salt and pepper!) This is the perfect gravy for serving with your chicken fried steak, crispy coated chicken breasts, biscuits or over mashed potato. White gravy is a southern classic sometimes called country gravy or pepper gravy. Forget the packet mixes your family is going to love this homemade gravy!
Prep Time2 mins
Cook Time8 mins
Course: Sauce
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4
Calories: 156kcal
Author: Claire | Sprinkles and Sprouts
For more great recipes follow me on PinterestFollow @sprinklessprout
Need Metric Measurements?Use the options below to toggle between cups and grams (if relevant)

Ingredients

US Customary – Grams
  • 2 tbsp butter – or fat from cooking your meat
  • 2 tbsp AP flour
  • 1 ½ cup milk
  • 1 tsp black pepper – see note 1
  • ½ tsp salt – see note 1
  • 2 tbsp heavy cream
  • additional salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Melt the butter in a small saucepan over low heat.
  • Stir in the flour and cook for 3-4 minutes until well combined and a good golden brown.
  • Whisk in 1/4 cup of the milk, the mixture will become a very thick paste. Gradually whisk in 1/4 cup more milk. Once the mixture has thinned slightly you can gradually whisk in the remaining 1 cup of milk. (see note 2)
  • Add the salt and pepper.
  • Bring to a low simmer and cook for 2-3 minutes until thickened and glossy.
  • Add the heavy cream, taste and season with additional salt and pepper as needed.

Notes

  1. Depending on your butter you might need to add additional salt (and pepper) to the recipe. Finish the gravy and then taste, add extra salt and pepper until the taste sparks on your tongue.
  2. This makes a thick gravy, if you like your white gravy thinner, then add 1/4-1/2 cup more milk.

Nutrition

Calories: 156kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 35mg | Sodium: 384mg | Potassium: 132mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 436IU | Calcium: 116mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @sprinklesandsprouts or tag #sprinklesandsprouts

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Gator Lanphear says

    Jan 14th 2021 at 12:21 pm

    Trying this tomorrow… recipe says “preheat oven to 230”
    Is that to keep them warm until serving?

    Reply
    • Claire McEwen says

      Jan 14th 2021 at 10:35 pm

      Hi Gator,

      yes that is to keep them warm while you fry the next batch. I find if I try and fry all 4 at once, my oil cools down too much and the chicken gets greasy and to as crispy. So I fry in two batches and keep the first lot warm in the oven.
      Hope that helps 🙂
      Cx

      Reply
  2. Will says

    Jan 12th 2021 at 10:00 am

    5 stars
    Tried this recipe as a last minute find. Huge success. Breading is flavorful and light and the chicken was incredibly juicy

    Reply
    • Claire McEwen says

      Jan 13th 2021 at 10:18 pm

      Oh I am so pleased you enjoyed it Will. Thank you for coming back to comment 🙂 Cx

      Reply

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Claire | Sprinkles and Sprouts

I believe cooking for those you love should be stress free and simple.

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