Southern Fried Chicken is a must when growing up in the south. This recipe is really easy to make with delicious results!
Jump to RecipeGrowing up in the South, fried chicken is a must. But until recently, I never knew how to make it myself. I try not to eat too many fried foods, but I couldn’t pass this up. Justin’s grandma makes her own fried chicken recipe, and it’s super simple but delicious!
When she made it for us a couple of months ago, I was amazed at how easy it can be to make southern fried chicken. I’m sure this is one of those foods that has a hundred ways to make it, too. So this recipe is a family recipe. Don’t worry, I’ve gotten permission to share. When she makes the chicken, she also uses the leftover oil to make a gravy, so I’ve included that in this recipe.
We made it for dinner earlier this week, and both the boys actually ate it! I typically think of comfort foods when I think of fried chicken, so we made it with some mashed potatoes and biscuits…. all things that you can slather with the gravy sauce!!
I have made this with a split chicken breast, regular chicken breast, and drumsticks. It works for any part of the chicken. I prefer white meat, so I like using chicken breasts. Justin prefers dark meat, so drumsticks were his idea. The boys haven’t noticed a difference, so they will eat either.
Southern Fried Chicken Step by Step
Ingredients
Chicken
- 2.5 lbs chicken drumsticks
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp pepper
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 cups oil (depending on size of pan and chicken)
Gravy
- 4 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 2 cups milk
- 1 tsp pepper
Preparation
Chicken
In a large skillet, pour enough oil to cover about 1/3 of a large skillet. I find I usually need about 1-2 cups of oil. Set the heat to medium-high.
Salt and pepper the chicken on all sides.
Pour the flour into a large mixing bowl. Coat the chicken in flour.
Place the chicken in the oil, cover the pan, and cook it for about 15-20 minutes. By this time, the chicken should be golden brown on the bottom.
Flip the chicken and cook, covered, for another 15-20 minutes. Make sure the bottom is also golden brown.
Gravy
Carefully scoop 1/4 cup of the oil from the pan with the chicken and place it in a medium saucepan. Heat the pan over medium heat. Add the flour, milk, and pepper for the gravy. Whisk until it’s combined and there are no more lumps.
Serve the chicken with the gravy.
Southern Fried Chicken Leftovers
Storage: The best way to store leftovers is in two separate airtight containers. Keep the chicken in one container and the gravy in another. They can be refrigerated for up to 2-3 days.
Reheating: This chicken is really good cold the next day. But if you want to reheat it, for best results cook it in an oven at 350F for about 5-10 minutes, until warmed through. The gravy can be reheated in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring often, for about 5 minutes or until warmed through.
Recipe
Originally Published On: January 19, 2019
Last Updated On: July 25, 2023
Southern Fried Chicken with Gravy Sauce
Ingredients
- 2.5 lbs chicken drumsticks
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp pepper
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 cups oil (depending on size of pan and chicken)
- 4 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 2 cups milk
- 1 tsp pepper
Recommended Equipment
Instructions
- In a large skillet, pour enough oil to cover about 1/3 of a large skillet over medium-high heat
- Salt and pepper the chicken on all sides
- Pour the flour into a large mixing bowl
- Coat the chicken in flour until it is well covered
- Place the chicken in the oil, cover the pan, and cook it for about 15-20 minutes
- Flip the chicken and cook, covered, for another 15-20 minutes
- Carefully scoop 1/4 cup of the oil from the pan with the chicken and place it in a medium saucepan
- Heat the pan over medium heat
- Add the flour, milk, and pepper for the gravy, whisking until it’s combined and there are no more lumps
- Serve the chicken with the gravy
Notes
All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutrition content will vary based on brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes, and more.
Other Fried Food Recipes
- Fried Chicken and Waffles
- Southern Fried Chicken with Gravy Sauce
- Creamy Buttermilk Chicken-Fried Chicken
- Fried Tilapia Sandwich
- Pan-Fried Pork Chops with Easy Brown Gravy
- Crispy Fried Mozzarella Cakes Recipe with Fresh Cheese
- Fried Eggs Over-Hard Recipe
- Chicken Schnitzel
- Salmon Cakes with Buttermilk Sauce
- Potato-Crusted Pork Chops
- Parmesan-Crusted Chicken with Balsamic Ketchup
- Homemade Chicken Tenders
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I love fried chicken and I make it all the time. I’ve never tried doing it with a split chicken breast, I’ve only ever used cuts on the bone. I gotta try it that way!
The split chicken breast is a bit harder to work with since it’s so big, but it makes a delicious fried chicken.
Oh my goodness! I am really going to have to make this! Everyone in my house loves fried chicken!!! Saving this!!
It’s so good, and so simple to get a delicious fried chicken!
Oh, yum!! I’m actually making something similar right this moment and seeing how you made your gravy was a huge help.
Thanks, Susan, I’m so glad I could help! I hope yours was delicious!
Omg yum! I absolutely love fried chicken and gravy! We recently tried this hole in the wall near the house and it made me love southern food so much more!
Sometimes those restaurants are the best! We have a few good ones near me, too.
All of it looks delicious and I bet it tasted even better. Perfect meal for a cold winter dinner.
It’s so good. I was worried it would be plain since there isn’t a lot of added flavor but it was perfect.
I think no one can passs on that haha. It seems delicious. I’ve had fried food before and this would be good opportunity to try something different, thank you for sharing!
Fried food is a staple here in the south where I grew up.
Aww, recipes passed down from grandmamas like this one are the best! Thanks for sharing Justin’s family’s treasure with us! 🙂
They really are! We have quite a few family recipes on here now between both of our families.
Chicken is one of my favorite foods. So whatever recipe contains chicken is a must for me. Really wanna try your family recipe, looks so tasty!
We love chicken here and eat it often, too. It’s so versatile and I know we will all eat it.
I’m quite positive I’ve never ever made fried chicken in my life! but this just gave me a good idea!
Oh my goodness girl, you are missing out! It’s so good and a staple here in the southern US.
Incredibly good! I love fried chicken and gravy and this was an easy recipe.
Thanks! I’m glad you enjoyed it 🙂
Ooh…this looks delicious. I am such a sucker for anything with gravy! I’m going to have to try this one!
Having gravy or any kind of sauce is the best! It tends to help kids eat it, too, since it’s more fun that way 🙂
This looks really good! I love chicken with gravy. I want to try to make this at home soon.
Gravy makes everything better 🙂
I miss eating Southern fried chicken. Maybe because I don’t eat a lot of KFC here (which is the closest thing to American fried chicken but not southern fried chicken). We have fried chicken here in Japan but it is different (and Nagoya has a different kick of chicken drumstick called tebasaki which is a miso-based paste). I try to make these southern fried chicken drumsticks!
Oh man, I would miss it, too! You’re right, KFC just isn’t the same as having true southern fried chicken.
Southern cooking at its finest! There’s nothing like some tasty gravy to complement a meal.
I completely agree, the gravy is what makes this so much better.