There is nothing more comforting than a plate of country-fried chicken with creamy gravy poured over the top. But making the perfect gravy for your fried chicken can be intimidating for the novice home cook. Fear not! With this guide and only a few simple ingredients, you can make a deliciously creamy gravy that will take your fried chicken dish to the next level.
What You Need:
To make the perfect gravy for your country-fried chicken, you'll need some pantry staples as well as some fresh ingredients. Specifically, you'll need:
- flour mixture (flour, garlic powder, baking powder, and freshly ground black pepper)
- skinless chicken breast or thighs
- butter or vegetable oil
- pan drippings (from the cooked chicken)
- salt and pepper to taste
- chicken broth,
- rimmed baking sheet.
Instructions:
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Place the flour mixture in a shallow bowl or rimmed baking sheet. Dip each piece of chicken in the flour mixture until lightly coated on all sides.
- Then place each piece of floured chicken onto the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes until golden brown and cooked through.
- Once cooked, remove from oven and transfer chicken pieces to a paper towel lined plate to absorb any excess hot oil or liquid.
- Reserve 1 tablespoon of pan drippings into a small saucepan over low heat.
- Add 1 tablespoon of butter or oil if there are no drippings left in the pan. Stir until melted then add 2 tablespoons of the flour mixture into a saucepan; stir continuously until thickened and slightly golden brown (about 3 minutes).
- Add 2 cups of low-sodium chicken broth slowly while stirring continuously until smooth; bring to a boil then reduce heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes until thickened. Stir occasionally during the simmering process. Taste for seasoning and add salt & pepper if needed before serving with fried chicken pieces on top of mashed potatoes or rice.
- For an extra kick of flavor, add fresh herbs such as thyme or rosemary towards the end of cooking time; stir before serving with mashed potatoes or rice on the side!
What is chicken gravy made of?
Chicken gravy is a savory sauce made from the fat and juices that are released during the cooking process of chicken. It typically consists of drippings from fried or roasted chicken, combined with a stock (either homemade or store-bought), flour, salt, and pepper.
To make a classic southern-style fried chicken recipe, you will need:
- 4-6 boneless/skinless chicken breasts
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 cups vegetable broth (homemade or store-bought).
To begin making your tasty chicken gravy:
- Start by heating two tablespoons of olive oil in a medium skillet over medium heat.
- Once heated up, dredge each piece of chicken into the all-purpose flour mixture until it’s evenly coated on both sides.
- Add the floured pieces to the hot pan and cook for about 6 minutes per side until golden brown.
- Remove from heat and transfer cooked pieces onto paper towels to rest for 5 minutes before serving.
What is the secret of KFC gravy?
KFC’s famous gravy is perhaps one of the most iconic and beloved accompaniments to fried chicken, but few people know the secret behind its flavor. KFC's recipe for their original gravy is a closely guarded secret that has been passed down through generations of chefs, but there are some basic ingredients that we can share.
The main ingredients in KFC’s gravy include pan drippings from fried chicken (which contain the flavors from seasoning and spices used on the chicken), flour, vegetable or beef stock, and seasonings like garlic powder, onion powder, sugar, and black pepper.
The key here is to use rich stock that contains ample body-building proteins so that when combined with flour it creates a smooth tasty consistency; if using store-bought broth make sure it’s low sodium otherwise your gravy will be too salty. Once all these ingredients have been put together you can adjust seasonings to taste or add different herbs or spices like sage or thyme as desired.
Lastly, while you can serve this delicious sauce either hot or cold keep in mind that it thickens as it cools so if served later than expected add a little more stock to thin it out!
What is the difference between fried chicken and chicken fried chicken?
The primary difference between fried chicken and chicken fried chicken is that the latter is usually prepared in a similar way to a steak-like dish. Thus, it involves taking a piece of boneless skinless breast meat, coating it in an egg wash and breadcrumb mixture that typically includes seasonings such as salt and pepper, and frying it until golden brown. This type of dish is often referred to as ‘chicken fried steak’. Fried chicken, by contrast, typically uses bone-in pieces (such as legs or wings) with their original skin on. The pieces are dredged in flour or egg wash before being deep-fried until crispy on the outside. The seasonings used will vary depending on the recipe but can include herbs, garlic powder, or paprika for flavourful variations.
How do you thicken chicken juice for gravy?
The best way to thicken chicken juice for gravy is to make a roux. A roux is created by melting equal parts butter and flour in a pan or skillet, stirring until it has reached the desired consistency (generally between the stages of light blonde and golden brown). Once you have made your roux, add it to your chicken juice and stir thoroughly. The resulting mixture should be thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. You can adjust the thickness by adding more or less thickener as needed.
If you would prefer not to use butter and flour, other ingredients can be used as thickeners such as cornstarch, arrowroot powder, tapioca starch, potato starch, or all-purpose flour. Simply mix your chosen thickening agent with an equal amount of cold water until smooth; then whisk into your juices while they’re still hot on the stovetop until fully combined. Again - this will give you a much thicker gravy than if you were only using chicken juice alone!
Finally - If all else fails – Reduce your juices! Place uncovered liquid in a wide saucepan over medium-high heat and bring it up to a simmering point before reducing heat slightly so that it continues bubbling gently rather than boiling hard or furiously. Then just allow it plenty of time (20-30 minutes)to cook off some of its excess liquid content – which should result in much thicker gravy overall!
Bottom Line:
Making delicious gravy doesn't have to be intimidating! With this guide and only a few simple ingredients like garlic powder, flour mixture, cream gravy recipe, and fresh herbs like thyme, you can create a flavorful gravy that will transform any Fried Chicken dish into an unforgettable meal! So give it a try today - happy cooking!
