Step by Step Cast Iron Skillet Fried Chicken and Gravy
Good old fashioned pan fried chicken. With creamy white chicken gravy. A step - by - step.
Servings 8
Calories 508kcal
Ingredients
- 1 chicken cut into pieces
- 1/2 cup Crisco enough to cover the chicken pieces half way up
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 cups flour for dredging chicken
- For the gravy:
- 3 tablespoons drippings oil from the fried chicken
- 3 tablespoons flour
- 1 cup milk
- 1/2 cup starchy water from boiling potatoes
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- 3 hours before frying chicken, place chicken pieces in a large bowl of water that's been heavily salted. Drain chicken pieces and pat dry with paper towels. Place flour on a plate and dredge chicken pieces until well coated.
- Melt Crisco in a deep sided cast iron skillet or large fry pan. When oil reaches around 375 degrees start placing the floured chicken pieces in the hot oil. Cook until well browned, checkin pieces.
- As soon as the pieces start to brown, turn them and cook on the other side until well browned. When done, turn down heat to medium and cover with lid. Cook about 2 minutes just to make sure chicken is cooked through.
- Use a digital read thermometer to make sure the internal temperature of the chicken has reached 165 degrees.
- Remove pieces to a paper towel and tent with foil.
- For the Gravy: Drain oil from pan so that about 3 tablespoons remain. Return to medium heat and add flour to oil. Cook 2 - 3 minutes or until flour is starting to turn color. If the mixture seems thin, add a bit more flour. Add milk and starchy water from the potatoes you've cooked. Let it bubble until thickened. Add more milk if necessary to get that gravy consistency.
Notes
- Tips for Success
- Before placing the raw chicken into the hot oil in the pan, make sure it's hot enough. If it's not, the chicken will absorb the oil which will keep it from getting nice and crispy. Don't have a digital read thermometer? You can also sprinkle a bit of flour in the pan before adding the chicken, if it sizzles I know it's ready.
- Don't purchase "factory farmed" chicken. This individual pieces of chicken will be too large, making it hard to fit in the pan, and making it hard to get cooked through. Choose a chicken from a small smaller company like Red Bird Farms. Responsible companies such as this, don't use methods to grow over-sized birds for harvest.
Nutrition
Calories: 508kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 34g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 79mg | Sodium: 90mg | Potassium: 254mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 183IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 50mg | Iron: 2mg