Introduction
Southern fried chicken gizzards are a beloved comfort food in the South. Properly cleaned, marinated, and breaded, they’re deep-fried to golden perfection for a crunchy exterior and tender, flavorful interior. Serve as a snack, appetizer, or main dish.
⏱️ Prep Time
- Preparation Time: 20 minutes
- Marinating Time: 2–4 hours (or overnight for best flavor)
- Cooking Time: 15–20 minutes
- Total Time: 2½–4½ hours
🧰 Equipment
- Large bowl for marinating
- Deep skillet or deep fryer
- Tongs or slotted spoon
- Paper towels
- Measuring cups and spoons
📝 Ingredients (Serves 4)
- 1 lb chicken gizzards, cleaned and trimmed
- 2 cups buttermilk
- 1 teaspoon hot sauce (optional)
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional, for heat)
- Vegetable oil, for frying
📌 Ingredient Notes
- Gizzards: Trim any tough connective tissue; soak in buttermilk to tenderize.
- Buttermilk: Adds tang and helps coating stick.
- Spices: Adjust heat and seasoning to taste.
👩🍳 Instructions
- Marinate Gizzards
- Place cleaned gizzards in a large bowl.
- Pour buttermilk over gizzards, add hot sauce if using, and mix.
- Cover and refrigerate 2–4 hours or overnight.
- Prepare Breading
- In a shallow bowl, combine flour, salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika, and cayenne.
- Heat Oil
- Heat 2–3 inches of oil in a deep skillet or fryer to 350°F (175°C).
- Bread Gizzards
- Remove gizzards from buttermilk, letting excess drip off.
- Dredge in seasoned flour, pressing lightly to coat evenly.
- Fry Gizzards
- Fry in batches for 6–8 minutes until golden brown and crispy.
- Remove with tongs and drain on paper towels.
- Serve
- Serve hot with your favorite dipping sauce (ranch, hot sauce, or honey mustard).
🧾 Nutrition Facts (Approx. per 4 oz serving)
- Calories: 300 kcal
- Protein: 22 g
- Fat: 20 g
- Carbohydrates: 8 g
- Sodium: 550 mg
💡 Tips
- Soaking in buttermilk tenderizes gizzards and reduces bitterness.
- Fry in small batches to maintain oil temperature.
- For extra crispiness, double-dredge in flour.
🔄 Variations
- Spicy Southern: Add extra cayenne or hot paprika to flour mixture.
- Oven-Fried: Bake at 400°F (200°C) on a wire rack for 20–25 minutes, flipping halfway.
- Garlic Parmesan: Toss fried gizzards with garlic powder and grated Parmesan.
- Honey-Glazed: Drizzle fried gizzards with honey and serve as a sweet-savory snack.
