3 delicious old-fashioned country fried chicken recipes from the '50s - Click Americana (2024)

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Country-fried chicken cooks up golden right in your oven (1958)

From The Atlanta Constitution (Atlanta, Georgia) May 9, 1958

This new version of fried chicken uses yellow cornmeal to add a beautiful golden color and pleasantly crispy crust to each piece of chicken.

Dip the pieces of chicken first in evaporated milk, then in the cornmeal. The evaporated milk will help the cornmeal cling to the chicken in an even coating, which in turn produces an even crust and the best browning. Then you can “fry” the chicken in the oven, a simplified method where the chicken browns and cooks with only one turning.

Creamy giblet gravy is just about irresistible along with chicken and biscuits. The giblets will cook in the time the chicken is in the oven, and be ready to go into the rich creamy gravy.

Country fried chicken recipe

1 frying chicken, cut in pieces
1/3 cup flour
1/3 cup yellow cornmeal
1/2 tsp. salt
1/3 cup evaporated milk
1/4 cup butter

Wipe pieces of chicken thoroughly. Mix flour, cornmeal and salt in a pie plate.

Dip chicken pieces in evaporated milk, then in cornmeal mixture. Meanwhile, melt butter in baking dish (11-3/4 x 7-1/2 x 1-3/4 inches) in hot oven (400 degrees).

Place chicken pieces in one layer, skin side down, in baking dish. Bake for one half hour, then turn skin side up and bake until done, about one half hour longer.

Creamy giblet gravy

3 tbsps. butter
3 tbsps. flour
1 cup chicken broth
1 cup evaporated milk
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
Chicken giblets, wing tips and back
1/2 bay leaf
Parsley or celery leaves, or both

Simmer giblets (except the liver), wing tips and back of chicken along with bay leaf, parsley and celery leaves in water to cover until tender, about 1 hour. Add liver during last 15 minutes of cooking.

Drain, saving broth. Discard bay leaf, parsley, and celery leaves. Cut giblets into small pieces.

Melt butter in a small saucepan. Remove from heat and stir in flour. Add chicken broth, then evaporated milk and seasonings. Cook and stir until hot and thickened. Stir in giblets. Serve immediately.

3 delicious old-fashioned country fried chicken recipes from the '50s - Click Americana (1)

Pan-fried chicken as you like it (1956)

From The News-Review (Roseburg, Oregon) April 19, 1956

PAN-FRIED CHICKEN is a tempting dish for a dinner party, picnic or any Sunday dinner. For variation, serve it with hot mustard sauce made with the recipe below.

Time-favored pan-fried chicken is a recipe that really merits its popularity. It’s versatile and easy to prepare and is as much at home at a dinner party as it is on a picnic or at the family table.

Good friend chicken begins with the selection of plump young chickens of frying tenderness, so when buying, remember to select only top quality chicken that is tagged by brand as a buying guide.

Today, there’s no problem in finding the style or size chicken you need. Frying chickens are available in a wide range of sizes and may be purchased frozen, fresh, whole, or in cut-up styles.

Pan-frying is probably one of the most popular and easiest methods of preparing chicken. The “trick” in getting tempting, crisp-tender pieces without standing over the pan is to brown each piece well on one side in a heavy skillet containing enough hot shortening to make a layer of fat 44-inch deep.

Simply put the flour-coated chicken, skin side down, in the pan and allow to brown over moderate heat. for about 15 minutes. Then, turn the chicken cover tightly, and cook slowly for about 30 to 40 minutes or until chicken is tender. This gives you beautifully browned pieces with only one turning and a minimum of watching.

For home or party service, serve the golden pieces hot on a warmed platter or tray. For a backyard picnic, you may want to fry the chicken carly and store it in the refrigerator until serving time. Then, serve it cold, with a hot mustard sauce.

Here are easy directions for Pan-fried chicken and the recipe for hot mustard sauce.

Pan-fried chicken

1 chicken for frying
1 cup flour
2 teaspoons salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
2 teaspoons paprika
1/2 cup butter or margarine
Shortening

Have chicken cut into serving pieces, or if Quick-Frozen, thaw according to directions on the box. Rinse in cold water, and drain. Dip chicken pieces in a mixture of flour, salt, pepper, and paprika.

Heat the butter and enough shortening in a heavy skillet to make a layer of fat ‘42-inch deep. With kitchen tongs place floured chicken in hot fat, skin side down. Brown and turn. Cover tightly.

Reduce heat and cook slowly about 30 to 40 minutes or until chicken is tender. To crisp the crust, remove the cover and cook § to 10 minutes longer.

Hot mustard sauce

Yield: 1 pint sauce

1 – 10-1/2 oz. can of cream of mushroom soup
1/2 cup milk
1 tablespoon prepared mustard
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

Combine soup, milk, prepared mustard in a saucepan. Cook over low heat until hot. Add Worcestershire sauce. Serve hot with cold fried chicken, steaks, chops or franks.

3 delicious old-fashioned country fried chicken recipes from the '50s - Click Americana (2)

Here’s how to make this country fried chicken recipe (1955)

Nothing is so “Sunday Special” as this succulent country fried chicken

3 delicious old-fashioned country fried chicken recipes from the '50s - Click Americana (3)

Good old-fashioned country fried chicken recipe

Yield: Serves 4

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes

Total Time: 55 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup flour
  • 1-1/2 teaspoons salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon paprika
  • 3-lb broiler-fryer, cut in pieces
  • 1/2 cup hom*ogenized Spry [shortening]
  • 1 tablespoon chopped onion
  • 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 cup light cream

Instructions

  1. Put first 4 ingredients in paper bag. Put 2 pieces of chicken at a time in bag and shake to coat evenly. Save remaining flour for gravy.
  2. Fry chicken in hot shortening in skillet over medium-high heat until golden on both sides. Sprinkle onion and parsley over chicken, add water.
  3. Cover and cook over low heat until tender (about 1/2 hour).
  4. Remove chicken to hot platter, pour off all but 3 tablespoons of drippings.
  5. Stir in 3 tablespoons of the remaining flour mixture and brown. Add milk and cream; stir and cook until thickened. If desired, add 1/2 pound mushrooms, sliced and sauteed, to gravy.
Nutrition Information:

Yield: 4Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 205Total Fat: 13gSaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 40mgSodium: 870mgCarbohydrates: 17gFiber: 1gSugar: 2gProtein: 6g

Click Americana offers approximate nutrition information as a general reference only, and we make no warranties regarding its accuracy. Please make any necessary calculations based on the actual ingredients used in your recipe, and consult with a qualified healthcare professional if you have dietary concerns.

3 delicious old-fashioned country fried chicken recipes from the '50s - Click Americana (7)

Spry makes the difference!

Here’s why: Spry is completely pure! It’s the purest shortening money can buy. That means when you fry chicken in hom*ogenized Spry, there’s never any “off” flavor or odor to take away from the delicate flavor of the chicken itself. Spry captures and seals in the fresh chicken flavor… doesn’t hide it as other shortenings do.

ALSO SEE5 classic oven-fried chicken recipes from the '30s

Your chicken fries to a bright golden hue, and takes on a crispy crust that has the most delicious and delicate flavor. And because Spry itself is digestible, everything you fry in this pure all-vegetable shortening is as completely digestible as if you had baked or broiled it!

3 delicious old-fashioned country fried chicken recipes from the '50s - Click Americana (8)

3 delicious old-fashioned country fried chicken recipes from the '50s - Click Americana (2024)

FAQs

Which is the best fried chicken in the world? ›

Kentucky Fried Chicken is undoubtedly the most well-known fried chicken restaurant, with over 25,000 KFC outlets in more than 145 countries and territories around the world.

What is Southern style chicken? ›

Fried chicken, also known as Southern fried chicken, is a dish consisting of chicken pieces that have been coated with seasoned flour or batter and pan-fried, deep fried, pressure fried, or air fried. The breading adds a crisp coating or crust to the exterior of the chicken while retaining juices in the meat.

Who made the first fried chicken recipe? ›

You may be surprised to learn that it is much older than you think! The first recipe developed around fried chicken was published in 1747 by English cook Hannah Glasse. Yet fried chicken has been around for thousands of years. Their countries of origin include China, the Middle East, and West Africa.

What is the most delicious chicken in the world? ›

Today the poulet de Bresse has the reputation of being the best quality table chicken in the world. The chef Georges Blanc, who is from Bourg-en-Bresse, has been president of the Comité Interprofessionnel de la Volaille de Bresse, the association which oversees the product, since 1986.

What is the oldest fried chicken? ›

Though Randolph's recipe helped popularise fried chicken for Southern white cooks, an even older recipe appearing in a 1747 British cookbook, The Art of Cookery Made Plain and Easy, may have pioneered it – only it's not actually called “fried chicken”.

What is the secret to good fried chicken? ›

The secret to succulent fried chicken starts with a marinade or brine, which keeps the chicken at its peak juiciness. Fried chicken traditionalists generally choose a buttermilk marinade while others swear by a brine, which is a mixture of sugar, salt and sometimes spices dissolved into water.

What makes fried chicken taste so good? ›

It's all about that crunch

Done properly, deep-frying creates a satisfying contrast between the crispy-crunchy coating and tender chicken. Beyond that simple textural enjoyment, the crispness actually sends our brain a message that the food itself is in good condition.

What oil is best for fried chicken? ›

Canola Oil

Benefits: With a high smoke point and neutral flavor, canola oil is excellent for frying chicken. As an added bonus, it has high levels of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, which makes it healthier than other options.

Is it better to fry chicken in buttermilk or egg? ›

Buttermilk Is More Than A Better Coating

This acidic nature also helps lightly tenderize the meat, creating an even juicier, more succulent texture. Even a few minutes of soaking in buttermilk (or resting after breading) can make a big difference.

What does buttermilk do to chicken? ›

What effect does buttermilk have on chicken? Buttermilk is slightly acidic, so as the chicken marinates, the buttermilk breaks down the proteins in the chicken, tenderising it. Its thicker texture helps completely coat the chicken in the spiced flour mixture so it crisps up well when fried.

What does Louisiana style chicken mean? ›

There are a few variations of Louisiana Chicken and this is a Creole-style version. Chicken pieces are sautéed and joined with a delicious blend of tomatoes, peppers, onion, garlic, spices and seasonings, and a touch of Tabasco sauce. This dish is made in one pan making for a very easy cleanup after the meal.

How did slaves make fried chicken? ›

The African twist to fried chicken

So, the slaves, who had come from Africa and were already aware of frying and chicken, started seasoning the meat with paprika and other imported West African spices before frying it in hot palm oil. And because of the abundant scarps, there was always an abundant fried chicken.

What is the white seasoning on fried chicken? ›

The white seasoning used on fried chicken typically includes a combination of ingredients such as salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and sometimes a hint of paprika. These ingredients work together to create a savory and flavorful coating for the chicken.

Why did slaves make fried chicken? ›

Chicken dishes were popular among enslaved people before the US Civil War, as chickens were generally the only animals enslaved people were allowed to raise on their own.

Is Popeyes or KFC better? ›

Popeyes beats KFC at every level – flavor, presentation, and brand experience. It's easy to see why Popeyes is stealing market share from KFC. Popeyes, hands down, is giving consumers a better product than KFC, with the prices virtually the same on most menu items.

Which country is famous for fried chicken? ›

Many think of the United States as the birthplace of fried chicken (though, some historians disagree), and it's easy to see why.

What state has the best fried chicken? ›

LOUISIANA: Heard Dat Kitchen in New Orleans. "Loved this place! The fried chicken was so juicy and the mac and cheese was one of the best I've ever had. And the bread pudding... OMG!

Which country makes best chicken? ›

Chicken: Which country does it best?
  • Portugal: Peri-Peri Chicken.
  • Jamaica: Jerk Chicken.
  • England: Roast Chicken.
  • American South: Southern-Fried Chicken.
  • Australia: Barbecue Chicken.
Feb 24, 2023

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