22 Best Black Folks Soul Food Southern Chicken Recipes
This post may contain affiliate partner links. View our privacy statement HERE.
Soul food chicken recipes – Many people associate soul food with Southern comfort food and the South.
But soul food goes way beyond Southern cooking.
What makes a dish authentic soul food?
‘Soul’ is the word used to describe the swag and unique style of African-American cuisine. You know. The flavor.
It’s hearty homecooked meals which you can point out by dishes with plenty of seasoning and rich with flavor! That’s authentic soul food, passed along through generations and a legacy of African Americans. Black folks!
Black folks’ chicken recipes
A perfect example of soul food is Black folks’ chicken recipes.
Chicken, especially fried chicken, is a food that’s been thrown on the doorsteps of Black folks as food to identify us. But, of course, you know, African Americans didn’t invent chicken, LOL! We just perfected seasoning it!
There’s no denying that chicken with a balance of seasoned tender meat on the inside and flavorful skin on the outside is a soul food specialty.
What makes a soul food chicken recipe?
Most soul food is Southern. But not all Southern food is soul food.
Here’s how you can tell if a Southern chicken recipe is, in fact, a soul food chicken recipe:
A flavorful dish with tender, juicy, seasoned chicken as the star of the entree.
Yep – that’s a Black folks’ soul food chicken recipe!
Bored with your regular chicken dinner recipes?
Try these!
So the next time someone asks you what soul food is.
Tell them to start here!
With the best Black folks’ soul food chicken recipes!
22 Best Black folks soul food Southern chicken recipes
Can you make Southern fried chicken in your Instant Pot?
What should you serve with these soul food chicken recipes?
Macaroni noodles boiled in a milk bath tossed in a creamy cheese sauce, seasoned, and then baked until brown and crispy around the edges!
Made from the highest quality ingredients available – buttery homemade cornbread, fresh sour cream laden with melt-in-your-mouth Parmesan cheese!
This Southern dish is made of fluffy cornbread, fresh herbs, and veggies cooked with plenty of butter, broth, and egg.
Tired of bland green beans all the time?
Instant Pot Southern green beans recipe brings life back to this boring dish! In just 2 minutes, these soul food seasoned veggies are ready for your dinner table!
Brown sugar-glazed carrots are the simplest way to get your guests to say, “Wow.” Just add some thyme, salt, pepper, chicken stock, and butter to bring out the best of this vegetable! You’ll be like, “Wow, carrots! I didn’t know you had that in you!”
It doesn’t get more southern than creamed corn! That’s why Southern creamed corn is a nostalgic dish. The essence of warmth and home cooking.
A Black folks’ Southern cabbage recipe is a delicious way to enjoy one of the South’s favorite side dishes that’s warm and sweet with savory soul food flavors!
Without a doubt, Black folks’ collard greens are one of the most flavorful and hearty vegetables on earth! Simply put – it’s like eating Black excellence.
Fall in love with something new this year – Black folks Southern candied yams! These sweet babies are perfect for winter or fall. A side dish – kinda like a Southern dessert!
Is it a dessert or a side dish? Let these delicious Black folks baked apples be the conversation starter at your next soul food feast!
Who has the best mashed potatoes? This Black folks creamy mashed potatoes recipe is the best I’ve ever had & my family’s favorite too!
Best soul food Southern chicken recipes FAQs
What is the secret to good fried chicken?
The answer is soul food Southern fried chicken. A recipe that Black folks created and perfected!
What is the difference between fried chicken and Southern fried chicken?
Surprisingly, the answer doesn’t have anything to do with how either batch of chicken looks.
Simply put, the difference between fried chicken and Southern fried chicken is in the flavor.
Here’s how you can tell if a batch of fried chicken (chicken battered in flour) is a Southern soul food recipe (chicken battered in a seasoned flour mixture):
Crunchy flavorful outside with juicy, seasoned tender meat inside.
Yep – that’s a Black folks’ soul food Southern fried chicken recipe!
Which part of chicken should you use for this Black folks soul food Southern fried chicken recipe?
You can use whatever chicken pieces you like. Whole chicken, half, or just your favorite parts of the chicken – chicken wings, legs, chicken breast, chicken thighs, or drumsticks.
Pro tips:
- Some Southern cooks like to use a baking dish or a large bowl to separate the dark meat and white meat. They dredge the dark meat first, fry, and then dredge the remaining chicken (the white meat) and fry.
- What else can you use to season the flour? Other Southern fried chicken recipes even call for cornstarch to thicken the batter for extra crunch or hot sauce for more heat!
- You may also consider a buttermilk brine or buttermilk marinade to tenderize the chicken before frying.
What do you serve with soul food Southern fried chicken?
Several soul food recipes are favorites when serving Southern fried chicken. From baked macaroni and cheese to creamy mashed potatoes or fried cabbage, or collard greens. And for dessert, Black folks Southern banana pudding, Black folks Southern peach cobbler recipe, or Southern red velvet cake!
What sauce goes with Black folks soul food Southern fried chicken?
Whether it’s for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or an afternoon snack, one of these condiments is sure to be a favorite when it comes to Southern fried chicken.
- Hot sauce
- Ranch dressing
- Pure honey
- Honey mustard
- Ketchup
- BBQ sauce
What is the use of a deep fryer?
Deep fryers are a wonderful invention that can make your life so much easier. You can quickly and easily use them indoors or outdoors to fry foods like Southern fried chicken in deep oils at high temperatures.
At what temperature do you cook soul food fried chicken?
The temperature to maintain the hot oil when deep-frying this Black folks soul food Southern fried chicken recipe is 350 degrees F.
Do air fryers work for soul food Southern fried chicken?
The answer is yes, and you won’t believe how good and crispy chicken can taste when it’s made in an air fryer!
What is Southern-style baked chicken?
It’s a recipe packed with soulful Southern flavors and savory spices. This recipe is always a family favorite!
What do you serve with oven-roasted chicken pieces?
Roasted chicken pairs well with almost anything, which is why chicken just might be the most versatile type of meat. Serve with rice or vegetables like carrots and cabbage.
Soul food and Southern specialty dishes like cornbread, soul food coleslaw, Southern baked mac and cheese, casseroles, and heirloom tomato watermelon salad also pair well with this Southern chicken recipe.
What can you season the chicken with?
Mix Famous Dave’s seasoning and a roasted garlic & herb spice in a small bowl to create a soul food spice rub for the chicken.
How do you make chicken flavorful?
Along with a soul food seasoning mix, I highly recommend marinating your chicken in buttermilk for extraordinarily moist and flavorful chickn.
Buttermilk is a secret ingredient to making chicken that’s soft, tender, and more flavorful when seasoned.
How do you cook smothered chicken?
Smothered chicken involves tender and juicy chicken pieces smothered in a creamy gravy medley after it’s seasoned with a combination of sensational soul food spices.
What’s your favorite chicken recipe to make in the Instant Pot?
My favorite is a soul food Southern dish that you shouldn’t miss this Thanksgiving or Christmas. Black folks chicken and dressing!
What do you think of these recipes?
With so many African American soul food recipes to choose from, what’s your favorite?
Did you enjoy this ultimate Southern deviled eggs recipe?
Have you had it?
Would you make it?
Comment below and lemme know.
Then subscribe HERE for all the soul food!
Like this post? Pin the below image to your Pinterest “Soul Food Recipes” board!
Ingredients
- 6-8 pieces chicken 6-8 pieces of chicken, or one 3-pound chicken cut into pieces
- 48 oz peanut oil or vegetable oil
- 2 cups all-purpose flour divided
- 1 ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 1 ½ teaspoon paprika
- ¾ teaspoon red pepper
- 1 tablespoon poultry seasoning or all-purpose seasoning
- 1 ½ teaspoon salt
- ¾ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 egg
- ½ cup buttermilk ½ cup of buttermilk = ½ cup of milk & ½ tablespoon of apple cider vinegar
Instructions
- Mix the poultry seasoning, salt, and pepper in a small bowl.
- Rub the seasoning mixture all over each piece of chicken.
- Pour the peanut oil (preferred) or vegetable oil into a deep fryer, 6-quart skillet, or Dutch oven until the oil is 1-inch deep.
- Heat the oil over medium heat or until it reaches 350 degrees F.
- While you’re waiting for the oil to heat up, place 1 cup of the divided flour, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and red pepper in a medium-size mixing bowl or 1-gallon resealable food storage bag.
- Shake (or mix) the sealed bag to combine the ingredients for a homemade poultry seasoning, and set the flour mixture aside.
- Pour the second cup of flour into a second resealable bag (or medium-sized mixing bowl) and set it aside.
- In another medium-sized bowl, whisk together the buttermilk and egg, and set that mixture aside too.
- The chicken will go through a 3-step process from here.
- First, place the chicken in the bag (or bowl) of seasoned flour and shake or toss to coat the chicken evenly.
- Second, shake off the excess flour and dip the chicken into the buttermilk mixture.
- Third, transfer the chicken to the last bag (or bowl) of flour and shake or toss until it’s very well coated.
- Place the coated chicken into the pre-heated oil, skin-side down, and be careful not to overcrowd the chicken in the oil. You can fry a second batch if need be to avoid overcrowding by frying all the chicken at once. Just make sure the hot oil remains at 350 degrees F.
- Cook the chicken pieces for 10 to 12 minutes, occasionally turning to prevent excessive browning.
- As the chicken batter turns golden brown, remove it from the hot oil, and allow it to drain in a closed container (to keep the fried chicken warm) with a paper towel under the chicken.
- Serve soul food Southern fried chicken right away, and enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Some Southern cooks like to use a baking sheet or a large bowl to separate the dark meat and white meat. They dredge the dark meat first, fry, and then dredge the remaining chicken (the white meat) and fry.
- What else can you use to season the flour? Other than a sprinkle of salt and pepper, some Southern fried chicken recipes even call for cornstarch to thicken the batter for extra crunch or hot sauce for more heat!
- You may also consider a buttermilk brine or buttermilk marinade to tenderize the chicken before frying.
