Top 12 Southern American Chicken Dishes

The most popular food of the Southern cuisine, fried chicken is the theme of many arguments where everyone involved seems to have a favorite, be it what their mothers used to make, a cult roadside eatery, or a bygone restaurant. However, it is universally agreed that the meat must be moist, succulent, and tender, coated with a crunchy, golden-brown crust. It all started during the colonization period, when Scottish immigrants settled in the South, bringing their fried chicken recipes along. The African slaves then introduced new seasonings and spices, and the dish quickly gained popularity. Typical seasonings include salt, pepper, and hot chiles, and the pieces of meat should be edible by hand so that the consumer can bite both the crust and the meat at the same time. The birds must be fresh and smaller in size, as the meat will be much more tender and the proportion of crust to meat will be perfectly balanced. Once the chicken parts are hot, crispy, and ready to be consumed, they are traditionally accompanied by buttered biscuits, Southern potato salad, mashed potatoes, or cream gravy on the side.Expand

Hot chicken is a signature dish of Nashville, Tennessee, traditionally consisting of chicken parts that are fried in cayenne pepper paste until they develop a rusty red color. It is usually served on slices of white bread with sliced pickles or coleslaw on the side. The dish was invented in the 1930s by a man named Thornton Prince, who was a notorious womanizer. One of Prince's girlfriends was mad at him, so she made him chicken for breakfast and added the spiciest ingredients that she could find, in hopes that Prince will hate the dish, but her plan backfired and Prince loved it so much that he even took it to his brothers, who shared his positive emotions. The chicken dish has then been brought over to Prince's Hot Chicken Shack, a restaurant owned by the brothers. What began as an act of revenge is now considered a staple of late-night dining in Nashville, and the dish became so popular in recent years that it can also be found in Atlanta, New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia.Expand

Popcorn chicken is a dish consisting of tiny, bite-sized pieces of chicken that have been breaded or battered and deep-fried. The name of the dish refers to the small pieces of chicken that are reminiscent of popcorn after they have been fried. The dish has been popular in the American South for centuries, since the small chicken pieces were easy to prepare and pack into lunchboxes. It is believed that the dish originated with slaves who often had to use every single bit of meat, so smaller pieces of chicken were usually fried together, and chicken bite dishes were born. In the early 1990s, a fast-food chain restaurant called KFC introduced popcorn chicken to their menus, and the dish remained a trademarked staple of KFC until today.Expand

Chicken and dumplings is an American dish consisting of water-cooked chicken and dumplings made from flour, shortening, and liquid. The dumplings are usually cooked in the leftover chicken broth after the meat has been cooked. The dish was originally prepared during the Great Depression as a way to stretch a small amount of meat that would feed many people.Expand

Chicken bog is a traditional dish originating from South Carolina. Although there are numerous variations on the dish, its three staples include chicken, sausage, and rice. A traditional recipe from the Loris Chamber of Commerce lists the following ingredients: water, salt, onions, chicken, long-grain white rice, smoked sausage, chicken bouillon, and Italian-style seasonings. The name of the dish is believed to come from its wetness, but some claim that it might come from the bogginess of the region of its origin. In Loris, chicken bog has been prepared at the Loris Bog-Off Festival since 1979. The dish is ideal for large gatherings with family and friends.Expand

Chicken sauce piquante is an American dish originating from Louisiana. It consists of chicken doused in a spicy gravy. Typical ingredients used in its preparation include flour, chicken, oil, onions, celery, bell peppers, tomatoes, jalapeños, garlic, chicken stock, and Tabasco sauce. The chicken is often seasoned with a combination of black and white pepper, thyme, garlic powder, and onion powder. It is fried and then simmered in the spicy gravy until tender. Chicken sauce piquante is said to taste the best when served over white rice.Expand

Creole baked chicken is a traditional dish originating from Louisiana. It's made with a combination of chicken breasts, drumsticks, or both. The meat is seasoned with paprika, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. After they've been marinated, the chicken pieces are mixed with butter and baked in the oven. After some time, the meat is broiled until the meat becomes nice and crispy. The dish is usually served accompanied by rice and okra.Expand

Chicken Maryland is an American dish that is basically a combination of Southern fried chicken and cream gravy. The gravy is usually made with a mixture of flour, chicken stock, heavy cream, salt, and pepper. Although there is no definitive recipe, it is still debated whether the chicken should be rolled in flour, dipped in batter, or dipped in eggs and breadcrumbs. Even the famous Escoffier had a recipe for chicken a la Maryland in his book called Ma Cuisine. In England, the dish is prepared with battered chicken pieces that are fried and served with a corn pancake and battered and fried pineapples and bananas on the side, while in Australia the term chicken Maryland refers to a whole chicken leg with thigh and drumsticks.Expand

Chicken Creole is a traditional dish originating from the Southern states. The dish is made with a combination of chicken breasts, onions, green peppers, celery, tomatoes, chicken broth, tomato paste, pepper, salt, garlic, rice, and herbs such as oregano, thyme, marjoram, and basil. The meat is sautéed with the onions, peppers, and celery, then simmered with the tomatoes, broth, tomato paste, and seasonings. Once done, the dish is garnished with parsley and served over white rice. Chicken Creole is often accompanied by Tabasco sauce, bread, or a fresh salad on the side.Expand

Alabama white wings is a traditional dish originating from Alabama. The dish consists of barbecued chicken wings and a white barbecue sauce. The tangy sauce is based on mayonnaise and additional ingredients such as apple cider vinegar, garlic powder, cayenne, salt, white pepper, horseradish, and honey. The wings are typically dry-rubbed with a mixture of salt, sugar, paprika, onion powder white pepper, cayenne, garlic powder, and chili powder before they're grilled to perfection. They're served immediately, with the white dipping sauce on the side or poured over the wings.Expand