Fried Chicken Gizzard

Probably your thoughts are screaming, “What the heck is gizzard? Is it even edible?” Yes! It is very edible and surprisingly delicious and tasty.

My son particularly loves these fried chicken gizzards and keeps snacking on them even after finishing his lunch. Well, I really can’t blame him because they’re really addicting. 😉

What is Chicken Gizzard?

Did you know that in Africa, it “used to be” highly valuable and reserved only for the head of the house, that’s how special chicken gizzards are.

So, what are gizzards? A gizzard is a tough muscle that’s part of the digestive tract of a chicken. It can also be found on some animals like ducks, fish, and crustaceans.

And since it’s a tough muscle, you need to cook it the right way so it will not end up hard and gummy.

What Does Gizzard Taste Like?

People are usually skeptical about this underdog as it is simply snubbed since it’s one of those “miscellaneous parts” along with the kidney, heart, giblets, and liver.

It tastes bland and a little chewy. However, with the right seasonings, it is actually tasty and becomes tender when cooked properly. 

Check out this other chicken gizzard recipe, Gizdodo (Gizzards and Plantains). I know you’ll love it, too. 😉

Ingredient Recipe

For Boiling

• Chicken Gizzards – the star of the show. It will take about 1 ½ – 2 hours before it becomes tender but the waiting time is totally worth it. 😉
• Onion – Not only it adds flavor but it also takes away the unwanted stench from chicken gizzards.
• Celery Stalks – It is a very aromatic vegetable that has bold flavors with an earthy note. Pretty popular among soup, stews, and salad.
• Bay Leaves – the tea-like aroma adds another layer of flavor to these boiled gizzards with a hint of minty flavor.
• Thyme – You’ll love the subtle minty and earthy flavor of this herb.
• Garlic Clove – I recommend smashing them to really get all the garlicky aroma and flavor.

For Coating

• All-Purpose Flour – the secret to this fried gizzard recipe, this will make our chicken gizzard crunchy and crispy.
• Cornstarch – mix it with flour to get that perfect crispiness. You can just add more flour if you don’t have any cornstarch available.
• Baking Powder – this actually makes the batter airy and crispier compared with flour without baking powder.
• Paprika – though it has a pungent taste because of its pepper origins, it also has a hint of sweetness from bell peppers perfect for this dish.
• Garlic Powder – adds an earthy and aromatic tone to the whole dish making our fried gizzards tastier.
• Onion Powder – this dried seasoning distributes the rich onion flavor evenly throughout the dish.
• Cayenne Pepper – don’t get too crazy on the cayenne powder or you’ll burn your tongue.
• Dried Herbs – the Thyme, Oregano, Parsley trio gives interesting aroma and flavor to any dish. It can actually make any dish fancy with its herby notes.
• White Pepper – A milder spice that has a less complex flavor than black pepper. But it still gives you a kick of heat.
• Eggs – adds rich flavor and act as a binder so the flour mixture will stick to the chicken gizzards.

Ingredients Substitutions

• Egg – milk or water are the best substitutes if you want to make an eggless version of this gizzard recipe.
• Dried Herbs – you can replace it with Italian Seasoning. Or you can play around with some herbs like basil, thyme, and oregano. Whatever works for you. 😉
• Cornstarch – tapioca starch and potato starch works too or just add more flour to replace the cornstarch.
• All-Purpose Flour – you can replace it with Gluten-Free Flour using a 1:1 ratio. 

Recipe Variations

• Garlic Parmesan Fried Chicken Gizzards – Just toss the fried gizzards in garlic, parmesan, and butter mixture like how it is done in garlic parmesan chicken wings. 
• Crunchy Braised Chicken Gizzard – a delicious Asian-inspired dish. The fried gizzards are simmered in a lusciously sweet and salty sauce flavored with Chinese five-spice powder, ginger, and soy sauce. Get the recipe for this Crunchy Braised Chicken Gizzard. 
• Crispy Gizzard Taco – tacos stuffed with fried gizzards, tomatoes, onions, lettuce, and topped with your favorite dressing and cheese. Yum! Or you can also make a burrito version. 😉

Storage Instructions

Making Ahead

• You can boil the gizzards ahead of time. Drain and dry before placing them in a ziplock bag or an airtight container. 
• Refrigerated – can be stored in the fridge for up to 2 days
• Frozen – can be stored in the freezer for up to 2 months

Note: Thaw the frozen gizzards overnight inside the fridge and coat them when ready to fry to ensure crispiness.

Storing Leftover Fried Gizzards

They are best eaten on the same day to enjoy the crispiness. So, I suggest frying only what you can consume within the day because storing them will lose their crispiness. But in the case of leftovers:

• Place them in an airtight container.
• Store them in the fridge for up to 2 days.

Reheating Fried Gizzards

• Oven – Reheat at 170°C for 8-10 minutes or until heated through.
• Air Fryer – I highly recommend reheating them in an air fryer to make them crispy again. Reheat them at 170°C for 5-7 minutes or more until crispy.
• Microwave – I don’t recommend reheating the gizzards in the microwave as they tend to explode and make a big mess. Yikes!

What Goes with Fried Gizzards

These Fried gizzards could be enjoyed as is but best enjoyed with these recipes below.

• Egg Fried Rice
• Broccoli Cheese Soup
• Cheese Grits
• Fiesta Chicken Casserole
• Stovetop Mac and Cheese

More Crispy Chicken Recipes

• Air Fryer Southern Fried Chicken
• Baked Crispy Chicken Wings
• Southern Fried Chicken
• Oven Fried Chicken

How to Cook Chicken Gizzards?

Boiling the Chicken Gizzard

• Place the gizzard and seasonings in the pot – Place the chicken gizzards in a pot with onion, celery, bay leaves, thyme, smashed garlic, and salt. (Photos 1-2)
• Add water – Add enough water to cover the gizzards by 1 inch. (Photo 3)
• Let it boil and simmer – Bring the gizzards to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer until tender, about 1 ½ – 2 hours or more depending on preference. You may have to add more water, if needed, to keep gizzards covered. (Photo 4)

Coating the Chicken Gizzard

• Drain and reserve the broth – gizzards in a colander, pick out or remove celery, bay leaves, and onion. Reserve the broth or freeze it for later use. (Photo 5)
• Make the flour mixture – In a large bowl whisk together the flour, cornstarch, baking powder, salt, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, herbs, and white pepper. (Photo 6)
• Coat the chicken gizzards with egg and flour mixture – When ready to fry dredge the gizzards in the egg mixture, then the flour mixture, shaking any excess flour. You may use a ziplock bag for this process. Set aside for about 15 minutes. (Photos 7-8)

Frying the Chicken Gizzard

• Heat oil and fry the gizzards – Heat oil in a deep-fryer or cast iron skillet to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). The temperature will drop once you add gizzards.

Watch How to Make It