Southern Fried Chicken Dinner
Southern Fried Chicken Dinner
Ingredients
For the Fried Chicken
- 3 pounds chicken pieces, mixed cuts, bone-in, skin-on
- 1/2 cup yellow mustard
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper, (adjust to taste)
- 4 cups vegetable oil, for deep frying
For the Macaroni and Cheese
- 16 ounces elbow macaroni
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1 cup milk
- 32 ounces Velveeta cheese, cubed
- 16 ounces shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, to taste
For the Seasoned Green Beans
- 6 strips bacon, chopped
- 1/2 yellow onion, chopped
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 2 cans cut green beans, 14.5 ounce cans, drained
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon salt, optional, to taste
Instructions
- 1
Wash the chicken pieces thoroughly under cold water. Pat each piece completely dry using paper towels. This step is crucial for crispy fried chicken.
⏱️ 10 min
- 2
Generously coat each piece of dried chicken with yellow mustard, ensuring all surfaces are covered. The mustard acts as a binder for the flour.
⏱️ 5 min
- 3
In a large bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and cayenne pepper. Mix well with a whisk to ensure all spices are evenly distributed.
⏱️ 3 min
- 4
Dredge each mustard-coated chicken piece in the seasoned flour, pressing firmly to ensure a thick and even coating. Place the floured chicken pieces on a wire rack set over a baking sheet and allow them to rest for at least 15 minutes. This helps the coating adhere better during frying.
⏱️ 10 min
- 5
While the chicken rests, begin preparing the macaroni and cheese. Boil the elbow macaroni according to package directions until it is al dente. Drain the cooked macaroni and set aside.
⏱️ 10 min
- 6
In a large pot or saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the milk and stir. Add the cubed Velveeta cheese and the shredded sharp cheddar cheese to the pot. Stir continuously with a wooden spoon or whisk until all the cheese is completely melted and the sauce is smooth and creamy.
⏱️ 10 min
- 7
Add the cooked and drained macaroni to the cheese sauce. Stir well to ensure the macaroni is fully coated. Season the mac and cheese with salt and black pepper to taste. Keep warm over low heat, stirring occasionally.
⏱️ 5 min
- 8
Now, prepare the green beans. Chop the bacon into small pieces. In a large skillet, fry the chopped bacon over medium-high heat until it is crispy. Remove the crispy bacon from the skillet with a slotted spoon, reserving the bacon grease in the pan.
⏱️ 8 min
- 9
Add the chopped onion and minced garlic to the bacon grease in the skillet. Sauté until the onion is softened and translucent, about 3-5 minutes.
⏱️ 5 min
- 10
Add the drained cut green beans to the skillet. Pour in the chicken broth and stir in the brown sugar. Season with black pepper and, optionally, salt to taste (remember the bacon is salty). Simmer the green beans for 10-15 minutes, or until they are heated through and the flavors have melded. Stir in the reserved crispy bacon just before serving.
⏱️ 15 min
- 11
While the green beans simmer, heat the vegetable oil in a deep fryer or a large, heavy-bottomed pot to 350°F. Ensure the oil is at least 3 inches deep.
⏱️ 10 min•🌡️ 350
- 12
Carefully place the floured chicken pieces into the hot oil, frying in batches to avoid overcrowding the fryer. Fry for 6-8 minutes per side, or until each piece is golden brown and cooked through (internal temperature reaches 165°F). Adjust heat as needed to maintain 350°F.
⏱️ 20 min•🌡️ 350
- 13
Remove the fried chicken from the oil and place it on a clean wire rack set over a baking sheet to drain excess oil. Repeat with remaining chicken batches.
⏱️ 5 min
- 14
Serve the hot, crispy fried chicken alongside the creamy macaroni and cheese and savory seasoned green beans for a complete Southern comfort meal.
⏱️ 2 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Southern Fried Chicken Dinner
For the Fried Chicken
- 3 pounds chicken pieces, mixed cuts, bone-in, skin-on
- 1/2 cup yellow mustard
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper, (adjust to taste)
- 4 cups vegetable oil, for deep frying
For the Macaroni and Cheese
- 16 ounces elbow macaroni
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1 cup milk
- 32 ounces Velveeta cheese, cubed
- 16 ounces shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, to taste
For the Seasoned Green Beans
- 6 strips bacon, chopped
- 1/2 yellow onion, chopped
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 2 cans cut green beans, 14.5 ounce cans, drained
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon salt, optional, to taste
Instructions
- 1
Wash the chicken pieces thoroughly under cold water. Pat each piece completely dry using paper towels. This step is crucial for crispy fried chicken.
⏱️ 10 min - 2
Generously coat each piece of dried chicken with yellow mustard, ensuring all surfaces are covered. The mustard acts as a binder for the flour.
⏱️ 5 min - 3
In a large bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and cayenne pepper. Mix well with a whisk to ensure all spices are evenly distributed.
⏱️ 3 min - 4
Dredge each mustard-coated chicken piece in the seasoned flour, pressing firmly to ensure a thick and even coating. Place the floured chicken pieces on a wire rack set over a baking sheet and allow them to rest for at least 15 minutes. This helps the coating adhere better during frying.
⏱️ 10 min - 5
While the chicken rests, begin preparing the macaroni and cheese. Boil the elbow macaroni according to package directions until it is al dente. Drain the cooked macaroni and set aside.
⏱️ 10 min - 6
In a large pot or saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the milk and stir. Add the cubed Velveeta cheese and the shredded sharp cheddar cheese to the pot. Stir continuously with a wooden spoon or whisk until all the cheese is completely melted and the sauce is smooth and creamy.
⏱️ 10 min - 7
Add the cooked and drained macaroni to the cheese sauce. Stir well to ensure the macaroni is fully coated. Season the mac and cheese with salt and black pepper to taste. Keep warm over low heat, stirring occasionally.
⏱️ 5 min - 8
Now, prepare the green beans. Chop the bacon into small pieces. In a large skillet, fry the chopped bacon over medium-high heat until it is crispy. Remove the crispy bacon from the skillet with a slotted spoon, reserving the bacon grease in the pan.
⏱️ 8 min - 9
Add the chopped onion and minced garlic to the bacon grease in the skillet. Sauté until the onion is softened and translucent, about 3-5 minutes.
⏱️ 5 min - 10
Add the drained cut green beans to the skillet. Pour in the chicken broth and stir in the brown sugar. Season with black pepper and, optionally, salt to taste (remember the bacon is salty). Simmer the green beans for 10-15 minutes, or until they are heated through and the flavors have melded. Stir in the reserved crispy bacon just before serving.
⏱️ 15 min - 11
While the green beans simmer, heat the vegetable oil in a deep fryer or a large, heavy-bottomed pot to 350°F. Ensure the oil is at least 3 inches deep.
⏱️ 10 min•🌡️ 350 - 12
Carefully place the floured chicken pieces into the hot oil, frying in batches to avoid overcrowding the fryer. Fry for 6-8 minutes per side, or until each piece is golden brown and cooked through (internal temperature reaches 165°F). Adjust heat as needed to maintain 350°F.
⏱️ 20 min•🌡️ 350 - 13
Remove the fried chicken from the oil and place it on a clean wire rack set over a baking sheet to drain excess oil. Repeat with remaining chicken batches.
⏱️ 5 min - 14
Serve the hot, crispy fried chicken alongside the creamy macaroni and cheese and savory seasoned green beans for a complete Southern comfort meal.
⏱️ 2 min