Transform ordinary chicken gizzards into savory, chewy, and flavorful Fried Chicken Gizzards!
When it comes to African recipes, these chicken gizzards are some of the most popular deep-fried foods you can try at home. The perfect herbs can truly mean a difference in your gizzard dish.
Aside from the rich flavor, you might be surprised at how healthy these chicken gizzards are. They’re also easy to cook at home to give your family a dish to enjoy!

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Take a break from chicken wings, legs, and breasts. Experience how delicious, tender, and fun these Fried Chicken Gizzards can be!
How to Make Fried Chicken Gizzards
Have you tried cooking chicken gizzards before? Well, this is the perfect recipe to start with. Bring a tasty African twist to your meals with this easy Fried Chicken Gizzards dish!
Ingredients
Here’s a list of what you need to make the best Fried Chicken Gizzards:
Chicken gizzards
What are chicken gizzards, and why should you add them to your diet?
Chicken gizzards are part of the digestive tract of the chicken. These are sold in small pieces with a distinct dark color. You can also buy them at low prices, which is great for dining on a budget.
These are popular ingredients for African, Mexican, and Southeast Asian cuisines because of how affordable, soft, and delicious they are.
Aside from frying them, you can also boil, grill, or stew the chicken gizzards to get the best quality. If you love chicken gizzards, then check out these recipes:
Herbs and spices
Start your seasoning with three common aromatics: onion, garlic, and ginger. These are going to give the gizzards pungent, spicy, sweet, and rich flavors.
You will also need other spices, such as mixed herbs, sea salt, curry powder, and stock cubes, to intensify the flavors of the chicken gizzards.
The fusion of these herbs and spices will surely give the dish a wonderful taste and aroma.
Sunflower oil
Whenever you deep fry, make sure to use oil with a high smoke point, such as sunflower oil. These oils will also strengthen the flavor of the food without losing much of its nutrients.

I bet you never expected that chicken gizzards could be cooked with these basic ingredients! Most of these are readily available in supermarkets, so let’s put them to good use by cooking these Fried Chicken Gizzards!
Directions
Come and make Fried Chicken Gizzards with me!
- Rinse the chicken gizzard under water.
- Use a knife to slice the gizzards in half and run it over water again.
- Trim any yellowish lining on the gizzards.
- Peel and mince the onion, garlic, and ginger.
- In a pot, season the chicken gizzard with garlic, onion, ginger, mixed herbs, sea salt, curry powder, and knorr chicken stock.
- Then, stir them together with a skimmer spoon.
- Cook over medium heat for 20 minutes or until cooked.
- Once cooked, set the gizzards and liquid stock aside.
- In a pan, fry the gizzards in sunflower oil over medium heat for ten minutes or until done.
- Remove it from heat and serve!
You just cooked yourself a luscious, exotic, and affordable chicken gizzard dish in just three steps! Share it with your family and friends to relish the goodness of this remarkable recipe!
Tips
Chicken Gizzards
Buying chicken gizzards
- According to All Recipes, you can buy cleaned chicken gizzards from your local butcher.
- Look for ones that are antibiotic-free, vegetarian, and hormone-free.
- They should not have discoloration, slimy texture, or foul odor.
Storing chicken gizzards
- You can store unopened packaged chicken gizzards in the fridge or freezer.
- Transfer them in resealable bags to store in the fridge for two days or in freezer bags for several weeks.
Preparing chicken gizzards
- Rinse the whole and sliced chicken gizzards until free from blood, debris, or other substances.
- Then, rub the flesh to prepare it for cooking thoroughly.
- In case you see any yellowish lining, remove it for safe consumption.
Mixed Herbs
Combine basil, parsley, marjoram, oregano, sage, tarragon, and thyme to make mixed herbs. Store it in a container, and it’s ready for use!

Fried Chicken Gizzards Variations
For chicken gizzard alternatives, you can try all sorts of chicken parts, such as breasts, liver, and more. Note that the cooking time may vary depending on the part that you used.
You can also try other herbs and spices of your choice to make it spicier or sweeter. For instance, you can add chili flakes or scotch bonnet for that kick of spice.
Chicken gizzards can also be baked or air fried:
Baked chicken gizzards
- Preheat the oven for a few minutes.
- Then, line the baking tray with parchment paper.
- Spray the gizzards with oil.
- Bake them at 200°C for 15 minutes.
- At the 7-minute mark, flip it over to cook the other side.
Air-fried chicken gizzards
- Preheat the air fryer for about 5 minutes.
- Cook the gizzards in batches and set the temperature to 200°C for 10 minutes.
- After the first 5 minutes, shake the air fryer basket to turn the gizzards over.
Recommended Tools
- Pot: Boil the seasoned chicken gizzards in the pot.
- Frying pan: Fry the boiled gizzards in the pan.
- Skimmer spoon: Remove the gizzards from heat using a skimmer.
- Knife: Peel and slice the ingredients with a clean knife.
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How to Serve Fried Chicken Gizzards
I love cooking Fried Chicken Gizzards because they can be served for lunch, dinner, celebrations, or even snacks. There are many ways to serve them and I’ll share them with you!
This dish can be perfectly paired with the following:
You can also serve it with other dishes and stews:
Meanwhile, for drink options, I highly recommend the following:

Storage Tips
- At room temperature: Eat the Fried Chicken Gizzards within four hours at room temperature.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best way to fry gizzards?
I suggest boiling the chicken gizzards first before frying them. By pre-cooking them in water, the gizzards are softened for easy and quick frying.
Deep fry the chicken gizzards in oil with a high smoke point to get a chewy texture and intense flavor.
How do you soften gizzards before frying?
Boil the chicken gizzards in water with your favorite herbs and spices. Let it cook for 20 to 30 minutes to get the right texture. Check for doneness before removing the gizzards from heat.
Are fried chicken gizzards good?
In an article by My Recipes, the chicken gizzard is one of the most nutritious chicken parts. It’s high in protein but low in fat. This also contains vitamins such as B12 to aid in anemia and brain function. This ingredient is also great for immunity and muscle growth.
Can you fry gizzards without boiling them?
Yes, you can fry gizzards without boiling them. However, note that it might cause the gizzards to become tougher than usual.
Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
1 Corinthians 10:31

Fried Chicken Gizzard
Equipment
Ingredients
For boiling
- 4¼ cup chicken gizzards
- 3 garlic cloves (chopped)
- 1 onion (diced)
- 1 ginger (optional)
- ½ tsp mixed herbs
- ½ tsp sea salt
- ½ tsp curry powder
- 2 chicken stock cubes
For frying
- sunflower oil (enough to deep-fry)
- cooked chicken gizzard
Instructions
- Rinse the chicken gizzard under water.
- Use a knife to slice the gizzards in half and run it over water again.
- Trim any yellowish lining on the gizzards.
- Peel and mince the onion, garlic, and ginger.
- In a pot, season the chicken gizzard with garlic, onion, ginger, mixed herbs, sea salt, curry powder, and knorr chicken stock.
- Then, stir them together with a skimmer spoon.
- Cook over medium heat for 20 minutes or until cooked.
- Once cooked, set the gizzards and liquid stock aside.
- In a pan, fry the gizzards in sunflower oil over medium heat for ten minutes or until done.
- Remove it from heat and serve!
Video
Notes
- Clean the gizzards thoroughly by rinsing them in water.
- Trim away the yellow lining. Store it properly to extend shelf life.
- Be creative with your herbs and spices to escalate the quality of the dish.
- Note that baking and air frying are best for breaded chicken gizzard recipes but also work well with broiled gizzards.
- Do not forget to boil the chicken gizzards in the seasoning mentioned in this recipe to infuse them with flavors before baking or air frying.