Fried Chicken Ala King Recipe

Instead of cooking your fried chicken plain, try and explore this fried chicken ala king recipe. It is very easy to make yet so creamy and delicious.

Fried Chicken Ala King Recipe
Healthy Holiday Creamy Special Occasion Chicken Fried Savory
Dinner Entrees Lunch

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 35 minutes

Total Time: 55 minutes

Origin of the dish

Chicken ala King, which literally translates to "Chicken in the style of King", is a crispy dish with cream sauce. There are a lot of variations that have appeared in cookbooks in as early as year 1665. But there are no indications of its similarities to the modern Chicken ala King. However, there are several competing theories about its origins like the following:

  • It was first invented by Delmonico’s chef Charles Ranhofer as Chicken ala Keene in the 1880s, named after Foxhall Parker Keene.
  • Other states that it was invented at Claridge’s Hotel in London in 1881 and names for James R. Keene, father of Foxhall.
  • There is also another version claimed that chef George Greenwald of the Brighton Beach Hotel invented it in 1898, he named it after patron E. Clarke King II and his wife.
  • Another claim is that Chicken ala King was invented by hotel cook William “Bill” King of the Bellevue Hotel in Philadelphia. After he died on March 4, 1915, there are several obituaries credited him. One of it is A New York Tribune, which stated:
“The name of William King is not listed among the great ones of the earth. No monuments will ever be erected to his memory, for he was only a cook. Yet what a cook! In him blazed the fire of genius which, at the white heat of inspiration, drove him one day, in the old Bellevue, in Philadelphia, to combine bits of chicken, mushrooms, truffles, red and green peppers and cream in that delight-some mixture which ever after has been known as "Chicken a la King."*

No matter how ala king got started, it is of no doubt that it is one of the many dishes that is super popular and delicious. Indulging in a chicken ala king is really made simpler and easier, try this recipe!

When is Chicken Ala King Typically Served?

Chicken ala King is not commonly served on a typical meal or occasions, instead it is eaten during dinner on a special occasion such as weddings, 4th of July and of course on Christmas Day. But that is no longer the most case. Nowadays, there are multiple variations that you can buy that is already made. So even in regular days, people make chicken ala king at the comfort of their own home kitchen, or even as a takeout from some restaurants, since it is also sold by some restaurants nowadays. Chicken Ala King is served as the main course and is usually eaten with the side of green vegetable salad, but some also just simply eat it by itself without any side dish. You can also get this dish on a fine dining restaurant, typically served in an intimate dinner, or even in some fast foods. Your options are varied, but instead of buying it, why don't you try and create your own version of chicken ala king and start simple. This recipe will guide you the basics on how to do it.

Kitchen Utensils You Need

You will be needing the help of the following kitchen utensils in cooking Chicken ala King:

  • Chopping board
  • Chopping knife
  • Bowls
  • Spatula
  • Frying pan
  • Serving platter

Chicken ala King’s Primary Ingredients – Chicken Breast and Cream Sauce.

Chicken ala King’s primary ingredients are chicken breasts and of course the cream sauce. Chicken is the most common type and a widely consumed of poultry in the world. It is a great source of lean protein. Because of the low-fat protein found in chicken breasts it offers a lot of advantages, making this food a helpful addition to your diet. It helps build and maintains muscle mass, strengthens bones, and reduces appetite, by which consuming it makes you feel full, which can help you reduce food cravings and overeating.

On the other hand, we have the cream sauce or commonly called as white sauce or bechamel sauce, which uses basic ingredients such as cream, butter garlic and cheese. Not to mention, it can be made within 20 minutes. The flavor of this sauce is everything you wish to taste, creamy and rich with flavor and spice.

Interesting Facts

  • The fats and calorie content of your chicken may vary on how you cook it. Roasting, broiling, poaching, and grilling are generally the healthiest way to cook your chicken if you want to limit its fat content. While breading, frying and sauteing in butter or oil will add fats to your chicken.
  • Since it is an animal protein, chicken breast is not for people who are plant-based or vegetarians.
  • Consuming chicken can help you on your dietary plants, for it reduces appetite which makes you feel full and keeps you away from cravings and overeating.

Tips and Tricks

  • When making the cream sauce, you may add a pat of butter to make the most basic sauce taste decadent.
  • Wine adds acidity and an instant flavor-boost to a pan of simple sauce, so feel free to add some of those if you prefer.
  • Raw chicken can contain bacteria than can cause illness, like the salmonella. So, to be extra safe, you may use kitchen thermometer to check internal temperature of the chicken. Make sure it is at least 165°F or 74°C.

Ingredients

  • 2 pcs chicken breast
  • 1 egg
  • ½ cup flour
  • 1 cup bread crumbs
  • All-Purpose Cream
  • Butter
  • Cheese
  • Spring Onions
  • 3 cloves garlic, diced
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 1 carrot, cubed
  • 1 potatoes, cubed
  • 2 slices cooked ham
  • Mushroom
  • 1 red bell pepper

Directions

  1. For the chicken fillet: Prepare flour, breadcrumbs, beaten egg and chicken. Add salt and pepper to the egg.

  2. Dredge the chicken to the beaten egg, and next to the flour then back to the egg and lastly coat with breadcrumbs.

  3. In a frying pan, fry the chicken for 7 minutes each side or until light brown.

  4. For Ala King sauce: In a frying pan, add 3 cups chicken broth and bring to a boil.

  5. Then add the all-purpose cream, cheese and butter. Then mix.

  6. Lastly add spring onions and remove from heat.

  7. For vegetable garnish: Sauté onions and garlic.

  8. Add carrots, potatoes and ham. Then mix.

  9. Lastly add the mushroom and green peas, mix. Then remove from heat and put aside.

  10. For serving: In a serving platter, pour in the ala king sauce at the bottom.

  11. Next is the add some of the vegetable garnish, then the chicken, then some more vegetables.

  12. Lastly, add the thin sliced bell pepper at the top.

  13. Serve and enjoy!

Now you can impress your loved ones and even your guests with this sophisticated dish and make your special occasion extra special. If you want to make your own variation of this dish, you can absolutely add your preferred ingredients or add special garnish like this recipe. I gave it a healthy garnish, other than the cream sauce and the chicken which are the basics for this dish. I made a good twist of veggies to garnish the dish and add more delight and colors to its presentation. Now, you can make your own. Play around and make your Chicken ala King to a whole new level of goodness and flavor.