How Long to Cook Chicken Gizzards: The Ultimate Guide for Tender Results

Chicken gizzards are one of those underappreciated gems in the culinary world. As someone who’s experimented with these flavorful morsels countless times, I can tell you that the key to perfect gizzards lies in the cooking time Many home cooks shy away from gizzards because they’ve had tough, rubbery results in the past Today, I’m sharing everything you need to know about how long to cook chicken gizzards to achieve that tender, delicious texture you’re looking for.

What Are Chicken Gizzards Anyway?

Before diving into cooking times, let’s understand what we’re working with Chicken gizzards are a muscular part of the chicken’s digestive system They’re basically the chicken’s stomach that helps grind up food. Because they’re a working muscle, they’re naturally tough and need proper cooking to become tender.

These little powerhouses are packed with protein, iron, zinc, and B vitamins. They’re also relatively inexpensive, making them a nutritious budget-friendly option for your dinner table.

Preparing Chicken Gizzards Before Cooking

Do I Need to Clean Store-Bought Gizzards?

Good news! If you’ve purchased pre-packaged gizzards from a grocery store, they’re typically ready to cook as-is. During commercial processing, gizzards are thoroughly cleaned with inner linings and membranes removed. However, if you get them directly from a butcher shop, you might need to clean them yourself.

To prepare store-bought gizzards:

• Pat them dry with paper towels
• Trim away any excess fat or remaining membranes
• They’re now ready for your recipe!

How Long to Cook Chicken Gizzards: Method by Method

The cooking time for chicken gizzards varies significantly depending on your chosen method. Let’s break it down:

1. Braising or Stewing (Most Popular Method)

Cooking Time: 1.5 to 2 hours

Braising is arguably the best method for achieving perfectly tender gizzards. The slow cooking in liquid allows the tough connective tissue to break down properly.

Process:

1. Sear the gizzards in oil first
2. Add aromatics like onion, garlic, and herbs
3. Cover with broth, wine, or water
4. Simmer gently over low heat until fork-tender

2. Pressure Cooking (Fastest Method)

Cooking Time: 30-45 minutes at high pressure

Using a pressure cooker dramatically reduces cooking time while still achieving tender results.

Process:

1. Sear the gizzards (optional but recommended)
2. Add liquid according to your pressure cooker instructions
3. Cook at high pressure for 30-45 minutes
4. Allow for natural pressure release

3. Deep Frying

Cooking Time: 5-7 minutes (after pre-cooking)

For deep-fried gizzards (a popular Southern delicacy), you’ll need to pre-cook them first using either the braising or pressure cooking method until tender.

Process:

1. Pre-cook gizzards using braising or pressure cooking
2. Let them cool slightly
3. Dredge in seasoned flour or cornmeal
4. Deep fry for 5-7 minutes until golden brown and crispy

4. Pan-Frying

Cooking Time: 25-40 minutes

Pan-frying is a quicker option but requires careful monitoring to prevent burning.

Process:

1. Slice the gizzards thinly if desired
2. Sauté in oil with your preferred seasonings
3. Cook for about 25-30 minutes until tender

5. Grilling

Cooking Time: 10-15 minutes (after pre-cooking)

Grilling gizzards requires pre-cooking to ensure tenderness.

Process:

1. Pre-cook the gizzards using braising or pressure cooking
2. Marinate in your favorite sauce
3. Grill over medium heat for 10-15 minutes, turning occasionally

Delicious Chicken Gizzard Recipes to Try

Now that you understand the cooking times, let’s put that knowledge to use with a couple of tasty recipes!

Sautéed Chicken Gizzards

Ingredients:

• 1 lb chicken gizzards, cleaned and trimmed
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 small onion, diced
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1/2 cup chicken broth or water
• Salt, pepper, paprika to taste

Instructions:

1. Pat gizzards dry with paper towels and season with salt, pepper, and paprika
2. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat
3. Add gizzards and cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until browned on all sides
4. Transfer gizzards to a plate
5. Reduce heat to medium and add onions to the skillet, cooking for 2-3 minutes until softened
6. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute more
7. Return gizzards to the skillet with chicken broth
8. Bring to a gentle simmer, cover, and cook for 25-30 minutes until fork-tender
9. Uncover and increase heat to reduce any excess liquid to a glazy sauce
10. Serve warm over rice or vegetables

Crispy Fried Chicken Gizzards

Ingredients:

• 1 lb chicken gizzards, cleaned and trimmed
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 1 tsp each salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika
• Peanut or vegetable oil for frying

Instructions:

1. Soak gizzards in buttermilk for 30 minutes to help tenderize them
2. Mix flour and spices in a shallow dish
3. Dredge gizzards in the flour mixture until completely coated
4. Heat 1 inch of oil in a heavy skillet to 350°F
5. Fry gizzards in batches for 4-6 minutes until deep golden brown
6. Drain on paper towels and season with extra salt and pepper if desired
7. Serve warm with dipping sauces like ranch, honey mustard, or BBQ sauce

Tips for Perfectly Tender Chicken Gizzards

After many gizzard-cooking adventures (and a few failures!), I’ve gathered these essential tips:

1. Patience is key – Don’t rush the cooking process. Most gizzard failures come from undercooking.

2. Pre-cooking methods help – Consider these optional but recommended steps:

   • Marinating in an acidic marinade (vinegar or lemon juice) helps break down tough fibers
   • Blanching briefly in boiling water can remove impurities
   • Soaking in milk or buttermilk for a few hours reduces gamey flavors

3. Check for doneness – Gizzards should be easily pierced with a fork with little resistance. Avoid overcooking as they can become dry.

4. Don’t forget to season – Gizzards pair well with bold flavors like garlic, onion, paprika, thyme, rosemary, and bay leaf.

Troubleshooting Common Gizzard Problems

Why are my chicken gizzards still tough?

Toughness is usually a sign of undercooking. Make sure you’re cooking them long enough using a suitable method like braising or pressure cooking.

Can I use frozen chicken gizzards?

Yes, but thaw them completely in the refrigerator before cooking to ensure even cooking throughout.

How do I store cooked chicken gizzards?

Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days, or freeze for up to 2-3 months.

Final Thoughts

Chicken gizzards might seem intimidating at first, but with the right cooking times and techniques, they can become a delicious addition to your meal rotation. The key takeaway? Low and slow is generally the way to go.

Whether you choose to braise them for 1.5-2 hours, pressure cook for 30-45 minutes, or try another method, patience yields the best results. These nutritious little morsels are worth the effort!

I’d love to hear about your gizzard cooking adventures in the comments below. Have you tried any of these methods? What’s your favorite way to serve chicken gizzards?

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This article was last updated on September 12, 2025, and reflects my personal experiences cooking chicken gizzards over the years. I hope it helps you achieve tender, flavorful results every time!

You’ll know chicken gizzards are done when they are tender to the fork, have reached an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C), and are no longer pink inside.

Cooking chicken gizzards on the stove takes at least 1 to 3 hours of simmering to become tender, though some methods can be faster or slower depending on your goal. The cooking time depends on the method, with boiling/simmering taking 1.5-3 hours for tenderness, while pressure cooking is much faster, around 15-20 minutes.

To cook tender chicken gizzards, thoroughly clean them, then pre-boil or pressure cook them in liquid with seasonings until they are fork-tender. Once tender, they can be dredged in flour and fried to a golden brown.