American fried chicken has its roots in the Southern soul food culture of African-Americans. The combination of a Scottish chicken-frying method with the spices and seasonings of West Africa gave birth to this uniquely American food.
The Scottish immigrants to the southern United States, had a tradition of deep frying chicken in fat and even further back they used to fry fritters in the middle ages unlike their English counterparts who baked or boiled chicken.
When it was introduced to the American South, fried chicken became a common staple. Later, Africans brought over on the slave trade, became cooks in many southern households and incorporated seasonings and spices and creating their own interpretation of fried chicken.
Fried chicken grew from a popular Southern African-American meal to be popular among white Southern communities. However, it was not until the mid-20th century, with the growth of fast food chains that it became a nationally popular food.
Fried chicken
