A chicken gizzard is a muscular organ found in the digestive tract of a chicken, which is used to grind up the food the bird eats. Since chickens do not have teeth, they swallow tiny bits of grit and gravel, which travels through the chickens digestive tract and eventually lodges in the gizzard. Then when actual food arrives, this powerful little muscle contracts, like a tiny fist squeezing a handful of gravel. The gravel grinds up the food, and the food continues on into the stomach. Gizzards are one of a loosely defined group of miscellaneous chicken parts known as the giblets (which also includes the heart and liver) . They are small, cheap, and surprisingly tasty. Gizzards are commonly eaten throughout the world and are considered a delicacy in some areas. They can be boiled, braised, pickled, slow-cooked, barbecued, fried, and more. Gizzards are packed full of protein and provide important vitamins and minerals. They are also relatively inexpensive. If you have a single gizzard from your whole chicken, you can mince it and add it to gravy (straining before serving) for extra flavor, or toss it into spaghetti or bolognese sauce, dirty rice, or gumbo. Gizzards are also great additions to stuffing.