Southern Fried Chicken with Tomato Gravy

Ingredients

• 8 boneless chicken thighs
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• ¼ cup spicy BBQ rub (your choice)
• 1 tbsp. onion powder
• 1 tbsp. salt
• 1 tbsp. ground pepper
• 1½ cup buttermilk
• canola oil, enough to cover ½ chicken
• 4 slices thick cut bacon
• 1 large sweet onion, diced
• 1 tbsp. butter
• 2 tbsp. all-purpose flour
• 2 large ripe tomatoes, peeled and grated/chopped (sub a 15 oz. can crushed tomatoes)
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1 tbsp. tomato paste
• ½ tsp. sugar
• ¼ cup heavy cream (or whole milk)
• salt and pepper, to taste