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Buttermilk Chicken Recipe


Course Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine American
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Chill Time 1 hour
Total Time 2 hours
Servings 4 people
Close up photo of buttermilk fried chicken on a white plate on a teal napkin.
Buttermilk Fried Chicken marinates in seasoned buttermilk and gets coated in a seasoned flour mixture before getting fried on the stovetop! Only 15 minutes of prep is needed for this crispy, crunchy chicken!

Ingredients  

Buttermilk Marinade

  • 8 pieces chicken skin on, thighs and drumsticks are best (approximately 3 pounds)
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon dried mustard
  • ½ teaspoon paprika
  • ½ teaspoon dried sage
  • 2 cups buttermilk 480mL

Flour Dredge

Instructions

  • Place the 8 pieces chicken in a large bowl. Add 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon ground black pepper, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon dried mustard, ½ teaspoon paprika, and ½ teaspoon dried sage. Stir to coat the chicken evenly. Pour 2 cups buttermilk over the seasoned chicken. Stir well to coat the chicken.
  • Refrigerate this mixture for at least 1 hour; the longer you marinate, the more tender it will become. It can also be left overnight.
  • In a shallow dish, whisk together the 2 cups all-purpose flour, 1 tablespoon baking powder, 1½ teaspoons salt, 1½ teaspoons garlic powder, 1½ teaspoons paprika, 1½ teaspoons dried basil, 1½ teaspoons dried thyme, 1½ teaspoons onion powder, and 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper.
  • Heat the vegetable oil to about 340°F. You want to be able to fry the outside to a crisp, golden brown without burning while still cooking the chicken all the way through!
  • Remove each piece of chicken from the marinade, and place it into the dish with the flour mixture, then toss. Ensure the entire surface of each piece of chicken is thoroughly coated.
  • Place the chicken pieces into the oil. You may cook 4 or 5 pieces at a time, but don’t crowd the chicken. Turn as necessary and fry until golden brown. It will take about 15 minutes for each piece to cook. Ensure each piece is fully cooked; the internal temperature should reach 170°F. I recommend keeping a candy thermometer in the oil as you cook. The temperature may drop slightly as you add the cold chicken, so you will need to adjust the heat accordingly to maintain a temperature of around 340°F.
  • Allow the chicken to drain on a wire rack to help the chicken stay crispy.

Notes

  • It may take some test pieces to find the temp that cooks the chicken golden on the outside and fully cooked on the inside.
  • Storage Instructions: Buttermilk fried chicken will keep for 3 to 5 days in the fridge. It is best reheated in the oven (325°F for 10 minutes or until heated through) or the air fryer (325°F for about 5 minutes). It may be frozen for up to 3 months. Then, to reheat, bake from frozen for about 15 minutes at 450 degrees.
  • I don’t have a candy thermometer - how will I know that the oil is at the right temperature? If you stand a wooden spoon in the oil, the oil should bubble around the handle at the bottom of the pot and float up. If the oil is too hot, the oil will bubble vigorously. If the oil is not hot enough, there will just be a few bubbles coming up.
  • I don’t have any buttermilk - what can I substitute? Place 2 Tablespoons of lemon juice into a measuring cup. Then fill the cup up to the 2-cup measurement with milk. Allow this to sit for 10 minutes, and then use it in the recipe.
  • I find that the chicken is looking burnt on the outside, but is not cooked inside - what can I do? Turn down the heat on your oil - it is too hot.
  • I don’t have baking powder - can I substitute baking soda? No, these are very different. If you don’t have baking powder, then just leave that out.
  • Can I substitute skinless chicken? Yes! This recipe works really well with skinless chicken!
  • Can I make this chicken in the oven? I find that this recipe doesn’t work as well in the oven. Oven-fried chicken is better with panko or cornflakes to give it the crispy crust that deep frying gives this chicken. However, you can bake it in an air fryer if you like. Just spray the floured chicken with some oil and bake it at 360°F for about 15 minutes (turn it over halfway through the cooking time).

Nutrition

Calories: 325kcal | Carbohydrates: 58g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 15mg | Sodium: 1588mg | Potassium: 618mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 922IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 304mg | Iron: 4mg
Find it online: www.sugarandsoul.co/buttermilk-fried-chicken/