Buttermilk Fried Chicken Recipe (2024)

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!

Make it a meal your family will beg for by pairing this fried chicken with creamy Best Mashed Potatoes, trendy Corn RIbs, and delicious Crockpot Cheesy Corn!

Buttermilk Fried Chicken Recipe

This golden brown Buttermilk Fried Chicken is exactly what your dinner plates (and your family!) have been waiting for! It’s perfectly crispy and crunchy on the outside while remaining incredibly tender and juicy on the inside!

Bite into this chicken and be amazed at the layers of flavor! Not only is the breading wonderfully seasoned with spices such as garlic powder, paprika, and basil but the chicken itself also gets marinated in a combination of buttermilk and seasonings as well!

The double-layer flavor detail easily makes this buttermilk chicken recipe the best! Serve this up for a big extended family meal, on a Friday night when all the kids are home, or simply just when the craving hits.

And trust me, after making this recipe just once you’ll find the craving for it comes a lot more frequently!

Buttermilk Chicken Ingredients

For this Buttermilk Fried Chicken Recipe, you’ll need about three pounds of chicken that has the skin on. I find using thighs and drumsticks is best, but grab whatever you prefer!

The chicken then gets marinated in a mixture that’s made up of salt, ground black pepper, garlic powder, dried mustard, paprika, dried sage, and buttermilk. Afterward, it gets coated in a flavorful breading mixture that fries up to crispy perfection!

To make the breading mixture you’ll need all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, garlic powder, paprika, dried basil, dried thyme, onion powder, and cayenne pepper.

Lastly, you’ll just need vegetable oil to deep fry the coated chicken in!

How To Make Buttermilk Fried Chicken

1. Combine the chicken, salt, pepper, garlic, dried mustard, paprika, and sage together in a large bowl. Stir together to coat the chicken evenly.
2. Pour in the buttermilk over the seasoned chicken and stir again until well coated.
3. Refrigerate the chicken mixture in the marinade.
4. Whisk the flour, baking powder, salt, garlic powder, paprika, basil, thyme, onion powder, and cayenne pepper together in a shallow dish.
5. Transfer each piece of chicken from the marinade into the shallow dish one at a time. Make sure the chicken is coated completely.
6. Fry the coated chicken in hot oil, being careful not to overcrowd the pan. Cook the chicken until it’s entirely golden brown on all sides.
7. Remove the fried chicken from the vegetable oil and transfer it to a wire rack to allow any excess oil to drain off it.

How To Store Buttermilk Fried Chicken

Keep leftover Buttermilk Fried Chicken in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 to 5 days. You can also freeze it for up to 3 months.

How To Reheat Fried Chicken

This fried chicken is best reheated in the oven at 325 degrees F for about 10 minutes or until it’s heated all the way through. You could also try reheating it in the air fryer at 325 degrees F for about 5 minutes.

If you’re reheating from frozen you can place the frozen chicken in the oven for about 15 minutes at 450 degrees F.

Chicken in Buttermilk Recipe FAQs

How Do I Know If The Oil Temperature Is Right If I Don’t Have A Candy Thermometer?

Stand up a wooden spoon in the oil and if the oil bubbles around the hand at the bottom of the pot and floats up the oil is generally ready. The oil will bubble vigorously if it’s too hot and only a few bubbles will come up if the oil is not hot enough.

Why Does The Chicken Look Burnt On The Outside Yet Isn’t Cooked On The Inside?

I’d say the oil is too hot, try turning the heat down on the oil and trying again.

Can I Swap Out The Baking Powder For Baking Soda?

Unfortunately, that substitution wouldn’t work since those two ingredients are very different. If you don’t have baking powder then you can just leave it out.

Can I Use Skinless Chicken In This Recipe?

Absolutely, this recipe works really well with skinless chicken!

Can I Cook Buttermilk Chicken In The Oven?

I find that this Buttermilk Fried Chicken doesn’t work well in the oven. Instead, I think oven-fried chicken turns out better when it’s coated with panko or corn flakes to give it the crispy crust that deep-frying gives chicken.

Could I Air Fry This Fried Chicken?

Yes, you can. Just spray the floured chicken with oil and then bake it at 360 for about 15 minutes. Be sure to turn it over halfway through the cooking time.

What to Serve with Buttermilk Fried Chicken

Buttermilk Chicken is a deliciously welcome change to the dinner table, surrounded by all of our favorite sides!

• Southern Cornbread
• Hot Honey Glazed Carrots
• Bannock Bread
• Carrot Casserole
• Classic Macaroni Salad

More Chicken Recipes

You can easily change the way you normally serve up your chicken, too, just by snagging another tasty recipe to try!

• Cheez-It Chicken Nuggets – Moist white meat covered in a Cheeze-It Cheddar Grooves breading and then served with a Spicy Thai Peanut Dipping Sauce!
• Spatchco*ck Grilled Chicken – Grilled marinated chicken is cooked using an easy technique that allows for a quicker cooking time!
• Garlic Chicken – Made with chicken, 40 cloves of garlic, olive oil, thyme, salt, and pepper, requires only 15 minutes of hands-on prep time!
• Oven Fried Chicken – A healthier version of everyone’s favorite comfort food, ready to enjoy in only 40 minutes!
• Lemon Chicken Thighs – Slow-roasted chicken thighs that come out incredibly tender and bursting with delicious flavor!

Let’s Connect!

If you’ve tried thisrecipe, please let me know how you liked it in the comments below and leave a review. I love hearing from you!

Don’t forget to tag me – @sugarandsoulco – on Instagram and Pinterest with your photos or join our Sugar & Soul Show-offs Community and share them there, where you can join our recipe challenges!