Description
This Spicy Buttermilk Fried Chicken is everything you crave — crispy, juicy, and packed with bold flavor. Marinated in tangy buttermilk and fried to golden perfection, it’s the kind of comfort food that tastes even better than your favorite takeout. Perfect for family dinners, weekend cravings, or impressing guests at your next cookout.
Ingredients
For the Chicken Marinade:
3 lbs bone-in chicken pieces (thighs, drumsticks, or mix)
2 cups buttermilk
2 tablespoons hot sauce
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon cracked black peppercorns
½ medium onion, thinly sliced
3–4 garlic cloves, sliced
For the Seasoned Flour:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
½–1 teaspoon cayenne pepper (adjust to taste)
½ teaspoon white pepper
½ teaspoon dried oregano
½ teaspoon dried thyme
½ teaspoon celery salt (optional)
For the Buttermilk Egg Wash:
1 cup buttermilk
2 eggs
1 tablespoon hot sauce
For Frying:
Vegetable or peanut oil (enough to fill pot halfway)
Instructions
Marinate the Chicken:
In a large bowl, combine buttermilk, hot sauce, salt, pepper, sliced onion, and garlic. Add chicken pieces, ensuring they’re fully submerged. Cover and refrigerate for 6 hours or overnight.Prepare the Coating:
In a bowl, whisk together all seasoned flour ingredients. In a separate bowl, whisk buttermilk, eggs, and hot sauce for the wash.Dredge the Chicken:
Remove chicken from marinade, letting excess drip off. Coat in seasoned flour, dip into buttermilk wash, then dredge again in flour for a double layer. Let rest on a rack for 10–15 minutes.Fry:
Heat oil in a heavy pot or Dutch oven to 350°F (175°C). Fry chicken in batches for 12–16 minutes (depending on size), turning occasionally. Maintain temperature and avoid crowding.Drain and Rest:
Place cooked chicken on a wire rack over a baking sheet. Let rest 10 minutes before serving. Sprinkle lightly with salt while hot.
Notes
For a milder flavor, reduce cayenne or skip the hot sauce.
For extra crispiness, add 1 tablespoon of cornstarch to the flour mixture.
To reheat leftovers: Bake at 375°F for 10–12 minutes on a wire rack.
Make it Nashville-style by brushing with hot honey before serving.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes (plus 6–12 hours marinating
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Comfort Food
- Method: Deep Frying
- Cuisine: Southern American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 piece
- Calories: ~520 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 890 mg
- Fat: 33 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 23 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 26 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 33 g
- Cholesterol: 165 mg
Keywords: Spicy Fried Chicken, Buttermilk Fried Chicken, Crispy Chicken, Homemade Fried Chicken, Southern Fried Chicken
