You won’t be disappointed by this recipe – it’s the BEST Crispy Buttermilk Oven Fried Chicken!
Made using a simple technique, this chicken gets so crispy in the oven – it’s hard to believe it isn’t deep fried! It’s easy to make and way less messy than the traditional way – no greasy stove to clean!
Have you ever been disappointed by a really promising recipe on the Internet? I’m sure you have. I know I have! And more than once.
There was the sheet cake incident of 2006. The pumpkin cream cheese cupcake mishap of 2013. The stir fry mess up of 2015. And definitely the pancake disaster of 2017. Uhm, with many more failed recipes in between them.
I can assure you one thing though: If you love crispy fried chicken, crunchy on the outside and juicy on the inside – this is the real deal right here. With a coating that actually sticks to the chicken. One that gets truly crispy in the oven. And the best part? None of the greasy stovetop cleaning.
I’ve been making chicken like this for years. Years! Probably soon to be a decade… Sigh, getting oooold over here. I mean, if you consider soon-to-be 27 old. Tadaa, no big deal. Only told the Internet how old I am. Stay beautiful and just walk away, they say…
Either way, I never thought my recipe would become SUCH a hit when I shared the original Crispy Oven Fried Chicken a couple of years ago. And it really is The Chosen One, The Recipe to Rule them All, The Kind in the North of the crispy chicken world. You don’t have to take my word for granted though – go read all the glowing reviews on that original post, or on the more recent Garlic Parmesan Crispy Oven Fried Chicken one!
This buttermilk oven fried chicken recipe is so simple to make and absolutely foolproof, if you follow this special technique:
Marinate the chicken
I haven’t done this in my other two oven fried chicken recipes, but here I’m using a mix of buttermilk and spices to marinate the chicken, preferably overnight.
It really tenderises the meat and I found the difference in how juicy the chicken was on the inside was notable. However, it is NOT mandatory to let it sit overnight, it turns out very delicious with just a few hours in the marinade, or even a quick massage in a zip-loc bag.
Stick to this foolproof breading method:
I know it sounds silly to be so conservative about this, but I’ve seen enough students at school do this the wrong way despite incredibly clear instructions. And I just like to talk about food, so here goes:
1) Separate bowls for wet and dry ingredients
To Bowl 1, you’ll add:
The flour
The breadcrumbs (I know this is NOT in traditional fried chicken, but it makes the chicken a lot crispier in the oven than just using flour!)
The seasoning
The baking powder (to puff up the coating to create some space between the moist chicken surface and the breading)
To Bowl 2, you’ll add:
The eggs
The buttermilk
2) The dredging and dipping process
Step 1:
Shaking off excess buttermilk marinade, dredge the chicken pieces through the flour mix. Easiest done with forks, as fingers tend to get very sticky. Alternatively, strictly use one hand for dipping in the wet bowl, one hand for dipping in the dry bowl.
Step 2:
Dip the floured chicken pieces in the egg mix, shaking off any excess but making sure there are no dry spots left.
Step 3:
Dredge the chicken through the flour mix once more, making sure it’s evenly coated all the way around.
About the pan you’re using:
It’s very important to use the right kind of pan for this recipe. It needs to have the following features:
It needs to be dark to better reflect heat back onto the chicken
It has to have a rim to hold in the melted butter
It needs to be preheated in the oven before placing the chicken on top
Preheating the pan is a VERY important step – I do it with everything I want to get crispy in the oven, from oven fried chicken to homemade chicken nuggets to oven fried shrimp and even baked potato wedges.
And then just melt the butter on top…
Add the chicken without crowding the pan and bake…
Flip…
Bake and broil…
And serve! We love them dipped in honey mustard or a homemade ranch dip. With potato wedges or mash on the side. And plenty of slaw, usually a wild mix like this one.
I don’t know who decided it would be a good idea to put slaw, potatoes and crispy chicken on the same plate… But you, Madame or Monsieur, were a true genius.
Oh and P.S: Here’s how to reheat any leftovers so they crisp up again! You’re welcome, mes amies.
Also, no clue what you’re talking about. Never told you how old I am, ever.
Grab the printable recipe:
Ingredients
For the marinade:
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground paprika, I used smoked, but regular is fine
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1/2 lemon, juice only
- 2 pounds chicken breast, cut into strips (or use tenders)
For the dry coating:
- 1 1/4 cups white flour
- 4 tablespoon bread crumbs, panko or regular both work
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 tablespoon salt, use less if your salt is strong
- 2-3 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon ground paprika
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
For the wet coating:
- 2 eggs
- 2/3 cup buttermilk
For the pan:
- 1/3 cup butter
Instructions
Prep the chicken:
- Marinate: Whisk together all ingredients for the marinade (except for the chicken) in a large bowl. Add the chicken pieces, making sure they're all well coated. Cover and place in the fridge for one hour up to overnight. (If your'e short on time, simply place all the ingredients in a zip-loc bag and massage the chicken for a few minutes. Let it sit in the fridge for 10 minutes before using.)
Preheat oven and pan:
- Prep the pan and oven: Preheat the oven to 410°F (210°C). While the oven is preheating, place a dark, rimmed roasting or baking pan in the oven to heat up (more info in the post).
Bread the chicken:
- Mix the dry coating: Place all ingredients for the dry coating in a large bowl. Mix well.
- Mix the wet coating: To a separate bowl, add the eggs and 2/3 cup buttermilk. Whisk very well.
- Coat the chicken pieces: Shake off any excess marinade. Dredge the chicken through the flour mix, shaking off any excess. Dip in the egg mix, making sure the chicken is evenly covered. Dredge through the flour mix once more, making sure the chicken is evenly covered, shaking off any excess.
- Bake the chicken:
- Place butter and chicken on pan: Carefully remove the hot pan from the oven, using oven gloves. Melt the butter on it, then place the chicken pieces on top without overcrowding the pan.
- Bake: Bake for 10-12 minutes, carefully flip and bake for another 5-10 minutes (depending on how thick your chicken pieces are). Finish by broiling for a few minutes, until golden and crispy.
- Serve: The chicken will feel soft right as it comes out of the oven. Let it sit for 2 minutes before serving, it will crisp up. Don't let it sit for a long period of time before you eat it, or it will start turning soggy.
Notes
Nutrition (this is an estimate)
P.S: if you make this buttermilk oven fried chicken, please leave me a comment and star rating below – I’d love to hear what you think!