This fried chicken recipe without buttermilk is hard to beat. The chicken is super tender and juicy with an extra crispy texture that is just to die for. It seriously might be the best Southern fried chicken ever, and you'll love how easy it is to make!
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The Best Fried Chicken With No Buttermilk
If you love fried chicken, then get ready because this might be one of my best chicken recipes yet. With entirely common household ingredients, you can have perfectly crispy fried chicken ready in minutes, with absolutely no buttermilk needed!
Now, I'm not kidding when I say this crispy fried chicken recipe is finger-lickin' good. The chicken is coated in a flour and spice blend that gives it so much flavor, and then it's fried until extra crispy and crunchy while keeping the chicken super juicy.
Gah, it's so good I could eat it every day! And as far as making fried chicken goes, this recipe might just be the easiest one out there. I'd say it's as easy as my fried chicken breast recipe, another one of the most delicious fried chicken recipes you'll ever make.
Anyway, since making this easy fried chicken recipe is a breeze, you'll have plenty of time to whip up some tasty sides to serve with it. If you're looking for what to serve with fried chicken, these Popeyes biscuits, this Jiffy jalapeno cornbread, and old fashioned baked macaroni and cheese are my go-to recipes to make.
Ingredients For Fried Chicken Without Buttermilk
- Chicken drumsticks- you can also use chicken breasts, chicken thighs, and even chicken legs. Just make sure to use skin-on chicken for the best results.
- Eggs- two large ones.
- All-purpose flour- to coat the chicken.
- Salt and pepper- to taste.
- Paprika powder and cayenne pepper- for that classic slight spice.
- Onion powder- to add some savory flavor.
- Dried thyme and dried rosemary- for an herb flavor to balance everything out.
- Oil- for frying. I like to use vegetable oil, but canola oil and peanut oil will both work as well.
By the way, if you end up with any extra chicken drumsticks, you can use them to make these baked chicken quarters, so you'll definitely want to give that recipe a try next!
How To Make Fried Chicken Without Buttermilk
STEP 1: PREP WORK
First, you'll want to begin by seasoning the chicken with salt and pepper. Then you can set it aside. Next, beat the eggs in a bowl and whisk the flour, paprika, onion, thyme, rosemary, and cayenne pepper in another bowl until fully combined. Oh, and add a few generous pinches of salt and black pepper to the flour mixture.
STEP 2: DOUBLE COAT THE CHICKEN
Now that the breading stations are prepared, you'll want to first coat the raw chicken completely with the flour and then dredge the chicken in the egg wash. Next, coat the chicken a second time in the flour mixture and make sure it's covered on all sides. After that, you can repeat these steps until you've fully dredged all of the chicken pieces.
STEP 3: FRY THE CHICKEN
Once all of the chicken is breaded, you'll want to heat 2-inches of oil in a deep skillet or saucepot. Then, as soon as the oil is hot, you can add the chicken to it in batches. Fry the chicken for 5 minutes per side until crispy.
Then, you can remove the chicken from the hot oil, let it drain on a wire rack, and repeat the frying process with the rest of the chicken. As soon as all of your chicken has been fried to golden perfection, you can serve it warm with any sides that you want. Enjoy!
Tips To Make The Best Recipe
- Be careful not to overcrowd the skillet since this can lower the temperature of the oil.
- Make sure the oil is hot before adding any chicken to it. Hot oil equals extra crispy fried chicken.
- To be safe, you'll know the chicken is cooked when the internal temperature reaches 165°F
How To Store and Reheat Fried Chicken
This recipe for fried chicken without buttermilk makes about 4 servings, so it's perfect for a family dinner!
Then, if you end up with some leftover fried chicken, you can store it in an airtight container and keep it in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. Or, if you want to store your fried chicken for even longer, you can freeze it in an airtight container - or freezer-safe bag - for up to 4 months.
Whenever you're ready to enjoy your classic Southern fried chicken again, you'll definitely want to reheat it first. And to reheat your dairy free fried chicken, I recommend using either the oven or air fryer.
If you're using the oven, you'll want to preheat it to 350°F and then transfer your leftover chicken to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Then you can heat the fried chicken thighs for 7-10 minutes or until it's hot.
Alternatively, if you're using the air fryer, you'll want to transfer your leftover chicken to the air fryer basket and heat it at 400°F for 3-4 minutes or until it's fully reheated.
Frequently Asked Questions
WHAT CAN I USE INSTEAD OF BUTTERMILK FOR FRIED CHICKEN?
You can use the egg wash and flour coating method in this recipe instead of buttermilk for fried chicken. The double breading method makes the chicken extremely crispy, and the seasoned flour mixture gives it an incredible flavor.
CAN I USE EGGS INSTEAD OF BUTTERMILK FOR FRIED CHICKEN?
Yes, you can use eggs instead of buttermilk for fried chicken! Coating chicken in a beaten egg mixture is a great way to swap buttermilk and still end up with golden brown and crispy fried chicken.
WHAT SHOULD I SOAK MY CHICKEN IN BEFORE FRYING?
You do not need to soak your chicken in anything before frying. The best part about this recipe is there's no soaking needed to make the chicken turn out super crispy and juicy.
CAN I USE SOUR CREAM INSTEAD OF BUTTERMILK FOR FRIED CHICKEN?
Yes, you can use sour cream instead of buttermilk for fried chicken. Adding a small amount of milk to the sour cream will give it a better texture to coat the chicken before frying.
More Chicken Recipes To Try
- Oven baked chicken tenders
- Oven baked chicken cutlets
- Fried chicken legs (with chicken injection sauce)
- Baked chicken leg quarters
- Panko chicken tenders
- Chicken and stuffing casserole
- Shake and bake chicken
Oh, and for even more deliciousness, be sure to follow us on YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram. We post new recipes every day!
Fried Chicken without Buttermilk
This fried chicken recipe without buttermilk is hard to beat. The chicken is super tender and juicy with an extra crispy texture that is just to die for. It seriously might be the best Southern fried chicken ever, and you'll love how easy it is to make!
Ingredients
- 1.5lb. chicken drumstick, or other favorite parts, like legs or wings
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 teaspoon paprika powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon dried rosemary
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- Oil, for frying
Instructions
- Season the chicken with salt and pepper and set aside.
- Beat eggs in a bowl.
- Whisk flour, paprika, onion, thyme, rosemary, and cayenne pepper in a separate bowl. Add generous pinches of salt and black pepper.
- Coat the chicken with flour, then dredge through the eggs. Finally, coat the chicken once more with the flour mixture.
- Repeat the process until you have used all the chicken.
- Heat 2-inchs of oil in a skillet or saucepot.
- Once the oil is heated, add chicken. Do not overcrowd the skillet. Fry the chicken for 5 minutes per side or until the inner temperature reaches 165F.
- Drain the chicken on a wire rack.
- Repeat with the rest of the chicken.
- Serve chicken warm with sides of choice.
Nutrition Information:
Serving Size:
1 servingAmount Per Serving: Calories: 455Total Fat: 19gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 0mgCarbohydrates: 24gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 43g
Nina
I never made fried chicken at home before but this sounded easy and I made it and the chicken was delicious
Kelly
The crispiness on the chicken was amazing!!!
Katrina
I can't stop making this I love it.
Stafford Julien
This recipe I really have to try. It sounds like a good idea for me to try it.
Shirley
I grew up in the south and this fried chicken brought me back to my favorite fried chicken growing up