The Barefoot Contessa’s Golden Buttermilk Fried Chicken Recipe

Buttermilk fried chicken represents a southern culinary tradition that transforms ordinary poultry into an extraordinary dining experience.

Crisp, golden-brown exteriors promise a mouth-watering texture that crackles with each delectable bite.

Rich marination techniques infuse tender meat with robust flavor profiles and incredible depth.

Seasoned cooks understand the delicate balance between crispy breading and succulent interior requires careful preparation.

Home kitchens come alive with sizzling sounds and enticing aromas that signal comfort food at its finest.

Mastering this technique means creating a dish that connects generations through shared gastronomic memories.

Hungry diners will appreciate the perfect harmony of spices and techniques that elevate simple ingredients: prepare to amaze your dinner companions.

Why Barefoot Contessa Buttermilk Fried Chicken Is Comfort Food

• Elevate Flavor Complexity: The buttermilk marinade infuses deep, tangy richness into every chicken piece, while the blend of shallots, garlic, and jalapeño creates a sophisticated flavor profile that transforms ordinary fried chicken into a gourmet experience.
• Master Foolproof Frying Technique: The double-dredging method ensures an incredibly crispy, golden-brown exterior that locks in moisture, with the precise temperature control and strategic oven-warming preventing soggy or overcooked chicken while maintaining restaurant-quality results.
• Customize Spice Adventure: The strategic mix of smoked paprika, cayenne, and celery salt allows home cooks to play with heat levels and create a personalized flavor journey, making this recipe adaptable for spice lovers and those who prefer milder tastes without compromising on deliciousness.
• Impressive Entertaining Showstopper: This fried chicken elevates casual dining into a memorable meal, perfect for weekend gatherings, game days, or when you want to surprise guests with a professionally prepared dish that looks and tastes like it came from a high-end restaurant kitchen.

Crucial Ingredients for Barefoot Contessa Buttermilk Fried Chicken

• Chicken Breasts: Lean protein that forms the main dish, best when fresh and evenly sized.

• Buttermilk, Shallot, Garlic, Jalapeño: Tenderizing mixture that adds depth of flavor and helps create a juicy chicken texture.

• All-Purpose Flour, Baking Powder: Creates a crispy, light exterior that ensures perfect golden-brown coating.
• Smoked Paprika, Cayenne Pepper, Celery Salt: Spice blend that provides complex, bold flavor profiles.

• Rapeseed Oil: Neutral oil with high smoke point perfect for deep frying.
• Sea Salt, Black Pepper: Essential seasonings that enhance overall taste and provide balanced seasoning.

• Fresh Parsley: Bright herb that adds color and fresh finish to the dish.

Savor the Crunch with Buttermilk Fried Chicken Magic

Step 1: Whisk Marinade Mixture

• Buttermilk
• Finely chopped shallot
• Minced garlic
• Diced jalapeño
• Sea salt
• Black pepper

Step 2: Prepare Chicken Pieces

Place chicken breasts between parchment paper and gently pound until evenly thick. Slice each breast into two symmetrical pieces.

Step 3: Marinate Chicken

Submerge chicken pieces completely in the marinade. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 8-24 hours, allowing flavors to deeply penetrate the meat.

Step 4: Create Crispy Coating

• All-purpose flour
• Baking powder
• Smoked paprika
• Cayenne pepper
• Celery salt
• Sea salt
• Black pepper

Step 5: Preheat Warming Station

Set oven to 250°F (120°C). Place a wire rack inside a baking tray to hold fried chicken.

Step 6: Heat Cooking Oil

Pour rapeseed oil into a heavy-bottomed pot, filling about 2 inches deep. Heat oil until it reaches 350°F (175°C).

Step 7: Dredge Chicken

Remove chicken from marinade, letting excess drip off. Coat each piece in flour mixture, dip back into marinade, then coat again with flour. Shake off extra coating.

Step 8: Fry Chicken Batches

Carefully place three chicken pieces into hot oil. Fry for 5 minutes, turning once, until golden and fully cooked.

Step 9: Keep Chicken Warm

Transfer fried pieces to wire rack in preheated oven. Continue frying remaining chicken.

Step 10: Serve and Garnish

Sprinkle freshly fried chicken with sea salt. Garnish with chopped parsley. Serve immediately while hot and crispy.

Tips to Make Buttermilk Chicken Crispy and Golden Every Time

• Lock in Flavor: Buttermilk tenderizes the chicken meat, creating a rich, tangy base that transforms ordinary chicken into a mouthwatering dish.
• Temperature Control Matters: A steady 175°C ensures golden, crispy exterior without burning or undercooking the chicken, making each bite perfectly cooked.
• Build a Crispy Armor: Double dredging creates layers of flour that transform into a crunchy, irresistible coating that seals in all the juicy goodness.
• Space for Sizzling Success: Frying chicken in small batches maintains oil temperature, preventing soggy, greasy results and ensuring each piece gets maximum crispiness.
• Drain and Elevate: Resting fried chicken on a wire rack allows excess oil to drip away, keeping the incredible crunch intact and preserving the perfect texture.

Keep That Fried Chicken Fresh and Fabulous After Dinner

• Cool Down: Let freshly fried chicken rest at room temperature for 15-20 minutes before storing to prevent condensation and maintain crispiness. Lock in the golden, crunchy exterior by avoiding immediate refrigeration.
• Vacuum Seal: Invest in a vacuum sealer to remove air completely from storage bags, extending the chicken's freshness up to 4 months in the freezer. This method prevents freezer burn and preserves the original flavor and texture more effectively than traditional plastic wrap or containers.
• Layer Wisely: When stacking fried chicken pieces in storage containers, place parchment paper between layers to prevent sticking and maintain the crispy coating. Separate light and dark meat pieces to ensure even heat distribution during future reheating, which helps maintain the chicken's delectable crunch and juiciness.

Try These Fun Twists for Buttermilk Chicken You’ll Rave About

• Spicy Jalapeño Kick: Add an extra diced jalapeño to the marinade and increase cayenne pepper in the coating for a fiery, bold flavor profile.
• Herb-Infused Southern Style: Mix fresh chopped thyme, rosemary, and sage into the flour coating for an aromatic herb-enhanced chicken experience.
• Buttermilk Ranch Fusion: Replace part of the buttermilk with ranch dressing and sprinkle dried ranch seasoning into the flour mixture for a tangy, creamy twist.
• Crispy Cornflake Crunch: Substitute half the flour with crushed cornflakes in the coating to create an extra crispy, golden exterior with more textural complexity.

A Crispy Farewell to Buttermilk Fried Chicken Bliss

Barefoot Contessa’s buttermilk fried chicken transcends ordinary meal preparation with its complex flavor profile and crispy exterior.

Culinary enthusiasts will discover a remarkable balance between tangy buttermilk marinade and perfectly seasoned coating.

Ina Garten’s signature technique ensures each chicken piece reaches maximum flavor potential through careful marination and precise frying techniques.

Regional Southern cooking traditions shine through this masterful recipe, connecting home cooks with generations of culinary expertise.

Crisp, golden-brown edges promise a delightful crunch that complements juicy chicken meat underneath.

Readers can savor this recipe’s rich heritage, share its delicious story across social platforms, spark conversations with fellow cooking aficionados, and inspire kitchen creativity through this classic comfort dish.

Barefoot Contessa Buttermilk Fried Chicken Recipe

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4.6 from 9 reviews

• Total Time: 35 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Barefoot Contessa’s buttermilk fried chicken delivers southern comfort with crispy, golden perfection. Ina Garten’s signature recipe combines tangy buttermilk marinade and seasoned flour coating for a crowd-pleasing classic that brings pure culinary joy to your dinner table.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 3 boneless chicken breasts
• 440 grams (15.5 ounces) plain flour
• 2.7 liters (91 fluid ounces) rapeseed oil
• 475 milliliters (16 fluid ounces) buttermilk

Seasoning and Spices:

• 4 teaspoons baking powder
• 2.5 teaspoons smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 teaspoon celery salt
• Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Aromatics and Garnish:

• 1 shallot, peeled and thinly sliced
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• 1 jalapeño pepper, halved lengthwise
• Fresh parsley, for garnish

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Instructions

1. Craft a zesty buttermilk infusion by whisking together buttermilk, finely minced shallot, crushed garlic, diced jalapeño, sea salt (10 grams / ), and freshly ground black pepper (5 grams / ) in a medium mixing bowl.
2. Gently butterfly chicken breasts between parchment paper, flattening to a uniform 0.5 inch (1.25 centimeters) thickness. Slice each breast into two equal portions, creating six uniform pieces.
3. Immerse chicken pieces completely in the aromatic buttermilk marinade, ensuring full coverage. Seal with plastic wrap and refrigerate for a minimum of 8 hours, with an ideal duration of 12-18 hours, but not exceeding 24 hours.
4. Construct a flavorful dredging mixture by combining all-purpose flour, baking powder, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, celery salt, additional sea salt (15 grams / ), and more black pepper (7.5 grams / ) in a separate wide bowl.
5. Prepare a warming station by preheating the oven to 250°F (120°C) and positioning a wire rack inside a baking tray.
6. Select a heavy-bottomed pot and fill with rapeseed oil to a depth of 2 inches (5 centimeters). Heat oil until it reaches precisely 350°F (175°C) using a digital thermometer.
7. Extract chicken from marinade, allowing excess liquid to drain. Thoroughly coat each piece in the seasoned flour mixture, briefly re-dip in marinade, then re-coat with flour for an extra crispy exterior.
8. Carefully lower three chicken pieces into the hot oil, maintaining sufficient space between them. Fry for approximately 5-6 minutes, rotating once, until achieving a deep golden-brown color and internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
9. Transfer freshly fried chicken to the prepared oven rack, maintaining consistent warmth and crispiness while completing subsequent batches.
10. After completing all frying, delicately sprinkle additional sea salt over the chicken. Garnish with freshly chopped parsley and serve immediately while piping hot.

Notes

• Unlock deep flavor by soaking chicken in tangy buttermilk overnight, ensuring each bite melts with incredible tenderness.
• Maintain precise oil temperature around 175°C using a reliable kitchen thermometer to guarantee perfectly golden, crispy exterior.
• Create a crunchy armor by strategically dredging chicken through seasoned flour, buttermilk, and flour again for maximum textural excitement.
• Protect crispy potential by frying chicken pieces in small batches, preventing oil temperature drops and unwanted greasiness.
• Allow freshly fried chicken to rest briefly on a wire rack, letting excess oil drip away and preserving that irresistible crunch.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Snacks
• Method: Frying
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 333 kcal
• Sugar: 7g
• Sodium: 1,040mg
• Fat: 12g
• Saturated Fat: 2.2g
• Carbohydrates: 40g
• Fiber: Not specified
• Protein: 16g