Buttermilk Chicken Marinade
This is the Buttermilk Chicken Marinade I reach for whenever I want incredibly tender, flavorful chicken! It comes together in just 1 bowl, takes a minute to make, and works whether you marinate the chicken for 30 minutes or overnight. Use it for fried chicken, grilled chicken, pan-seared chicken breasts, Oven-Fried Chicken and more!
Ingredients
- 1 lb (450 g) chicken
- 1 cup (240 ml) buttermilk (check recipe notes below for homemade buttermilk)
- 2 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder (or up to 1/4 tsp)
- Pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- Make the marinade. Mix together the buttermilk, salt, paprika, garlic, and pepper.
- Marinate. Add the chicken to the marinade, give it a quick mix, then cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate. Marinate for 30 minutes to an hour for a quick marinade, 2-4 hours for a good marinade, and 8 hours or overnight for best flavor and texture. Do not marinate for longer than 1-2 days.
- Cook the chicken. Remove the chicken from the marinade and discard the marinade. If frying, roasting, or grilling, pat dry for ultra crispiness. Cook according to the dish you'd like to make.
Notes
Chicken: I like using tenders because they marinate quickly, but you can use pretty much any cut from chicken breast to chicken thighs, drumsticks, wings, and even a whole chicken. Bone-in and skin-on are great too!
Homemade Buttermilk: You can make homemade buttermilk by mixing together 1 cup (250 ml) whole milk with 1 tablespoon (15 ml) vinegar or lemon juice. Once mixed, let it sit for 5-10 minutes, until thickened.
Marinating: Do not exceed 24 hours when marinating because the chicken might turn mushy. Most cuts need just a few hours or overnight at most, the only time I marinate longer than overnight is when I’m doing a whole roasted chicken.
Crispier Texture: If you’re grilling, pan-searing, or roasting, pat the chicken dry with some paper towels before cooking for extra crispiness!
Nutrition
Calories: 161kcalCarbohydrates: 4gProtein: 15gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.04gCholesterol: 76mgSodium: 1305mgPotassium: 275mgFiber: 0.4gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 626IUVitamin C: 0.01mgCalcium: 80mgIron: 1mg
Did you make this recipe?Please leave a comment and star rating on this post and tag @DamnSpicyyy on Instagram & hashtag it #itsdamnspicy!
