Crispy Dream: Barefoot Contessa’s Golden Buttermilk Fried Chicken Recipe

Southern comfort meets culinary elegance in this irresistible Barefoot Contessa buttermilk fried chicken recipe that promises golden, crispy perfection.

Marinated in tangy buttermilk, each piece of chicken develops an incredibly juicy interior and delightfully crunchy exterior.

The secret lies in a carefully crafted blend of herbs and spices that infuse every bite with mouthwatering flavor.

Fresh ingredients and precise techniques ensure this dish stands out from ordinary fried chicken preparations.

Rich, seasoned breading creates a delectable crunch that will have everyone at the table asking for seconds.

The recipe captures the essence of home-style cooking with a gourmet twist that elevates a classic comfort food.

This chicken isn’t just a meal – it’s a celebration of Southern culinary tradition that you won’t want to miss.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes

Calories: 750 kcal

Servings: 4

Barefoot Contessa Buttermilk Fried Chicken – Ingredients You’ll Need

• Buttermilk: Tenderizes chicken with tangy enzymes and adds rich, creamy depth to the meat's flavor profile.
• Shallot: Provides subtle, delicate onion sweetness that infuses the marinade with gentle aromatic complexity.
• Garlic: Delivers robust, pungent notes that enhance the overall savoriness of the chicken.
• Jalapeño: Introduces a zesty, spicy kick that brings warmth and exciting flavor to the marinade.
• Sea Salt: Balances and intensifies the marinade's taste while helping to season the chicken deeply.
• Black Pepper: Adds a sharp, earthy heat that complements the other marinade ingredients.

• All-Purpose Flour: Creates a crispy, golden exterior that locks in moisture and provides perfect crunch.
• Baking Powder: Helps create an extra light and airy coating that ensures maximum crispiness.
• Smoked Paprika: Imparts a rich, smoky undertone that elevates the chicken's overall flavor profile.
• Cayenne Pepper: Delivers a bold, fiery heat that adds exciting depth to the coating.
• Celery Salt: Contributes a unique, savory dimension with its distinctive herbal notes.

• Rapeseed Oil: Provides a neutral, high-heat cooking medium perfect for achieving crispy, golden-brown chicken.
• Fresh Parsley: Offers a bright, fresh garnish that adds color and a light herbal finish.
• Sea Salt: Provides a final flavor boost and enhances the crispy coating's taste.

Essential Tools for Barefoot Contessa Buttermilk Fried Chicken

• Large, heavy-bottomed pot: Perfect for deep-frying chicken with stable, even heat.
• Wire rack: Essential for draining excess oil and keeping fried chicken crispy.
• Baking tray: Helps maintain chicken's temperature and crispiness in the oven.
• Parchment paper: Crucial for pounding chicken to even thickness without mess.
• Medium bowls: Needed for marinade and coating mixtures.
• Whisk: Great for blending marinade ingredients smoothly.
• Sharp knife: Required for cutting chicken breasts into pieces.
• Tongs: Helpful for safely handling and turning chicken in hot oil.
• Thermometer: Critical for checking oil temperature during frying.
• Measuring spoons: Ensures precise seasoning measurements.

How to Fry Barefoot Contessa Buttermilk Fried Chicken

Buttermilk Southern Comfort

• Flavor Bath

Whip up a tangy buttermilk mixture with shallots, garlic, and jalapeño for an incredible flavor infusion that will make the chicken sing with deliciousness.

• Chicken Prep

Gently flatten chicken breasts into even pieces and slice them into perfectly sized portions ready for their flavor adventure.

• Marination Magic

Let the chicken rest in the buttermilk bath overnight, allowing every inch to become tender and absorb those incredible spicy notes.

• Crispy Coating Creation

Mix a blend of flour and spices that will transform your chicken into a crunchy, golden masterpiece with layers of smoky and spicy excitement.

• Oil Setup

Heat a deep pot of oil to the perfect temperature, creating a luxurious hot bath for your soon-to-be crispy chicken.

• Dredging Dance

Carefully coat each chicken piece, giving it a double-dip in seasoned flour to ensure maximum crunchiness and flavor explosion.

• Frying Perfection

Gently lower chicken into hot oil, creating a beautiful golden-brown exterior while keeping the inside juicy and succulent.

• Finishing Touches

Transfer chicken to a warm oven, letting each piece rest and maintain its crispy glory before serving with a sprinkle of fresh herbs.

Tips & Crunchy Variations for Barefoot Contessa Buttermilk Fried Chicken

• Buttermilk is the secret weapon for tenderizing chicken, infusing deep flavor and creating an incredibly juicy texture that keeps meat moist during frying.
• Adjust the cayenne and jalapeño amounts to match your heat preference – dial it down for mild or crank it up for a spicy kick that'll make taste buds dance.
• Use a deep-fry thermometer to maintain consistent oil temperature, ensuring crispy exterior and fully cooked interior without greasy or burnt results.
• Store remaining fried chicken in an airtight container and reheat in the oven at 175°C for 10-15 minutes to maintain that delicious crunch and prevent sogginess.
• Experiment with different flour blends like cornmeal or panko breadcrumbs for extra crunch, or swap spices to create unique flavor profiles that suit your style.

How to Plate Barefoot Contessa Buttermilk Fried Chicken

• Pair with Zesty Side Dishes: Complement the crispy fried chicken with tangy coleslaw, creamy potato salad, or fresh corn on the cob to balance the rich, spicy flavors.
• Create a Dipping Sauce Station: Whip up quick dipping sauces like homemade ranch, spicy sriracha mayo, or cool herb yogurt to enhance the chicken's bold taste and add extra excitement to the meal.
• Elevate with Fresh Garnishes: Sprinkle chopped fresh herbs like parsley or chives over the chicken, and serve with lemon wedges to brighten the dish and add a fresh, citrusy kick that cuts through the richness.
• Perfect Beverage Pairings: Serve with ice-cold beer, crisp white wine, or refreshing sweet tea to complement the chicken's spicy and savory profile and create a complete dining experience.

Prep Ahead & Store Barefoot Contessa Buttermilk Fried Chicken Easily

• Refrigerate Strategically: Store leftover fried chicken in an airtight container, keeping it refrigerated for up to 3-4 days to maintain optimal flavor and texture.
• Reheat with Care: Warm chicken in a preheated oven at 175°C (350°F) for 10-15 minutes to restore crispiness and prevent sogginess, avoiding microwave reheating.
• Freeze for Future Meals: Wrap individual pieces tightly in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe container to freeze for up to 1 month, ensuring best quality when consumed within 2 weeks.
• Prep Ahead Wisely: Marinate chicken overnight for maximum flavor infusion, but avoid marinating longer than 24 hours to prevent the meat from becoming too soft or breaking down.

Crispy Barefoot Contessa Buttermilk Fried Chicken Recipe

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4.8 from 37 reviews

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

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Description

Barefoot Contessa’s buttermilk fried chicken recipe delivers crispy, golden perfection with Ina Garten’s signature touch. Southern-style comfort shines through expertly seasoned chicken that promises delightful crunch and rich flavor you’ll savor.

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Ingredients

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• 3 boneless chicken breasts
• 475 milliliters (16 fl oz) buttermilk
• 440 grams (15.5 oz) plain flour
• 2.7 liters (91 fl oz) rapeseed oil
• 4 tsps baking powder
• 2.5 tsps smoked paprika
• 1 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1 tsp celery salt
• 1 shallot, peeled and thinly sliced
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• 1 jalapeño pepper, halved lengthwise
• Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
• Fresh parsley, for garnish

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Instructions

1. Marinade Preparation: Whisk buttermilk, shallot, garlic, jalapeño, sea salt, and black pepper in a medium bowl, creating a zesty flavor-infusing liquid.
2. Chicken Preparation: Butterfly and slice chicken breasts into six uniform pieces, ensuring consistent thickness for even cooking.
3. Marinating Process: Completely submerge chicken in the aromatic buttermilk mixture, seal, and refrigerate for 8-24 hours to enhance tenderness and flavor absorption.
4. Dredging Station: Blend all-purpose flour, baking powder, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, celery salt, sea salt, and black pepper to create a complex seasoning coating.
5. Equipment Setup: Preheat oven to 250°F and position a wire rack inside a baking tray to maintain chicken’s temperature and crispiness during cooking.
6. Oil Heating: Fill a heavy-bottomed pot with rapeseed oil to 2 inches depth, heating to precisely 350°F using a digital thermometer for optimal frying conditions.
7. Coating and Frying: Remove chicken from marinade, thoroughly coat in seasoned flour mixture, then carefully lower three pieces into hot oil, frying 5-6 minutes until golden-brown and internal temperature reaches 165°F.
8. Batch Cooking: Transfer each batch to the oven rack, maintaining warmth and crispiness while completing subsequent frying rounds.
9. Finishing Touches: Sprinkle additional sea salt over the chicken, garnish with freshly chopped parsley, and serve immediately for maximum flavor and texture.

Notes

• Marinate Smartly: Let chicken soak in buttermilk mixture between 12-18 hours for maximum flavor penetration and tenderness, avoiding over-marinating beyond 24 hours.
• Temperature Precision: Use a digital thermometer to monitor oil heat at exactly 350°F, ensuring crispy exterior without burning or undercooking chicken.
• Double-Dredge Technique: Re-dip and re-coat chicken in flour mixture after initial coating creates an extra crunchy, textured breading that locks in moisture.
• Batch Cooking Mastery: Fry only three pieces simultaneously to maintain consistent oil temperature and prevent overcrowding, which leads to soggy chicken.

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

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 750
• Sugar: 1 g
• Sodium: 800 mg
• Fat: 40 g
• Saturated Fat: 5 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 30 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 60 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 35 g
• Cholesterol: 120 mg