Description
Buttermilk ranch oven fried chicken comes out crispy and golden when you coat your chicken in a seasoned buttermilk mixture before baking. Crunchy, flavorful, and way healthier than deep frying, this dish delivers restaurant-quality chicken right from your home kitchen.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 4 chicken thighs
- 4 chicken drumsticks
Coating and Seasoning:
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 tablespoon ranch seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
Liquid:
- 1 cup buttermilk
Instructions
- Warm your oven to exactly 400°F and position the rack in the center for even cooking.
- Whisk 1 cup buttermilk with 2 tablespoons ranch seasoning in a medium bowl until thoroughly combined.
- Submerge chicken thighs and drumsticks completely in the buttermilk mixture, ensuring each piece is saturated. Refrigerate for minimum 1 hour.
- Prepare your breading station by mixing 1 cup breadcrumbs with 1 teaspoon each of garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika. Add a pinch of salt and pepper for extra seasoning.
- Lift chicken pieces from buttermilk, allowing excess liquid to drip back into the bowl.
- Roll each chicken piece in the seasoned breadcrumb mixture, pressing gently to help crumbs adhere completely.
- Arrange breaded chicken on a parchment-lined baking sheet, spacing pieces about 1 inch apart to ensure crispy edges.
- Bake chicken for precisely 35-40 minutes at 400°F until the exterior turns deep golden brown and internal temperature reaches 165°F.
Notes
- Let the chicken marinate longer for deeper flavor, up to 24 hours in the refrigerator for maximum tenderness.
- Ensure breadcrumbs are evenly distributed and pressed firmly onto chicken for a crispy, golden coating.
- Use a meat thermometer to check internal temperature reaches 165F for perfectly safe, juicy chicken.
- For gluten-free version, swap regular breadcrumbs with crushed gluten-free crackers or almond flour.
- Prep Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35-40 minutes
- Category: Oven-Fried
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg