Recipes Buttermilk Fried Chicken 5.0 (4,363) 2 Reviews A sugar-and-salt-spiked whole-milk brine makes Dave Arnold's chicken sweet and juicy; a mixture of buttermilk, flour, baking powder and baking soda yields an extra crisp crust.Plus: More Chicken Recipes and Tips By Dave Arnold Dave Arnold Watch Mixologist Dave Arnold Makes the Perfect Gin and Tonic Food & Wine's Editorial Guidelines Updated on June 16, 2016 Print Rate It Share Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: © Matthew Armendariz - mattbites.com Active Time: 1 hr 15 mins Total Time: 3 hrs 30 mins Yield: 6 to 8 Ingredients 1 quart whole milk Kosher salt 1/2 cup sugar Two 4-pound chickens, each cut into 8 pieces 2 cups buttermilk 2 large eggs, lightly beaten 1 teaspoon sweet paprika 1 teaspoon hot sauce 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper 2 teaspoons baking powder 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda About 5 cups all-purpose flour 1 quart vegetable oil, for frying Directions In a small saucepan, combine 1 cup of the milk with 3/4 cup of kosher salt and the sugar and stir over moderate heat just until the sugar and salt dissolve, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a large, deep bowl and add the remaining 3 cups of milk. Add the chicken pieces and refrigerate for 4 hours. Drain the chicken and pat thoroughly dry. In a bowl, mix the buttermilk, eggs, 2 tablespoons of salt, the paprika, hot sauce and pepper. Whisk in the baking powder and baking soda. Put half of the flour in a large bowl. Working with a few pieces at a time, dredge the chicken in the flour, tapping off any excess. Dip the chicken in the buttermilk, letting the excess drip off; return the chicken to the flour and turn to coat. Transfer to a rack. Repeat with the remaining chicken, adding more flour as needed. If the flour becomes too lumpy, sift it. Heat the oil in 2 large, deep skillets until shimmering. Working in batches, add the chicken to the skillets in a single layer, without crowding, and fry over moderate heat, turning occasionally, until deep golden and cooked through, 18 to 20 minutes; an instant-read thermometer inserted near the bone should register 160°. Drain the chicken on wire racks lined with paper towels and fry the remaining pieces. Serve hot or warm. Make Ahead The chicken can be fried up to 4 hours ahead and reheated. Suggested Pairing A lively, fruity, low-tannin Beaujolais has the fruit and acidity to contrast with the pleasantly sweet chicken. Rate it Print