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Home » Recipes » Main Dishes » Chicken & Turkey

Gluten-free Crispy Southern Fried Chicken

Published: Jun 11, 2022 · Modified: Oct 21, 2022 by Sara Vaughn · 9 Comments

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This gluten-free fried chicken recipe makes the best southern-style chicken that is flavorful and juicy on the inside with an extra crispy breading. No one will believe this is gluten-free chicken.

I grew up in the south, and if you know anything about southerners, we love fried foods. Now that I am gluten-free, I've had to figure out how to make all my favorite fried foods into gluten-free fried foods. One of the first recipes I had to tackle was this gluten-free fried chicken recipe.

Gluten-free breaded and fried chicken on a plate surrounded by pickles and potato chips.
Jump to:
  • This gluten-free fried chicken recipe makes the best southern-style chicken that is flavorful and juicy on the inside with an extra crispy breading. No one will believe this is gluten-free chicken.
  • Is there gluten in fried chicken?
  • The secret to the best fried chicken.
  • Ingredients.
  • Fried chicken without eggs.
  • Dairy-free fried chicken recipe.
  • Steps.
  • Gluten-free breading tips.
  • Gluten-free fried chicken FAQ
  • Fried chicken for a crowd.
  • Make ahead.
  • Storing.
  • Reheating.
  • Serving suggestions.
  • 📖 Recipe
  • Comments and Ratings

Is there gluten in fried chicken?

Traditional fried chicken does contain gluten so if you think you can go get gluten-free chicken at KFC or another restaurant, you won't. There are a few places that do sell gluten-free fried chicken, but it's not common yet. I've got you covered because making homemade fried chicken gluten-free is actually quite easy to do.

The secret to the best fried chicken.

The secret to making this the best gluten-free fried chicken lies in the marinade and the breading.

  • This gluten-free chicken soaks in a marinade with a combination of buttermilk, pickle juice, and spices. Trust me, it might sound odd, but the combination makes the juiciest chicken.
  • When making the crispiest gluten-free fried chicken, you need to add crushed potato chips to the breading. DO NOT skip this ingredient.

I've made this gluten-free chicken recipe for many people, and no one ever believes it is gluten-free fried chicken.

Ingredients.

Okay, I am going to finally spill the beans on the ingredients to make the best gluten-free fried chicken that is not only delicious, but extra crispy!

  • Bone-in Chicken Pieces
  • Buttermilk - See below for how to make this a dairy-free fried chicken.
  • Pickle Juice
  • 1:1 Gluten-free Flour - I use King Author 1:1 for this recipe.
  • Corn Starch - You can also substitute with potato starch.
  • Potato Chips - Use plain, salted potato chips. I like to use Kettle brand or plain Ruffles as both are gluten-free potato chips.
  • Paprika
  • Sage
  • Celery Salt
  • Onion Powder
  • Garlic Powder
  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • Oil fr frying
Ingredients for a crispy gluten-free chicken breading in a bowl not mixed yet pointing out the secret ingredient.

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Fried chicken without eggs.

This gluten-free breaded chicken recipe does not use any eggs. While eggs are typically used for making a breading stick to chicken, the buttermilk marinade acts in its place. That makes this an egg-free fried chicken.

Can you make gluten-free chicken with an egg coating? You can, but you want to make sure you let the chicken really dry before frying. The extra moisture in the egg can make the breading harder to get crisp with the gluten-free flour.

Dairy-free fried chicken recipe.

This gluten-free fried chicken uses a twist on a traditional buttermilk marinade. However, if you want to make this a dairy-free chicken marinade, just swap the buttermilk for your dairy-free milk of choice and vinegar.

  • This recipe calls for 3 cups of buttermilk so use 3 cups of your dairy-free milk and 3 tablespoons of vinegar.
  • You will want to let this mixture sit for at least 5 minutes to let it start to curdle a little bit before adding the rest of the chicken marinade ingredients.

I have found that coconut milk and apple cider vinegar make a good base to make this dairy-free fried chicken.

Steps.

  1. Marinade the chicken in the buttermilk brine.
  2. Make the chicken breading.
  3. Dredge the marinated chicken in the gluten-free breading.
  4. Let the breading rest and dry on the chicken after dredging the chicken.
  5. Fry the chicken.
Steps for making gluten-free breaded chicken.

Gluten-free breading tips.

  • Press the breading into the chicken - Do not shake off any excess breading. If you need to dunk the breaded chicken back into the marinade and then back into the breading to stick more, you can.
  • Let the breading dry on the chicken - Allowing the breading to dry on the chicken before frying allows the breading to adhere to the chicken better and keeps the breading from falling off when you fry it.
  • Do not overcrowd the pan when frying - Only frying a few pieces at a time helps to keep the chicken from bumping into each other, which can knock breading off. It also helps to keep the oil temperature more regulated, so the oil temperature does not drop, making the breading fall off the chicken.
  • Be careful moving the chicken - Use togs and only touch one part of the chicken when moving it around. The more you touch the chicken, the easier the breading can fall off.
  • Let the chicken rest on a cooling rack - Do NOT place the fried chicken pieces directly onto a flat surface to cool. The chicken will steam where it comes in contact, and the breading can get soft.

Gluten-free fried chicken FAQ

What is the best flour for making gluten-free fried chicken?

I've found the best flour to use for gluten-free frying is a 1:1 blend that contains rice. Fried chicken with a rice flour blend and added cornstarch makes for extra crispy gluten-free chicken.

What is the best oil for making fried chicken?

Typically peanut oil is used for frying, but you can also use avocado oil, vegetable oil, canola oil, or another high-heat oil. Do not use olive oil or another low-smoke point oil.

What temperature does the oil need to be to make fried chicken?

The best oil temperature for fried chicken should be about 350 degrees. Be sure to watch the temperature of your oil as you add chicken and adjust the temperature as needed.

Do you need a deep fryer to make fried chicken?

No, you do not need a deep fryer to make fried chicken. You can use a heavy-bottom pan like a dutch oven or even a cast-iron skillet to make fried chicken.

What temperature is fried chicken when it's done?

Fried chicken is done when the internal temperature reads 165 degrees. Cooking fried chicken should take about 15 minutes per batch of chicken in hot oil.

Up close view of how crispy a pile of gluten-free fried chicken is.

Fried chicken for a crowd.

Absolutely, you can make this gluten-free fried chicken for a crowd. I do it all the time. One batch of this breading will coat about 12-15 pieces of chicken, depending on the size. I will often double the breading, and I can usually get about 30 pieces of fried chicken.

When you are making fried chicken for a crowd, I like to keep pieces warm in the oven as they come out of the hot oil. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees and place a rack over a baking sheet. As the chicken comes out of the oil, transfer it to the rack in the oven. The heat will help keep the crust crispy until you are ready to eat.

Make ahead.

This gluten-free fried chicken is best served the day it is fried. However, there are a few ways you can prep this ahead of time.

  • This chicken soaks in the buttermilk marinade for at least two hours. If you want to, you can make the chicken marinade the day ahead and let the chicken soak overnight. The flavors will be more developed in the chicken, with it soaking overnight.
  • The gluten-free breading needs to dry on the chicken before frying. If I want to make this ahead of time, I will bread the chicken and place it on a cooling rack on a tray and place it in the fridge uncovered to dry. Then I will let it sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes while I get the oil hot before frying.

This can help you have the fried chicken ready on your time schedule. It's totally worth the wait.

Storing.

This gluten-free fried chicken is best served the day it is fried. If you have leftovers, you can store them in the fridge for 2-3 days. The skin will lose some of its crispiness as it cools.

Reheating.

  • You can reheat fried chicken in the microwave, but you won't get the crispy skin that you had on it coming out of the oil.
  • A better way to reheat fried chicken is to place it on a rack over a baking tray and bake the fried chicken at 375 degrees for about 15 minutes.
  • The best way to reheat fried chicken is in the air-fryer. I don't recommend making fried chicken in the air fryer initially but reheating this fried chicken in the air fryer gets the crispiest crust that is the closest to coming right out of the hot oil.

Serving suggestions.

This gluten-free fried chicken recipe is delicious no matter how you serve it. My kids love it with a side of my gluten-free mac and cheese, and my husband loves it with my gluten-free, loaded mashed potatoes. I personally love something simple, like my gluten-free potato salad. You can also check out some of these gluten-free side dishes to serve as well.

  • Smashed Fingerling Potatoes
  • Cheesy Brussels Sprouts (gluten-free)
  • The Best Gluten-free Sweet Potato Casserole
  • Crispy Roasted Sweet Potatoes
A piece of gluten-free breaded chicken being picked up to be eaten.

📖 Recipe

Gluten-free fried chicken pieces stacked on a wooden plate.

Gluten-free Crispy Southern Fried Chicken

Sara Vaughn
This gluten-free fried chicken recipe makes the best southern-style chicken that is flavorful and juicy on the inside with an extra crispy breading. No one will believe this is gluten-free chicken.
5 from 8 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 2 hrs
Cook Time 45 mins
Total Time 2 hrs 45 mins
Course chicken, Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 6
Calories 425 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 10-11 Pieces Bone-in-Chicken Pieces I tend to use thighs and legs,

For the buttermilk chicken brine

  • 3 Cups Buttermilk See note for making this a dairy-free brine.
  • 1 Cup Pickle Juice I use Bubbies Brand.
  • ½ Tablespoon Paprika
  • 1 Tablespoon Sage
  • 2 Teaspoons Celery Salt
  • 1 Tablespoon Garlic Powder
  • 1 Tablespoon Onion Powder
  • 1 Tablespoon Salt
  • ½ Tablespoon Pepper

For the gluten-free breading.

  • 2 ½ Cups 1:1 Gluten-free Flour I use King Author 1:1.
  • ¾ Cup Cornstarch You can use potato starch or tapioca starch to keep this grain free chicken.
  • 1 Cup Potato Chips Crushed to about ½ pea sized pieces.
  • ½ Teaspoon Paprika
  • 1 Teaspoon Sage
  • ¼ Teaspoon Celery Salt
  • 1 Teaspoon Garlic Powder
  • 1 Teaspoon Onion Powder
  • 1 Teaspoon Salt
  • ½ Teaspoon Pepper

For Frying

  • Hight Smoke Point Oil Enough to fill pot about 3 inches deep.

Instructions
 

Marinate the chicken in the buttermilk brine.

  • Combine the buttermilk and the remaining ingredients for the buttermilk brine into a large bowl.
    3 Cups Buttermilk, 1 Cup Pickle Juice, ½ Tablespoon Paprika, 1 Tablespoon Sage, 2 Teaspoons Celery Salt, 1 Tablespoon Garlic Powder, 1 Tablespoon Onion Powder, 1 Tablespoon Salt, ½ Tablespoon Pepper
  • Add the pieces of chicken into the bowl. You want to ensure that all the chicken is submerged in the buttermilk brine.
    10-11 Pieces Bone-in-Chicken Pieces
  • Cover the bowl of chicken with the brine and place it in the fridge to marinate for at least two hours or overnight.

Make the gluten-free breading to coat the chicken.

  • Combine the gluten-free flour, the cornstarch, and the crushed potato chips with the remaining spices into a shallow dish or ziploc bag.
    2 ½ Cups 1:1 Gluten-free Flour, ¾ Cup Cornstarch, 1 Cup Potato Chips, ½ Teaspoon Paprika, 1 Teaspoon Sage, ¼ Teaspoon Celery Salt, 1 Teaspoon Garlic Powder, 1 Teaspoon Onion Powder, 1 Teaspoon Salt, ½ Teaspoon Pepper
  • Carefully remove the chicken pieces from the marinade and place them directly into the breading.
  • Make sure to press the chicken breading into the chicken and set it aside to allow the breading to dry on the chicken.
  • Let the chicken rest while you prepare the hot oil.

Fry the chicken.

  • Add your oil of choice to your pan and bring the temperature up to about 350 degrees.
    Hight Smoke Point Oil
  • Carefully place 2-3 pieces of chicken into the hot oil, making sure not to crowd the pan.
  • Turn the chicken over about every 3-4 minutes until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches at least 165 degrees. Each batch of chicken should take about 15-18 minutes, depending on the size of the pieces of chicken.

Let the chicken rest.

  • As you pull the chicken out of the hot oil, place it on a baking sheet with a rack on it. You do not want to lay it on a flat surface. The chicken breading will steam and soften if it doesn't have air while it is cooling.
  • Let the chicken pieces rest as you cook the remaining chicken and then serve warm.

Notes

Can you make this a dairy-free fried chicken recipe?
  • This recipe calls for 3 cups of buttermilk so use 3 cups of your dairy-free milk and 3 tablespoons of vinegar.
  • You will want to let this mixture sit for at least 5 minutes to let it start to curdle a little bit before adding the rest of the chicken marinade ingredients.
I have found that coconut milk and apple cider vinegar make a good base to make this a dairy-free fried chicken.
How do you keep breading from falling off fried chicken?
  • Press the breading into the chicken - Do not shake off any excess breading. If you need to dunk the breaded chicken back into the marinade and then back into the breading to stick more, you can.
  • Let the breading dry on the chicken - Allowing the breading to dry on the chicken before frying it allows the breading to adhere to the chicken better and keeps the breading from falling off when you fry it.
  • Do not overcrowd the pan when frying - Only frying a few pieces at a time helps to keep the chicken from bumping into each other, which can knock breading off. It also helps to keep the oil temperature more regulated, so the oil temperature does not drop, making the breading fall off the chicken.
  • Be careful moving the chicken - Use togs and only touch one part of the chicken when moving it around. The more you touch the chicken, the easier the breading can fall off.
  • Let the chicken rest on a cooling rack - Do NOT place the fried chicken pieces directly onto a flat surface to cool. The chicken will steam where it comes in contact, and the breading can get soft.
How do you store fried chicken?
This gluten-free fried chicken is best served the day it is fried. If you have leftovers, you can store them in the fridge for 2-3 days. The skin will lose some of the crispiness as it cools.
What is the best way to reheat fried chicken?
  • You can reheat fried chicken in the microwave, but you won't get the crispy skin that you had on it coming out of the fryer.
  • A better way to reheat fried chicken is to place it on a rack over a baking tray and bake the fried chicken at 375 degrees for about 15 minutes.
  • The best way to reheat fried chicken is in the air-fryer. I don't recommend making fried chicken in the air fryer initially but reheating this fried chicken in the air fryer gets the crispiest crust that is the closest to coming right out of the hot oil.
Keyword buttermilk chicken marinade, chicken brine, gluten free breaded chicken, gluten free chicken breading, gluten free fried chicken

If you make this recipe, please let me know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don't forget to tag a photo #grainfreetable or @grainfreetable on Instagram. I'd love to see what you come up with!

Check these out next!

  • Leftover Thanksgiving Casserole (Gluten-free)
  • Spicy Gluten-free Fried Chicken
  • Savory Gluten-free Chicken Pot Pie
  • Easy Gluten-free Sweet and Sour Chicken

Reader Interactions

Comments

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Jan says

    June 13, 2022 at 5:29 pm

    5 stars
    super tasty

    Reply
  2. Jean says

    June 13, 2022 at 8:58 pm

    5 stars
    love the gluten-free version of crispy chicken for my sister

    Reply
  3. Addie says

    June 13, 2022 at 10:15 pm

    5 stars
    So hearty and flavorful!

    Reply
  4. Raquel says

    June 14, 2022 at 1:41 am

    5 stars
    So good and easy to make!

    Reply
  5. Andrea says

    June 14, 2022 at 5:25 pm

    5 stars
    so simple and comes out so crispy and delicious!

    Reply
  6. Jamie says

    June 15, 2022 at 12:19 am

    5 stars
    I love the chicken brine!

    Reply
  7. Agnieszka says

    June 15, 2022 at 1:31 am

    5 stars
    Wonderful fried chicken!

    Reply
  8. Linda says

    June 18, 2022 at 12:55 am

    5 stars
    Will be making this again!

    Reply
    • Sara Vaughn says

      June 19, 2022 at 6:25 am

      Linda, glad you liked it!

      Reply

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