Southern-style fried chicken made gluten-free and fried to a perfectly crispy golden brown. A classic buttermilk marinade ensures tender, juicy chicken, while a batter made from gluten-free flour and cornstarch creates the crispiest coating for the ultimate comfort food.
Gluten-Free Fried Chicken Recipe
This gluten-free fried chicken recipe is a classic Southern buttermilk fried chicken. As Southerners, my family knows fried chicken—it’s the real deal! It’s the perfect gluten-free chicken dinner that friends and family will absolutely love.
I marinated the chicken overnight in homemade buttermilk for both flavor and tenderness. My key ingredient in the dredging mixture is cornstarch. The cornstarch is mixed with savory gluten-free flour mixed with a blend of classic Southern spices for the crispiest and most flavorful batter.
Tips for Cooking
- Use a spoon to scoop the flour out of the bag into a measuring cup. After spooning the flour into a measuring cup, use the back of a knife to level the flour off of the measuring cup. I do this over a bowl to catch the flour.
- My preferred brand is Pillsbury gluten-free, but you can also use Bob’s Red Mill 1 to 1, Better Batter, or King Arthur Measure For Measure.
- For dairy-free, use unsweetened almond milk, cashew, or coconut milk.
Gluten-Free Fried Chicken
Ingredients
Buttermilk Marinade
- 6 chicken thighs
- 6 chicken drumsticks
- 3 cups milk, dairy-free use unsweetened almond milk, cashew or coconut milk
- 3 tablespoons white vinegar
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
Dredging Mixture
- 2 cups all-purpose gluten-free flour
- 1 cup cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 tablespoon dried thyme
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 1 tablespoon dried basil
- 4 cup vegetable oil for frying, I like peanut oil
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together milk, white vinegar, salt, and pepper. Add in chicken pieces. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. It is best to allow the chicken to marinate overnight if you can.
- Prepare the breading by combining the gluten-free flour, cornstarch, onion powder, garlic powder, salt, paprika, thyme, oregano, basil in a gallon-sized resealable plastic bag. Seal the bag and shake to combine the ingredients. Or combined the ingredients in a shallow dish.
- Heat the vegetable oil in a 10" cast iron skillet (or a large skillet) on medium heat, until 350°F. You can test the oil to see if it is hot enough by sprinkling a little bit of the flour mixture into the oil. It should sizzle, but not smoke.
- Working one at a time, remove a chicken piece from the buttermilk mixture and place it in the bag with the gluten-free flour mixture. Seal the plastic bag completely and shake the bag to coat the chicken piece with the flour mixture. Place the coated chicken piece on a baking sheet. Repeat the steps until all the chicken pieces are coated.
- Fry 3 or 4 pieces at a time (do not overcrowd the pan). Place the breaded chicken skin side down first into the 350°F oil. Watch the temperature of the oil, as the chicken causes the oil temperature to drop. Adjust your heat as needed to keep the chicken gently cooking. Fry each piece for 15-18 minutes, turning each piece over using tongs about every 2 minutes, until the chicken is fully cooked, golden brown, and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Remove the chicken pieces from the oil with tongs and place them on a cooling rack or paper towel-lined baking sheet. Let the fried chicken rest for at least 10 minutes before serving. The chicken can be served warm or cold.
- Store completely cooled leftovers in an air-tight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days.
- Reheat chicken in the microwave or on a baking sheet and bake uncovered at 350°F for 15-20 minutes until the chicken is heated through.
Notes
- Keep an eye on the temperature of your frying oil by using a thermometer. The oil should stay at 350°F but will dip when the chicken is added. Be sure the oil rises to 350°F before adding the next batch.
- Allow the chicken pieces to dry on a baking sheet for 5 minutes after breading. After frying, let the chicken dry and cool slightly on a wire rack or paper towel-lined baking sheet.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
How to Make Gluten-Free Fried Chicken Step by Step
Gather all your ingredients.
Make the chicken marinade: Grab a large mixing bowl and whisk together 3 cups of milk (or dairy-free alternative), 3 tbsp white vinegar, 2 tsp salt, and 1 tsp black pepper. Add 6 chicken thighs and 6 chicken drumsticks to the bowl. Cover each piece of chicken completely in the buttermilk marinade, cover with plastic wrap, and place in the refrigerator to marinate for at least 2 hours. I like to marinate my chicken overnight! This tenderizes the chicken and adds so much flavor.
Prepare the dredging station: By combining 2 cups gluten-free flour, 1 cup cornstarch, 1 tbsp onion powder, 1 tbsp garlic powder, 2 tsp salt, 1 tbsp paprika, 1 tbsp dried thyme, 1 tbsp dried oregano, and 1 tbsp dried basil in a large gallon-sized resealable plastic bag. Shake the bag to combine all the ingredients. You can also combine the ingredients in a shallow bowl. Using a cast iron pan (or large skillet), heat 4 cups of vegetable oil on medium heat. The oil should be heated up to 350°F. Test the oil to see if it is hot enough by sprinkling a little bit of the flour mixture into the oil. It should sizzle but not smoke.
Dredge chicken: One at a time, take a piece of chicken from the buttermilk mixture and add it to the bag with the gluten-free flour mixture. Seal the bag securely, then shake it to evenly coat the chicken with the flour mixture.
Transfer the coated piece to a baking sheet. Repeat this process for all the chicken pieces until they are fully coated.
Fry chicken: Fry 3 to 4 pieces of coated chicken at a time, ensuring not to overcrowd the pan. Carefully place the coated chicken into the hot oil with the skin side down first. Keep an eye on the oil temperature, (I use a thermometer) as it may drop when the chicken is added. Adjust the heat as needed to maintain a steady, gentle cooking temperature. Cook each piece for 15–18 minutes, flipping with tongs every 2 minutes, until the chicken is golden brown, fully cooked, and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
Once golden brown and cooked, place each piece of chicken on a cooling rack or paper towel-lined baking sheet to cool and drain.
Allow the chicken to rest for 10 minutes before serving. Fried chicken can be served hot or cold. Enjoy!
Gluten-Free Fried Chicken in the Air Fryer
Follow the marinating and dredging steps. Preheat your air fryer to 375°F. Once all the pieces are coated, spray both sides lightly with cooking oil and arrange them in a single layer in the air fryer basket, making sure not to overcrowd them. Cook for 20-25 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the chicken is golden brown, crispy, and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Serving Suggestions
There are so many side dishes that go really well with this gluten-free dinner recipe. Below are some of my favorite recipes that my family loves to have with fried chicken.
Storage Instructions
Fried chicken is always best when fresh, but leftovers will be good in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 days.
For best results, reheat leftover chicken in a 350°F oven or air fryer for 15-20 minutes. You can also reheat the chicken in the microwave, but the skin will not be as crispy.
I made this in the air fryer. Just spray some oil on the chicken after breading and cook at 360 for 20 minutes on one side, flip and cook for another 15 minutes or so until the internal temp reaches 365. I was so flavorful!
I read all the comments and am sad to say that I did not have the best results. My chicken browned so quickly so by the time it was actually cooked the coating burned. In the end (3rd and 4th batch) I only fried until golden and then transferred to the oven. I had 2 different thermometers. I think 350 degrees may be too hot for gluten free flour. I used Red Hill 1-to-1, a rice-based flour. I’ll try again with another type of gluten-free flour. Also, I made 6 large drums and 4 large thighs and threw away half the flour. Next time I will halve the amount of flour mixture. Way too much.
This recipe is amazing. I used cashew milk and vinegar for the brine (overnight), and it was the juiciest fried chicken I’ve ever eaten. 5 stars!
I had the same problem, but it was because the oil was too hot. I tried it again using a temperature controlled deep fryer and had amazing results. Delicious fried chicken that was tender and perfectly seasoned.
I love all your recipes! I love that you make it easy for me to eat gluten free foods! Thank you!
Question, does the xanthan gum in a gluten-free flour blend make the breading gummy?
Hi Rochelle, it shouldn’t!
I tried this recipe out for my daughter who’s gf/df. Turned out great! I halved the recipe and used oat milk for the soak and used a pkg of chicken tenders. Delicious! I love all of Mamma Knows Gluten Free recipes.
? white vinegar contains barley. my son who is coeliac can’t have barley. is this meal really gluten free
Hi Dawn, most white vinegars are distilled from grapes and thus naturally gluten-free. However, as we state in all of our recipes, make sure to check the labels! Some brands may include barley, so it is important to double-check the ingredients list to be sure!
How in the heck is this possibly?!?! My son was diagnosed with serious gluten and dairy allergies 6 months ago. This whole journey has been a difficult one. I never thought in a million years that fried chicken could be done gluten and dairy free and honestly… I would have never known this was G & D free if I hadn’t made it myself.
I did start late making this late so I only marinated it for the minimum of 2 hours. I added more salt to the marinade and a little to the flour mixture to give the chicken more flavor since my marinade time was so short. I was worried that my chicken would have an Italian flavor with the oregano and basil but it did not. It was delicious!
Amazing fried chicken, the spices are perfect blend and it’s super crispy!
AMAZING!!! I have finally found a true replacement for floured fried meats!!! I have missed fried chicken so much since going GF. I adjusted and omitted some of the spice to our liking, but the base of recipe is incredible. Thank you so, so much!
Delicious! We are gluten free (Celiac and wheat allergy), egg free, tree-nut free and soy free and lactose intolerant and this was a recipe the whole family could enjoy!
I was recently diagnosed with celiac, and I am a vegetarian… But, I still cook for my husband. He just had a bite of this and could not believe how amazing it was! Not oily at all! THANK YOU!!!!
did you use gluten free all purpose flour AND rice flour or solely rice flour? excited to make this!
Hi Jess! I use Pillsbury gluten-free flour for all of my recipes. I hope you enjoy the fried chicken!
This is a big hit for our weekly game nights, for my Celiac and non-Celiac friends alike.
Thank you for this recipe!!! I’ve been craving fried chicken but haven’t found a good recipe until now. I used pounded chicken breast instead of legs and thighs and even 30 minutes after the first one finished it was still crispy and juicy. This is the best I’ve ever mad that’s gluten, dairy, and egg free. The family loved it. I’ll definitely be using this again.
This is absolutely delicious and crispy. I’ve made it easily 10 or 12 times now and my family prefers it to the wheat flour versions we’ve made. I cut chicken breasts like ‘tenders’ and fry that instead of the legs. I comes out wonderfully. Thank you so much for this great recipe!
One of our family members recently found with gluten sensitivity. Made this using large chicken tenders from Costco, soaking for 4 hours in buttermilk with salt, pepper. No dairy allergies in the home. Made the dredge exactly as the recipe describes using Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free flour (Pillsbury wasn’t available), and was amazed at how good the results were. Peanut oil from Walmart. Would have never known this was gluten-free. Thanks for the detailed instructions. Easy to follow.
Was that the red bag of Bobs or the blue one? Thanks!
This was very delicious! I made chicken nuggets instead of bone in chicken and it worked great! I also made fried pickles using the buttermilk soak and flour dredge and they were awesome as well! Thanks so much!
I made this 2 weeks ago and it turned perfect. Today I double dredged it and it was a disaster! It was salty, the batter did not work at all. I will make it again with the original recipe.
Made this yesterday for my boyfriend’s birthday and he loved it! I have food allergies (gluten and dairy) so I used almond milk for the first marinade. I didn’t have time to marinate overnight but I did all day and cooked in the evening. Everything came out delicious: crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. I used pink Himalayan salt with the seasoning and a dash of turmeric. Next time I’ll try the air fryer option. Never even thought of it!
This chicken was fabulous! Can’t even tell it’s gluten free! The flavor is fabulous too. I’ve never brined a chicken before. Goodness! I’ll never not brine again! Sooooo tender!
The chicken was nice and crispy, juicy, and delicious.👌🏼👌🏼
So tasty! I highly recommend this recipe. I have made this a few times for my family. Wonderful detailed cooking instructions are easy to follow.
Delicious and definitely worth the extra cholesterol occasionally. Just in case you are short on time, I only marinated in buttermilk for 4 hours and that was plenty.
Delicious recipe! And I used Coconut Flour because that’s what I had on hand. Worked well! Thank you for a gluten free option for me, who is Celiac, that my kids still enjoy!
I am so happy that you all enjoyed it! Thank you for sharing that the coconut flour worked in the recipe and for the 5 star recipe review.
Never thought we’d get Mama’s fried chicken again, but this comes really close! Will use this again, and again!
Since I can’t eat cow dairy I marinated my chicken pieces for 4 hours in goat yogurt. Then I used a deep fryer and the oven rather than shallow fry in a pan. I preheated my oven to 350, then set my fryer for 350 degrees, cooked 2 pieces at a time for 8 minutes and put them in the oven on a baking rack for about 4 minutes. When the internal temperature of each piece read 165 degrees I removed the pieces and set them on paper towels to drain. The only change to the actual recipe itself to was I added more salt to the dry mixture. BEST FRIED CHICKEN EVER. CRISPY AND JUICY. EVEN BETTER COLD THE NEXT DAY. THANK YOU!!
ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS!!! Have not had good fried chicken since I stopped eating gluten and dairy. My husband, who does not like to eat gluten-free, LOVED this fried chicken and kept saying, “Don’t ever loose this recipe!!!” Thank you, Thank you!!! I made this recipe exactly as instructed except my husband cooked each pierce in a deep fryer on the balcony.
Made this fried chicken over the weekend and it was DELICIOUS!!!! Perfectly seasoned and crunchy!
This recipe was the BEST!! Oh, my!! I made this for my niece who has Celiac, and has not had fried chicken in forever. Her eyes lit up and she could not believe just how DELICIOUS this gluten free fried chicken was!! Everyone eating this fried chicken dinner I made, loved it. Even my father-in-law…who really doesn’t eat fried foods, and really hasn’t eaten fried chicken ever…had THREE PIECES!! He said it was so moist and flavorful. I also made the GF pie crust from this website (Mama Knows Gluten) and made a pumpkin pie. That was also a winner! My niece said this was the first time she was ever truly “full” after a meal. So, a big THANK YOU, Mama Knows Gluten, I will be trying out more of your recipes!!!I wanted to add a note, that the dredging flour for this recipe was enough to use for 12 bone-in, skin-on thighs, and 12 boneless, skinless thighs!! YUM!
Personally for me, a Canadian and my hubby, an Australian, we found the spice mixture a bit tame. I sprinkled some sea salt on them after frying which helped. I loved the crispy coating and will make this again but will try a different spice combo more to our tastes. Love what you do Audrey, you have been a life saver for me since I have had to go gluten, dairy, soy and sugar free 6 months ago.
This was fantastic. Used it to fry chicken breasts to copycat a fast food chicken sandwich for my gluten free wife. Really, really excellent.
Loved the fried chicken! It was juicy and tender! A definite keeper.
I used the recipe to make chicken tenders and deep fried them – so delicious! Mine turned out slightly soggy after sitting on the rack for a few minutes, but I’m pretty sure that’s because the oil temp dropped. Kids loved them and I get to enjoy the fried food heartburn without the gluten/dairy cramps and annoyances!
Thank you for this great recipe! It’s turned out PERFECT! I used unsweetened oat milk as the lacto free option. And I air fried them. Super crispy and crunchy!
Also – the dry mix is a bit too much for this recipe. But then again, there a no harm cooking up another batch of fresh chicken!
Enjoy your recipes and tips for cooking gluten free. Imagination.
This fried chicken is absolutely delicious! This is a keeper recipe.
Miss REAL southern fried chicken? This recipe is right on. The marinating overnite is key. Will be using this over and over and over. GREAT!! Thank you!