Crispy Fried Buttermilk Chicken Wings

Crispy deep-fried buttermilk chicken wings are not only takeaway fodder; they are quick and easy to make at home, mine are gloriously spicy!

Marinade time aside, you can cook a batch of wings for two in around 25 minutes, and they are so moreish you might need more!

Super Crispy and Spicy Buttermilk Wings

I have a huge weakness for chicken wings; I adore them, and they make a regular appearance here on my site.

I have everything from Thai inspired chicken wings to peri peri chicken wings and mango and habanero wings to Korean inspired gochujang chicken wings as well as some gloriously sticky honey and sriracha chicken wings.

These delicious wings are all sorts of different and really rather special.

Crispy fried buttermilk chicken wings are often considered the exclusive domain of the good old takeaway.

However, it need not be, cooking them at home is remarkably quick and easy, especially if you have a deep fat fryer.

My wings are soaked in spiced buttermilk and then rolled in a spiced flour mix, then fried until perfectly juicy and as crispy as a crispy thing.

The flavours and coating of these wings are also used in my buttermilk fried chicken burger recipe.

And all this in well under half an hour if you do not count the time that the chicken is sitting in the buttermilk. Give them a try, you'll love them!

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I cook these wings in another way?

No, there are many ways to cook chicken wings, but there is no way to emulate fried chicken!

Do I have to use a deep-fat fryer?

No, but I think that it is the very best way to do it because it is both safer and much easier to regulate the oil temperature.

Can I fry chicken wings in a pan?

Yes, but do be careful, never overfill the pan with either oil or chicken!

Keep the oil level in the pan below a third full and keep an eye on the temperature with a sugar thermometer.

How many batches do I need to cook the chicken in?

That really does depend on the size of your fryer. I use a large 3.5 litre (3 quart) fryer which will comfortably cook 10 wing portions at a time. You may need to cook less in a smaller fryer or pan.

If you overfill your fryer, you will lower the temperature of the oil, and that will lead to soggy and greasy chicken.

What type of oil should I use?

If you are asking for the ultimate oil to fry in, then generally speaking, I would say that it is beef dripping, but on a practical level, it is far from ideal.

As a result, I usually use sunflower oil to fry these wings.

How long will the chicken stay crispy?

If you place it on a cooling rack over a baking tray in a cool-moderate oven, it should stay crispy for 20-30 minutes.

Do I really need a meat thermometer?

No, you can cook these crispy wings without one, but I swear by mine. I think that it is the easiest way to cook meat accurately and consistently.

Serving Suggestions

Crispy deep-fried chicken wings need nothing more than some form of potato side and sauces, as far as I am concerned.

They are pictured here with some French fries that I cooked in an air fryer, but you could throw them in the deep fat fryer whilst you keep the chicken warm if you like.

But fries ain't the only chip... you could add air fryer potato wedges, crispy straw potatoes or even chip shop style chips.

You could even go "wild" and add sweet potato fries!

When it comes to sauces... well, you know what you like, I'm a BBQ sauce kinda guy, how about you?

Equipment Used

I only mention brands of equipment if I think that they make a material difference to a recipe. But if you have any questions, feel free to ask them in the comments section below the recipe.

• Deep fat fryer, or a pan and a hob/stovetop.
• A bag or Tupperware box to marinate the chicken.
• 1 Large and 1 small mixing bowl.
• A combination of weighing scales, a measuring jug, cups and spoons.
• Kitchen tongs.
• Quick-read meat thermometer.
• An oven and cooling rack, if you want to keep the chicken warm whilst you are batch-frying the chicken.