Do you have nostalgia for the old-time buttermilk fried chicken? What if I told you there was a way to make it gluten free, dairy free, and much healthier for you, but it maintains that old-fashion-made-by-Grandma kinda taste. It’s made in the oven and perfect for dinner with the family or to take on a picnic. You in?

I get it. Organic, free-range meat is expensive. That is one of the reasons I love this fried chicken recipe so much. Drumsticks are probably the least expensive or one of the least expensive organic meats you can buy. AND… depending on the brand, you may even be able to score a coupon.

There are a few secrets to this recipe. Are you ready? First, is the buttermilk. Ideally, you brine the chicken either overnight or first thing in the morning with “buttermilk.” You can use your favorite non-dairy milk such as almond milk or flax milk, some apple cider vinegar, and lemon juice.  If you forget to brine the chicken, at least try to do it 2 hours before you are ready to prepare it.

The second secret… mix your coating. Remember the old school shake-n-bake? You’re going to remove the chicken from the brine, give it a shake, and then add it to another sealable plastic bag and add the seasonings. I like the Hol Grain Chicken Coating Mix because it’s fine and seasoned. Oh and it’s gluten free, wheat free, non-GMO verified, 100% vegan, no sugar, no MSG, and made in a nut free facility.

Then I add Ian’s Gluten Free Panko Breadcrumbs, which are more coarse to give the chicken that “just like Grandma” kinda crunch. And it’s gluten free, milk and casein free, egg free, and does not contain peanuts or tree nuts.

The next secret is I add my own seasoning along with what is already in the bag. My favorite is Garlic and Herb Organic Spice from Primal Palate.

The last secret is to use baking spray. I spray the baking sheet, add the drumsticks, spray the tops of the drumsticks, flip them, and spray them again. THEN I put them into the oven to bake. Since you aren’t frying them, you want some kind of oil to make them crispy on the outside and mouth-watering juicy on the inside.

Psst… want garden harvest recipes you can make all year long? Click below…

Better than Grandma’s Fried Chicken Recipe

Click on the recipe card to open a new window for a printable version.

Is your mouth watering yet? Are you ready to make this for your family?

Recipe Resources

Hol Grain Chicken Coating Mix

Ian’s Gluten Free Panko Breadcrumbs

Garlic and Herb Organic Spice from Primal Palate

Are you Inspired?

Be sure to download your FREE Garden Harvest Cookbook for plant to plate recipes all year long!

Love, hugs, and who needs a bucket?