One of my favorite childhood memories is our family loading up our red wagon with blankets, drinks and Picnic Perfect Oven Finished Fried Chicken and heading to our local park for the annual Fourth of July fireworks show! And while this meal may look and taste like a traditional, decadent, southern meal I also offer low carbohydrate, gluten and grain free options!
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That Crispy Chicken!
My  “Picnic Perfect Oven Fried Chicken” is soaked in buttermilk and hot sauce, then dredged in herbs and spices, browned on the cooktop and finished in the oven so the chicken is the perfect combination of crispy and tender. You can serve it piping hot out of the oven or cold at a picnic, either way it’s absolutely fantastic. Helpful hint: the longer you let that chicken stay in the buttermilk and hot sauce, the more tender the chicken will be.Â
The Sides: Options, Options Options!
For the side dishes I will offer quite a few choices! You can stick with traditional mashed potatoes or opt for a healthier Three Ingredient Cauliflower Puree. My Skillet Mac and Cheese is a decadent option but you could also opt for my healthy coleslaw or this kale salad. In the mood for biscuits? Try my bacon cheddar biscuits!
Make it Gluten or Grain Free!
If you would like to make this recipe gluten or grain free I recommend two flours. The first is Jovial Gluten Free Pastry Flour . I use it for baking all the time and it’s the best! If you’d like to make this recipe grain free I recommend using Cassava flour , but if preferred you can also use fine almond meal.
The Recipe: Oven Finished Fried Chicken and Fixings!
Suggestions and Variations
You will need: a large cast iron skillet, a rimmed cookie sheet and parchment paper. Â You can buy a whole chicken already cut up or ask your butcher to do it.
![](https://www.theorganickitchen.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Depositphotos_41631619_l-2015-150x150.jpg)
A delicious fried chicken finished in the oven! NOTE: The longer you leave the chicken in the buttermilk mixture the more tender it will be, I recommend 12-24 hours but you can wait as little as an hour if you're pressed for time. How "hot" your chicken turns out will depend on how hot your hot sauce is. Â
- 1 4 pound chicken cut into 8 pieces (wings, thighs, legs, breasts)
- 1 cup cultured buttermilk
- 2 tablespoons hot sauce (how hot is up to you)
- 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour (or gluten free flour or fine almond meal for my grain free friends)
- 1 1/2 tablespoons sea salt or kosher salt (don't panic, most of it stays in the bowl)
- 1/2 tablespoon black pepper
- 1 1/2 teaspoons dried onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/3 cup cup olive oil (the amount you use will depend on the size of your pan)
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In a shallow baking dish, whisk together buttermilk and hot sauce. Place chicken in buttermilk mixture, turning so both sides have been coated. Leave chicken in dish (breasts and thighs skin side down) Cover and place in the fridge for at least an hour but as long as 24 hours. The longer, the better!
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Preheat oven to 425 degrees F and place rack in center of oven
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Mix flour and seasonings. Remove chicken from buttermilk mixture and dredge in flour so each piece is lightly coated. Set on a plate and discard remaining flour
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Place a large pan on high heat. Add enough olive oil to pan so that the entire bottom is well coated. When oil is very hot, carefully add chicken to pan. Lower heat to medium/high. When first side is golden brown (about 3-4 minutes) turn and brown other side. You may have to work in batches adding more oil to pan if needed
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Place browned chicken on a rimmed cookie sheet skin side up (I like to line the pan with parchment for easy clean up)
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Place in oven and cook for 40 minutes
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Remove from oven and serve piping hot, or serve cold the next day. So good either way!
MAY I PLEASE ASK A FAVOR?
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I might do this tonight. I was just going to bake our drumsticks but you have me drooling!
I hope you like it!
Mouth watering!!! (and ok you convinced me to try the cauli mash 😉 )
Seriously I like them just as well! But my hubby prefers potatoes.
Yum! Looks amazing. When can I come over? 😉
Any time:)
this sounds wonderful. adding to my must make list
Linda, this looks like a delightful feast. Love the cauli mash! Love the inspiration for a picnic! And the grain-free option.
Thank you Megan. That Cauliflower is a favorite!
This sounds absolutely delicious! I could really go for this right now. Yum!
I REALLY like cauliflower puree. BUH BYE mashed taters!
This looks amazing. Just like summer. And thanks for the gluten- and grain-free options.
I want to come live at your house 🙂
Yum, it all looks so good!
It is the perfect picnic basket idea.
Yuuummmm…. My southern taste buds are going crazy. 🙂
🙂
Sounds good but there is no recipe on this site
I looooove fried chicken! So happy this is an oven recipe and I cannot wait to make this!
Curious which gluten free flour you have tried with this? I miss fried chicken, this would be a real treat!
Hi tessa! I think I linked to Jovial GF flour in the post but maybe I forgot. I go look! But that’s my favorite:)
Holy moly, this looks so insanely crispy and good! I love that you have a grain free option.
Gotta keep my grain free peeps happy!
Wow, this chicken was the BOMB.COM!!! I love that I didn’t have to deep-fry it to get that crunchy finish. Lots of flavour and very juicy.
Okay I’ve struggled a lot with getting the perfect fried chicken — finally nailed it with this recipe. Thank you!
Picnic perfect indeed, this looks so good, perfect summer comfort food!
This chicken looks like it is cooked perfectly! This will go down a treat for a picnic or potluck dinner.
I’m ready for a picnic now, this chicken sounds wonderful!
What a perfect delicious and healthy meal for the hot summer. Saved!
Wow, this chicken is so crisp, delicious, & fabulous. Perfectly cooked!
My mouth is watering! I can’t wait to try this delicious looking recipe.
2024 and I just found this recipe. I remember my mother-in-law fixing it this was in the 60s. As good or better than Grandma’s! Thank you for the old recipe.
Thanks Darcy! So glad you liked it 🙂