Buttermilk-Brined Fried Chicken with Hot Honey Glaze

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-30 · Updated 2026-05-30

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

Crispy fried chicken marinated in tangy buttermilk, coated in seasoned flour, and finished with a sweet and spicy hot honey glaze. This Southern United States-inspired chicken recipe, ready in about 35 minutes, pairs chicken drumsticks, buttermilk, hot sauce for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 550 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 15 min Cook: 20 min Serves 4 Southern United States cuisine 550 cal/serving

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Ingredients

8 pieces chicken drumsticks
3 cups buttermilk
2 tbsp hot sauce
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp paprika
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1 tbsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
for frying, about 4 cups vegetable oil
1/3 cup honey
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
2 tbsp butter

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Instructions

Step 1: In a large bowl, whisk together 3 cups buttermilk and 2 tbsp hot sauce. Submerge 8 chicken drumsticks in the mixture, cover, and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.
Step 2: In a shallow dish, combine 2 cups all-purpose flour, 2 tsp paprika, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp onion powder, 1 tbsp salt, and 1 tsp black pepper.
Step 3: Remove chicken from buttermilk, letting excess drip off, then dredge each drumstick thoroughly in the flour mixture, pressing to adhere.
Step 4: Heat 4 cups vegetable oil in a deep skillet or Dutch oven to 350°F. Fry chicken in batches for 12-15 minutes, turning occasionally, until golden brown and internal temperature reaches 165°F.
Step 5: While chicken fries, combine 1/3 cup honey, 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes, and 2 tbsp butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Stir occasionally until butter melts and glaze is warm.
Step 6: Transfer fried chicken to a wire rack to drain, then brush generously with hot honey glaze before serving.