Honey-Glazed Southern Fried Chicken with Buttermilk Marinade

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-24 · Updated 2026-05-24

Juicy fried chicken marinated overnight in tangy buttermilk and finished with a sticky honey glaze for a sweet-savory Southern classic. This Southern United States-inspired chicken recipe, ready in about 540 minutes, pairs buttermilk, hot sauce, all-purpose flour for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 600 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.

Ingredients

• 8 pieces chicken thighs and drumsticks (bone-in, skin-on)
• 2 cups buttermilk
• 2 tbsp hot sauce
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp black pepper
• enough for 2-inch deep in skillet vegetable oil (for frying)
• 1/3 cup honey
• 2 tbsp unsalted butter
• 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar

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Instructions

1. Step 1: In a large bowl, whisk together 2 cups buttermilk and 2 tbsp hot sauce. Add 8 pieces bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs and drumsticks, coating thoroughly. Cover and refrigerate for at least 8 hours or overnight.
2. Step 2: In a large shallow dish, combine 2 cups all-purpose flour, 2 tsp paprika, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp onion powder, 2 tsp salt, and 1 tsp black pepper.
3. Step 3: Remove chicken from marinade, letting excess drip off, then dredge each piece in seasoned flour until fully coated. Place on a wire rack and let rest 15 minutes.
4. Step 4: Heat vegetable oil in a deep skillet to 350°F, enough for 2-inch depth. Fry chicken pieces in batches for 12-15 minutes, turning occasionally, until golden brown and internal temperature reaches 165°F.
5. Step 5: In a small saucepan, melt 2 tbsp unsalted butter over low heat. Stir in 1/3 cup honey and 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar. Heat gently until combined and warm.
6. Step 6: Brush the honey glaze over the hot fried chicken pieces just before serving for a sticky, sweet finish.