Gluten-Free Southern Buttermilk OvenFried Chicken

Growing up Southern, my mother used to make us, homemade, fried chicken for Sunday Dinners! It was quite a laborious and delicious task! We loved her real food, real Fried Chicken. Meander into the 21st century and we don't fry with grease. So, I figured out a way to make the best of the Buttermilk Oven-Fried Chicken and put my Gluten Free spin on it and even a great short cut to bring you this delicacy....

Southern Gluten-Free Buttermilk OvenFried Chicken

                     

Forgive me, I have abandoned the whole chicken for this simple recipe. You'll be happy about this, trust me.  So, really this should be titled the Southern Gluten-Free Buttermilk Fried Chicken Nuggets! :)  You know, similar to Southern icon, Mrs. Kay from Duck Dynasty and her Buttermilk Frog Legs. 

For today, let's just make this Southern Buttermilk Oven Fried Chicken. :) 

Here we go: 

1 1/2 .lbs Chicken Breasts - boneless skinless and sliced into desired nugget size, or not

1 c. Buttermilk 

2 T. Crystal Hot Sauce from New Orleans :)              

1 t. black pepper

1 t. white pepper

1/2 t. cayenne pepper (if you are me, more! :)

4 garlic cloves mashed 

1 1/2 cups Almond meal (100% almond "flour)

2 T. Butter (whole, real and salted)

2 T. canola oil

Salt and Pepper 

This is Crystal Hot Sauce
from New Orleans

Preheat oven to 425 degrees when ready to Bake the Chicken. 

First, place chicken breasts in pyrex; in a small bowl mix the buttermilk, Crystal hot sauce, black, white and cayenne peppers, and garlic. Stir to mix. Then pour over the chicken breasts in the pyrex; cover and place in the refrigerator; let marinate over night or at least a few hours. 

Next, place the 2 T. of canola oil in ANOTHER 9x13 pyrex and let it cover the bottom of pan. Then, take tongs and, one at a time, dredge the chicken in the almond meal in a small bowl. Cover the chicken breast with the almond meal. Then, place in the pyrex with canola oil in the bottom. (I found this system worked well for me even though it involved two dishes. Someone may want to use the same pyrex dish.)

After all chicken nuggets are coated in almond meal and placed in the pyrex, sprinkle with salt and pepper. Also, drizzle melted butter, a little on each slice. 

Mine look like this going INTO the oven/UNcooked. 

Bake in Oven uncovered for 35 minutes. Oven temperatures vary, bake until golden brown and cooked throughout like mine pictured here. 

                      

This is a new family favorite! And we don't miss out on fried chicken. We also do not have to compromise for over greasy and over cooked processed fried chicken you buy out. 

Let me know if you try the recipe. We LOVE it! Cheers! 

Warmly, 

Carolina Mama