Oh man, when I hear “buttered chicken,” my mind instantly flashes to that spot in Baguio—Good Taste! If you’ve ever been to Baguio, you probably know what I’m talking about. Their buttered chicken is legendary. Imagine this: crispy, golden chicken drenched in a rich, buttery garlic sauce. It’s that kind of dish that makes you go, “Wow!” with every bite.
As a dad who loves to cook, I knew I had to recreate that magic at home for my family. And guess what? It’s super easy to make! The chicken turns out so juicy inside, crispy outside, and covered in that mouth watering buttery goodness. Every time I make it, everybody can’t wait to dig in, and honestly, neither can I! It’s one of those dishes you just can’t stop eating!
Why Do They Call it Buttered Chicken
If you’ve ever searched for “buttered chicken” online, you might’ve stumbled upon a different dish called “butter chicken” — and they’re not the same! Butter chicken is an Indian dish with a rich, creamy sauce. But our buttered chicken is simpler and packed with flavor in a different way.
It’s called buttered chicken because, well, the star of the show is the butter! The crispy fried chicken is coated in a buttery garlic sauce that makes each bite rich and savory. It’s the kind of dish that makes your taste buds dance with that perfect combo of crunch and melt-in-your-mouth flavor.
Buttered Chicken Ingredients
Chicken (cut into serving pieces): Tender pieces of chicken that will be fried to crispy perfection and coated in buttery garlic goodness.
Flour, Cornstarch, Chicken Powder, Salt, Black Pepper, Paprika, Garlic Powder: This mix of dry ingredients creates a flavorful coating that makes the chicken crunchy on the outside with a savory kick of spices.
Butter and Garlic (minced): Rich butter melts into the minced garlic, creating a deliciously fragrant sauce that coats the crispy chicken, giving it that irresistible, garlicky-butter flavor.
How To Cook Buttered Chicken
Mix the Batter
First, you’ll want to make a smooth batter. In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, chicken powder, black pepper, paprika, garlic powder, and cold water. Stir everything together until it’s nice and smooth—this will help give the chicken its flavor and crispy coating.
Coat and Marinate the Chicken
Now, add your chicken pieces to the flour mixture. Make sure each piece is fully covered in the batter. Let the chicken sit and marinate for about 30 minutes to absorb all the flavors.
Coat the Chicken in Cornstarch
While waiting for the chicken to marinate, prepare the final coating. In another bowl, mix cornstarch and salt. After 30 minutes, take the marinated chicken and roll it in the cornstarch mixture until all the pieces are well-coated.
Fry the Chicken
Heat your cooking oil in a pan over medium-high heat. Once the oil is hot, deep fry the coated chicken pieces. Fry them until they turn golden brown and crispy, then drain them on paper towels or a cooling rack to remove the excess oil.
Sauté Garlic in Butter
In a separate pan, melt the butter over medium heat. Once melted, add the minced garlic and sauté it until fragrant, but make sure it doesn’t brown—that can make the garlic taste bitter.
Toss Chicken in Garlic Butter
Before the garlic turns brown, toss in the fried chicken pieces. Mix everything together until the chicken is well-coated in that rich, garlicky butter sauce.
Serve and Enjoy
That’s it! Remove the chicken from the heat and serve it while it’s hot. Enjoy your buttery, garlicky masterpiece!
Tips When Cooking Buttered Chicken
Marinate for Maximum Flavor: Let the chicken sit in the batter for at least 30 minutes. This helps the spices and seasonings really soak into the meat, making each bite more flavorful.
Keep the Oil Hot: Make sure the oil is hot before frying the chicken. This ensures the coating turns crispy without absorbing too much oil.
Don’t Overcook the Garlic: When sautéing the garlic, watch it closely. Garlic can quickly go from fragrant to burnt, so once you smell that aroma, it’s time to toss in the chicken.
Drain Excess Oil: After frying, let the chicken drain on paper towels or a cooling rack to keep it crispy and not oily.
Use Fresh Butter: For that rich buttery flavor, make sure your butter is fresh. This will give the dish a smooth and creamy finish.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can use skinless chicken if you prefer a lighter option, but keep in mind that the skin adds extra flavor and crispiness to the dish.
While frying gives the chicken its signature crispy texture, you can bake it at a high temperature for a healthier alternative; just be sure to coat it well to keep it flavorful.
Buttered chicken goes great with steamed rice or garlic bread, allowing you to soak up all that delicious garlic butter sauce.
Store any leftover buttered chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days, and reheat in the oven or stovetop to maintain its crispiness.
Buttered Chicken
Ingredients
- 500 grams Chicken (cut into serving pieces)
- 1/2 cup Flour
- 1 tsp Chicken Powder
- 1 tsp Black Pepper (ground)
- 1 tsp Paprika
- 1 tsp Garlic Powder
- 1/2 cup Water (cold)
- 1 cup Cornstarch
- 1 tsp Salt
- Cooking oil (for frying)
- 80 grams Butter
- 8 cloves Garlic (minced)
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, combine flour, chicken powder, black pepper, paprika, garlic powder, and cold water. Stir well to create a smooth batter.
- Add the chicken pieces to the flour mixture, ensuring they are well-coated. Let the chicken marinate for 30 minutes.
- In another bowl, mix cornstarch and salt. After marination, coat the chicken pieces in this cornstarch mixture.
- Heat cooking oil in a pan over medium-high heat. Deep fry the coated chicken pieces until they are golden brown and crispy. Once done, drain on paper towels or cooling rack to remove excess oil.
- In a separate pan, melt butter over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté until fragrant but not browned.
- Before the garlic turns brown, immediately add the fried chicken pieces. Toss everything together until the chicken is well-coated in the garlic butter mixture.
- Remove from heat and serve hot. Enjoy your flavorful Buttered Chicken!
