This easy gluten free fried chicken recipe is seriously the best ever. One bite of this crispy, juicy gluten free fried chicken and you will be hooked!
Learning how to eat gluten free is easy AND delicious when you have fried chicken recipes like this one. And if you love chicken as much as we do, you will want to check out ALL of my deliciously easy Gluten Free Chicken Recipes.
When the owner, Ari, of Proposition Chicken in San Francisco, told me he was going to share his exclusive gluten free fried chicken recipe with us, I thought about how incredible this was. How often do you feel safe eating fried chicken at a restaurant? It is one of those things I truly miss.
What foods do you miss most after going gluten free?
I miss those crusty loaves of bread and comfort foods like fried chicken.”
Comfort foods like these rarely happen in the gluten free realm, or if they do, they are rarely any good. (Looking at this photo of gluten free fried chicken is really making me hungry!) This recipe for fried chicken will bring back those memories of real crispy fried chicken. The kind your grandma made!
Is there gluten in fried chicken?
Unfortunately, traditional fried chicken does contain gluten. Not only do they coat the chicken in flour, but the fryers in many restaurants become contaminated because they also fry other gluten foods in the fryer.
Well, now our family can get its gluten free fried chicken fix at Proposition Chicken. As I mentioned in my interview with Proposition Chicken, they have a dedicated gluten free fryer to prevent cross-contamination. (They take a lot of other steps to keep things safe that you can read about in the interview link above.)
I am sure you have tons of questions if you have never made fried chicken. I will do my best to answer them all.
If you want to try one of my old Texan favorites…you need to try this easy Gluten Free Chicken Fried Steak recipe!!
What types of gluten free flour can you use to make this recipe?
The best gluten free flours to use for frying gluten free fried chicken, and other savory dishes like eggplant parmesan are:
- Tapioca Starch (the star of this easy chicken recipe)
- Cassava Flour
- Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free Flour Blend (in the red label bag)
- Gluten Free Bisquick
Any of these gluten free flours make great fried chicken breading.
Do you need a fryer to make fried chicken?
The short answer is no, you do not need a fryer to make fried chicken. You can use a cast-iron skillet as I did. I have also heard from readers that this simple gluten free fried chicken recipe works in an air fryer!
How long do I cook fried chicken in oil?
The length of time to cook fried chicken depends on whether you cook it in a frying pan, air fryer, or deep frying. You want to make sure the internal temperature of the chicken is 165F degrees when cooked.
- A deep fryer like this recipe calls for takes about 18 minutes.
- Cooking this fried chicken recipe in a skillet with an inch of oil will take about 25 minutes. You will need to turn the chicken often so all sides get crispy.
Can you make this fried chicken recipe in an air fryer?
I have not tried this recipe in an air fryer yet, but one of my readers has tried it. She said the fried chicken will take around 25 minutes to cook in an air fryer. This Air Fried Chicken Drumsticks Recipe is made a little differently, but tastes amazing!
Can you fry chicken without flour?
Yes, you can with this recipe because this recipe calls for tapioca starch. There is no flour in this fried chicken recipe!
Do you need to use buttermilk in this recipe?
Buttermilk definitely adds to the flavor profile of this recipe. If you don’t have buttermilk on-hand, why not make some with milk and lemon juice? For this recipe, use regular milk and add 1 tablespoon of lemon juice. Let it sit for 10 minutes then you are ready to go :-). If you want a delicious baked fried chicken, try this Gluten Free Buttermilk Oven Fried Chicken recipe!
This super easy fried chicken recipe makes chicken moist and flavorful.
We hope you enjoy this recipe and can get to Proposition Chicken to try their chicken dishes out. The owner is cool and even better, this restaurant “gets” gluten free. I feel safe going here to eat their crispy fried chicken.
Please note you can also use this recipe to make gluten free chicken tenders and gluten free chicken nuggets!!”
If you love chicken recipes, give these two kid-friendly chicken dinner ideas a try! Gluten Free Asian Chicken Legs and this easy one-pan Blackberry Tarragon Baked Chicken and Rice.
Things You Need To Make This Recipe:
- Tapioca flour. This fries up to make the crispiest skin.
- Large cast-iron skillet. My favorite skillet for frying.
Easy Fried Chicken Cooking Tip: Our outdoor Weber grill has a side burner attached. I use this to make my fried chicken. I hate when hot oil splatters all over my kitchen, and that hot oil smell permeates EVERYWHERE! Avoid all of this if you can and cook this outside.
How to make this easy gluten free fried chicken recipe:
Best Gluten Free Fried Chicken Recipe
This is the best gluten free fried chicken recipe ever. One bite of this crispy, juicy gluten free fried chicken and you will be hooked!
Ingredients
Marinade
- 8-10 pieces Chicken of your choice
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/4 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- dash of salt and pepper
Prep
- 1 cup tapioca starch
Instructions
Marinade
- Put all ingredients (except chicken) into a container and whisk until fluffy.
- In a large dish, pour marinade over butchered chicken.
- Move chicken around to make sure it is all covered in marinade.
- Cover.
- Refrigerate for 12 hours.
Prep
- Drain marinaded chicken in a large strainer.
- Place chicken in the tapioca flour and move it around to cover the whole piece of chicken.
- Let rest 2-3 minutes on a baking pan.
- Gently heat oil in a Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet
- Fry chicken until it has an internal temperature of 160 degrees, about 18 minutes depending on the piece of chicken.
- Season with salt and pepper.
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 300Total Fat: 14gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 101mgSodium: 152mgCarbohydrates: 15gFiber: 0gSugar: 2gProtein: 27g
Sharon
Hi Sandi. This chicken looks delicious! I was wondering if the recipe would still work if the skin were removed from the chicken before frying to cut down on the fat content. I wasn’t sure if the coating would possibility still adhere to the chicken if air or oven fried. Thanks for your reply.
Sandi Gaertner
Hi Sharon, I am not sure as the coating really sticks to the skin…but I would definitely say to give it a try and see.
Minette
I would really love to try this recipe, but I am also dairy intolerant. Has anyone tried this recipe with an alternative non-dairy to replace the buttermilk?
Sandi Gaertner
Hi Minette, since this recipe was given to us by my chef friend, I don’t think he has tested it out as a dairy-free recipe. If you try using an alternative milk, can you please come back and let us know how it turned out? I recommend using an unsweetened non-dairy milk as the original flavors often have sugar, which may be weird in a savory recipe.
Jack G
I never once saw the oil temperature described in the recipe. Depending on the size of the chicken pieces, some require lower temperature with a longer frying time, but Japanese Kaarage or Chinese sweet and sour chicken have smaller sized pieces requiring higher temperature and less frying time.
What temperature does this recipe require ???
Sandi Gaertner
Hi Jack, Thank you so much for pointing this out. The chef didn’t give me an oil temperature so I reached out to him. He said to get the oil between 350 and 375F degrees. I hope this helps.
Laura
Wow that chicken looks perfect and crispy! I love that you used tapioca starch. I can’t wait to try this.
Sandi Gaertner
Thank you so much Laura. I love how light tapioca starch is for frying :-).
Beth
I don’t have to eat gluten free but you have me ready to make fried chicken now! Great recipe and really helpful tips and tricks!
Sandi Gaertner
Thank you so much Beth, you will never know this is gluten free!
Jenni
What a fantastic post packed with great information. I love fried chicken so much, and it’s nice to know there are so many options for a gluten-free version!
Sandi Gaertner
I am glad to help 🙂
Lynne Emtage
Please send me lots of Gluten Free recipes as I am a Recipe Collector and the demand for G/F recipes is on the increase.
I will fill in the info required below and if possible, I can get a gluten free idea for working on for Wednesday’s, I’d be very appreciative. Even if you could email me something during a Tuesday, we could get max more sorted for Wednesdays!
Kind regards.
Lynne
Sandi Gaertner
I am sorry, I have no idea what you are talking about Lynne.
Jane
I have been frying chicken using gf jules flour mix. It does quite well and is very tasty. And my celiac husband is very happy! I have never used vinegar in my recipe…will have to try it. Sounds tasty.
Better Byrd, a chicken restaurant in St. Petersburg, says they now serve only gf fried chicken and have separate fryers for the chicken and their specialty, made to order, mini donuts (not gf). We haven’t tried the chicken since they made the change to gf, but I hear good things.
Sandi Gaertner
It is funny, I never used vinegar until the owner of Proposition Chicken gave me this recipe. I wonder if it helps tenderize the chicken. Thank you so much for stopping by Jane :-).
Mily
Hi Sandi. Mouthwatering! That sounds delicious! I’m a new cooker and finding fried recipes. I’m thinking to practice this recipe. Thank you for your sharing. It works very well, I think it is suitable for chicken fried for this menu. What do you think about that?
Sandi Gaertner
I will have to try an air fryer. Thank you so much and let us know how it turns out Mily 🙂
Tara Lampkins
Hi there, I’m so glad I came across your site. I’ve been gluten free off & on (I know that sounds silly) for about 2 years now & was researching GF fried chicken. I just purchased some Cassava flour, but don’t have any tapioca starch/flour on hand. I’m kicking myself for not ordering any from Amazon. I will place an order for some today. Can’t wait to try the breading with the tapioca. I’ll use my cassava tonight, however. Will be my first time using that as well. I think I also read somewhere that cassava is really good for fish & chips. I’m reside in Wisconsin and fish & chip Friday’s are big here.
Just wondering, though, have you ever used potato starch/flour for breading? I understand some Asian recipes call for potato starch. I have used cornstarch & sweet rice flour. They add a bit of an extra crunch. And I read where someone commented on the vinegar factor. Yes, that does make the chicken really tender.
Thanks again. I can tell I’m going to love your website.
Sandi Gaertner
I am so glad you are here Tara :-). I use potato starch to thicken sauces, but I have not tried it for a fried recipe…Cassava flour is very similar to Tapioca, it is from the same plant so I would think it could work in this recipe.
Duck life
The gluten-free fried chicken recipe you are offering is great, the food is delicious and nutritious.
Sandi Gaertner
I am glad you like it 🙂
John
Well I have made the delicious Paleo Apple Cinnamon Donuts, then the Banana Chunky Monkey Donuts and tonight we are having the fried Chicken & Cauliflower Cheddar Pancakes, so far they have all been great.Thanks for sharing!
Sandi Gaertner
Wow John, you have made my day, and quite possibly my week. Thank you 🙂
Cindy
Hi I’m wondering if you can use an air fryer to eliminate some of the extra calories and oil?
Sandi Gaertner
Hi Cindy, I am so sorry, I have never used an air fryer so I am not sure what to advise. I suspect it would be okay, but I haven’t tried it myself. Would you be so kind as to come back and let us know if you try it?
Taylor Kiser
This gluten free fried chicken looks so delicious! Perfectly cooked and that crispy coating is making my mouth water!
Sandi Gaertner
Thank you so much Taylor…this restaurant was so cool to share the recipe with us!
Valentina
his looks great! My GF son will absolutely love every bite!
Sandi Gaertner
That is wonderful Valentina 🙂
Tisha
Amazing looking crust on that chicken!! Eager to try it!
Sandi Gaertner
It is super crispy!
Vicky
Oh my gosh, I was shocked that the chicken was gluten free. It does not look like it at all. I am so excited to know I can make gluten free fried chicken for my friends to enjoy. I know it has been something they really miss.
Sandi Gaertner
We drive to SF for this chicken…I was so excited to make it at home.
Alexis
I was looking for a good fried chicken recipe a few weeks ago and wasn’t pleased with the one I used. I’ll definitely be trying this one and I love that it’s gluten free.
Sandi Gaertner
I am so glad I could help you Alexis 🙂
Michele
This southern girl has never been more excited! The idea of gluten-free fried chicken makes me so happy. I can’t wait to try this!!! Out of curiosity, which oil do you use? I’m thinking avocado oil but unsure if it would vibe.
Sandi Gaertner
Hi Michele, I used avocado oil, but I suspect the restaurant uses canola. Enjoy :-).
Mary-Lyn Vandolder
Love this recipe! I’ve made it as is and loved it but tried it out with a few tweaks this weekend and my family was blown away! I added a TBSP of hotsauce and 1 TBSP of salt to the buttermilk in the place of cayenne & wine vinegar. It was how I brined my chicken before going gf and always resulted in incredibly juicy chicken. I also added rosemary… next time I’ll put soak the rosemary in the buttermilk then strain before adding the chicken. (I love the flavour but not the feel of eating little sticks 😉) After dredging each piece in the tapioca starch, I went back and dipped it in the buttermilk and back into the tapioca starch… I let it rest on a wire rack for about 20 min before I put it in batches into my deep fryer. I just like the ease of a deep fryer for bigger pieces. I forget to turn it in my cast iron 🤔 The ease of only needing one starch/flour and the incredible taste and crunch of this chicken made it 5☆ for me!! Just as good, and crispy, cold for lunch the next day! Thankyou so much for sharing 😀
Sandi Gaertner
I am so glad you liked it Mary. I thought of you today because I went to Proposition Chicken for dinner 🙂
Debra C.
That chicken looks absolutely perfect, so crispy and moist! I wish I could reach right thru the screen and grab a piece!
Sandi Gaertner
LOL I will have to make it for you next time you are in town.
Melissa
What type of oil do you use for frying??
Sandi Gaertner
Hi Melissa, you want to use an oil that can tolerate high heat. I like to use Avocado oil for frying.
Ben Myhre
I do like some well cooked, juicy fried chicken in my life!
Alyssa
Even though I don’t follow a gluten free diet, I’ve found I prefer gluten free breading on chicken because it’s so much crispier!
Sandi Gaertner
That is good to know Alyssa. It has been so long since I had regular fried chicken that I forget.
K.C.
This looks amazing! I can’t believe the crust on the chicken. I’ll have to get some tapioca flour and make this soon!
Sandi Gaertner
Thank you so much KC 🙂 I hope you like it.
Heidy L. McCallum
I am thrilled to find a Gluten-free recipe for chicken that looks crunchy and delish! Thanks for your recipe I won’t have to miss out on fried chicken now.Totally amped to make this.
Sandi Gaertner
I am so glad you like this gluten free fried chicken recipe Heidy 🙂
Katie Doyle
I’ve totally been missing out on fried chicken too! GF versions just aren’t as good or as crispy, but this one looks amazing!
Sandi Gaertner
Thank you so much Katie.
Charlotte
Hi,
I was curious if I could make this with regular gluten free flour instead of Tapioca flour?
Thank you!
Charlotte
Sandi Gaertner
Hi Charlotte, I would try arrowroot starch if you can’t have tapioca. I would assume you can use gluten free flour, but you want to make sure it doesn’t have xanthan gum in the mix. Take care and let me know how it turns out 🙂
Su
How deep should the oil be in the pan? Is there a way to oven fry this chicken so it’s crispy but healthier and easier?
Sandi Gaertner
Hi Su, I would say the oil should be deep enough to cover half the chicken. That way when you flip it, the other side cooks perfectly.
Paula
I just tried this recipe using chicken tenders. What a treat! I was so surprised at the great tasting crispy coating, and imy tenders looked so pretty, just like your picture. Thanks for sharing!
Sandi Gaertner
Hi Paula, I am so excited you liked this recipe!! You made my day, thank you for taking the time to write in. I am sure other readers will be excited to try this recipe out.
Lisa @ Cooking with Curls
Sandi, I wish I could grab a piece of that chicken and have it for dinner!! It looks perfect, and utterly delicious! 😉
Sandi Gaertner
Thank you Lisa. I never thought to soak chicken in buttermilk. I am hoping to get up to San Francisco soon to try this place out. I appreciate your comment 🙂