Buttermilk Fried Chicken Burger

Buttermilk Fried Chicken Burger

A crowd-pleasing burger loaded with crispy buttermilk fried chicken, crunchy slaw, and a kick of sriracha mayo—perfect for weekend dinners or casual get-togethers.

Serves: 4
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes

Ingredients

For the Chicken:

• 500g boneless, skinless chicken thighs

• 1 cup buttermilk

• 1 tsp paprika

• ½ tsp garlic powder

• Salt & cracked black pepper

For the Crumb Coating:

• 1 cup plain flour

• 1 cup panko breadcrumbs

• 1 tsp dried thyme

• ½ tsp cayenne pepper (optional)

• Salt & pepper, to season

For Frying:

• Vegetable oil, for deep frying

For the Slaw:

• 1 cup finely shredded red cabbage

• 1 cup finely shredded green cabbage

• 1 small carrot, grated

• 2 tbsp mayo

• 1 tsp apple cider vinegar

• Salt & pepper, to taste

For the Sriracha Mayo:

• ½ cup mayo

• 1–2 tbsp sriracha (to taste)

• Juice of ½ lemon

To Assemble:

• 4 burger buns, toasted

• 4 large lettuce leaves

• Pickles (optional)

Method

1. Marinate the Chicken:

Place chicken thighs in a bowl with buttermilk, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes (or up to 4 hours for deeper flavour).

2. Prepare the Crumb Coating:

In a shallow bowl, combine flour, panko, thyme, cayenne (if using), salt and pepper. Remove chicken from the marinade and press into the crumb mixture to coat evenly.

3. Fry the Chicken:

Heat oil in a deep pan over medium-high heat. Fry chicken in batches for 5–6 minutes per side until golden and fully cooked. Drain on paper towels.

4. Make the Slaw:

In a bowl, combine red and green cabbage, carrot, mayo, and apple cider vinegar. Season with salt and pepper. Mix well and set aside.

5. Mix the Sriracha Mayo:

Stir together mayo, sriracha, and lemon juice until smooth and creamy.

6. Assemble the Burgers:

Spread sriracha mayo on both sides of each toasted bun. Layer with lettuce, fried chicken, slaw, and extra mayo if you like. Add pickles if using, then top with the bun lid.

Serving Suggestion:

Serve hot with chips, curly fries, or coleslaw for a full feast.

Tips:

• No buttermilk? Mix 1 cup milk with 1 tbsp lemon juice or vinegar and let it sit for 10 mins.

• Want it milder? Halve or skip the sriracha.

• Gluten-free? Use GF flour and panko.