Ingredients

The following ingredients have 4 Servings
  • 2 chicken breasts
  • 2 cups buttermilk
  • 1 cup flour
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon chipotle chili pepper
  • Salt & black pepper (to taste)
  • Peanut oil
  • 2 jalapeno peppers
  • 4 burger buns
  • Butter (to taste)
  • Chipotle lime ranch dressing (to taste)
  • Tomato
  • Lettuce
  • Red onion

Instruction

  • Butterfly chicken breasts and cut in half lengthwise so you're left with four thinner cutlets.
  • Place chicken in a bowl and cover with buttermilk. Marinate for six hours (overnight is fine, don't exceed 24 hours).
  • Make the sauce (see recipe here). I suggest making it a few hours prior to making these sandwiches as it'll thicken up and the flavors will meld together more.
  • Add flour, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, chipotle chili pepper, and salt & pepper to a bowl.
  • Fill a heavy pot with about 3/4-1 inch of peanut oil. Heat on medium-high heat.
  • To test if the oil is hot, I drop a little flour in and see if it sizzles (a thermometer should read between 350-375F). Add the chicken pieces in one at a time (take a piece of chicken out of the buttermilk, coat in flour, place in pan, repeat). Cook for about 5 minutes/side or until they're cooked through. Don't overcrowd the chicken. You'll probably have to do two batches. Best practices say the oil should be kept around 300-325F while cooking (the temperature will drop once you add the chicken in). I use tongs to turn the chicken.
  • While the chicken is cooking, prepare your lettuce, tomato, and onion, and slice the jalapeno peppers into rings.
  • If desired, you can toast the insides of the buns. I cut the buns in half and spread butter on both sides. I then placed them in a separate skillet that was on medium-high heat and fried them for a couple minutes (check them often and remove when they're toasted enough for you).
  • I cooked the jalapenos after I finished frying the chicken. It would work if you tossed them in with your last batch of chicken, though (like when you're on the last five minutes of frying). I dunked the jalapeno slices in the buttermilk and then the flour mixture, and then I added them to the hot oil for five minutes.
  • Once the chicken is cooked, assemble the burgers by spreading on the sauce and then adding the chicken, lettuce, tomato, onion, and fried jalapenos.