We're Big Fans of Buttermilk—Try Our 25 Favorite Recipes
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We're going to let you in on a little secret. Are you ready for it? Ree Drummond loves buttermilk. Just look at her homemade ranch dressing that's both creamy and tangy or her perfect pancakes for that ideal fluffy texture. She also uses buttermilk in recipes like skillet cornbread and her family's favorite chocolate sheet cake. As you can see, buttermilk is one of the most versatile ingredients around, which is why you'll love these easy buttermilk recipes.
To better understand why buttermilk is used in recipes for fried chicken, biscuits, and homemade cakes, you'll need to know a little bit more about buttermilk and how it's made. Traditionally, buttermilk was the liquid leftover from churning butter made from cultured cream. But today, you'll find that most buttermilk is made from milk with cultures added. The cultures are what give buttermilk its tangy flavor and thicker texture, which makes it perfect for using in salad dressings and pasta salads. When combined with baking soda, the acids from buttermilk will react to create a tender crumb and a light, fluffy texture in pancakes, waffles, and cakes. Not to mention, it's great for tenderizing meats like Ree's chicken fried chicken!
Of course, you can buy buttermilk in any grocery store, but you can also make your own buttermilk if you're in a pinch. All you need is a cup of milk or half-and-half and a tablespoon of lemon juice. (Or check out our suggestions for buttermilk substitutes.) Either way, you'll love these buttermilk recipes just as much as The Pioneer Woman herself.
Buttermilk Biscuits
Buttermilk helps to make these biscuits rise so they become tall, fluffy, and irresistible. Another trick to making them so tempting? Top them with melty butter and honey.
Get the Buttermilk Biscuits recipe.
Buttermilk Pie
The custard-like filling in this pie recipe has a caramelized top and a flaky crust. It's a Southern favorite through and through.
Get the Buttermilk Pie recipe.
Chicken Fried Chicken
The key to this extra crispy fried chicken is marinating the thighs in buttermilk, pickle juice, and egg, then dredging it in a mixture of flour, seasoned salt, pepper, and cayenne. Once fried, it's topped with a creamy and comforting gravy.
Get the Chicken Fried Chicken recipe.
Perfect Pancakes
There's a reason why Ree's pancakes have "perfect" in the name—it’s because she's tweaked and adjusted the recipe to make them just that! What sets them apart from the rest is the combination of both milk and buttermilk.
Get Ree's Perfect Pancakes recipe.
Ranch Potatoes
Ranch lovers will go crazy for these crispy red potatoes. They're seasoned with ranch mix and served atop a buttermilk ranch dressing.
Get the Ranch Potatoes recipe.
Fried Green Tomatoes
Just like fried chicken, fried green tomatoes can benefit from a quick dip in a buttermilk-pickle mixture before being dredged in Creole-spiced cornmeal. It's even better when served with ranch dressing.
Get the Fried Green Tomatoes recipe.
Homemade Ranch Dressing
This creamy, herbaceous dressing can do no wrong. You can toss it with a salad or simply use it as a condiment for burgers and fries. Making it from scratch is totally worth it.
Get the Homemade Ranch Dressing recipe.
Chocolate Sheet Cake
Once Ree started making this cake, she never looked back! The rich and fudgy treat instantly become her family's favorite. Good thing it's big enough to feed a crowd.
Get Ree's Chocolate Sheet Cake recipe.
Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
This pasta salad is both creamy and herby thanks to a homemade buttermilk dressing. You'll also love the mix-ins like grape tomatoes, cheddar cheese, and crispy bacon.
Get the Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad recipe.
Lemon Blueberry Cake
This cake is bursting with flavor that will remind you of a sunny afternoon. Not only are there juicy blueberries throughout, but there's also bright, citrusy lemon in both the frosting and the cake.
Get the Lemon Blueberry Cake recipe.
Popcorn Chicken
This recipe turns fried chicken into a poppable finger food. You can serve them plain or toss them in buffalo sauce and melted butter. Either way, once you pop, you won't be able to stop.
Get the Popcorn Chicken recipe.
Coca-Cola Cake
It doesn't get lighter and fluffier than this Coca-Cola cake. The bubbles from the soda (along with the buttermilk) makes it light and fluffy, plus it gives an extra sweetness to the chocolate dessert.
Get the Coca-Cola Cake recipe.
Onion Rings
Cook these onion rings in small batches and you'll get perfectly light and crispy results every time. Big batches are known to be prone to becoming greasy.
Get the Onion Rings recipe.
Wedge Salad with Buttermilk Ranch Dressing
A wedge salad is always crisp and refreshing. Plus, it looks so elegant when each wedge is plated and topped with shredded cheese, chives, and homemade buttermilk ranch dressing.
Get Ree's Wedge Salad with Buttermilk Ranch Dressing recipe.
Skillet Cornbread
Ree calls this cornbread recipe her "all-time favorite." In fact, it's the same cornbread she grew up eating as a kid. One of the best parts about it is that the cast iron skillet makes the edges and bottom extra crispy.
Get the Skillet Cornbread recipe.
Funnel Cake
If you've ever been to a state fair, you probably know this delightful treat. But for anyone who's new to the dessert, get ready for a crispy fried dough that has just the right amount of tang from buttermilk and just the right amount of sweetness from powdered sugar.
Get the Funnel Cake recipe.
Strawberry Cake
This strawberry cake is simple and sweet. It's basically the perfect cake to whip up when you don't have a ton of time—it’ll be on the table in less than an hour!
Get the Strawberry Cake recipe.
Green Goddess Potato Salad
Fresh herbs, anchovies, shallots, avocado give this buttermilk-based dressing flavor and color. Along with the tender potatoes, it's also tossed with snap peas for a springtime twist.
Get Ree's Green Goddess Potato Salad recipe.
Skillet Biscuits with Cinnamon-Honey Butter
Ree likes to make her flaky buttermilk biscuits in a cast iron skillet which she says gets "screaming hot." Topping them off with a homemade cinnamon-honey butter that melts into all the nooks and crannies is just the icing on the cake!
Get Ree's Skillet Biscuits with Cinnamon-Honey Butter recipe.
Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
You don't need to be a kid to love chicken tenders—though the young ones in your family will definitely love these! We lightened things up by making them in an air fryer so they're crisp but not greasy.
Get the Air Fryer Chicken Tenders recipe.
Ranch Chopped Salad
Thanks to the crispy bacon and buttermilk ranch dressing, even a cowboy will love this salad! Try serving it up with a steak dinner or as a side dish at your next BBQ.
Get Ree's Ranch Chopped Salad recipe.
Dr Pepper Cupcakes
These cupcakes feature Ladd Drummond's favorite soda: Dr Pepper! But they also have cocoa powder, dried cherries, and warm spices. They're even topped with a zesty Dr Pepper frosting.
Get Ree's Dr Pepper Cupcakes recipe.
Cornbread Waffles and Spicy Fried Chicken
Buttermilk is used both in the spicy fried chicken bites and the cornbread waffles so you know you'll put that carton to good use. With sliced jalapeño peppers and spicy honey, it's such a fun twist on chicken and waffles.
Get Ree's Cornbread Waffles and Spicy Fried Chicken recipe.
Pumpkin Sheet Cake
This cake is packed with warm spiced flavors and topped with a tangy cream cheese frosting. It's no wonder Ree calls it a "triumph!"
Get Ree's Pumpkin Sheet Cake recipe.
Waffles
Take Ree's word for it—you can easily swap in buttermilk for the milk that's used in this recipe. In fact, buttermilk waffles are a dream come true!
Get Ree's Waffles recipe.
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