12 Recipes to Use Up Buttermilk

Buttermilk adds a tangy delicious flavor to baked goods, dressings, and even savory dishes. Don't let a single drop go to waste. Instead use it up with one of these fantastic recipes!

By
Claudia Cash
Claudia Cash
Claudia Cash
Claudia is the Community Manager for Simply Recipes and has contributed numerous articles focused on cooking on a budget, quick and easy meals, and kid-friendly foods.
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Published April 23, 2020
Claudia Cash
Three images side by side of recipes that use buttermilk. To the left is a bowl of salad with buttermilk dressing, the middle image is a plate with a bisuit spread with butter and jam, the farthest right is a plate of buttermilk pancakes topped with syrup and raspberries.

Buttermilk is known for its tangy goodness and it always seems to add a creamy richness to sweet and savory dishes. Recipes generally don’t call for a ton of buttermilk so there’s almost always a portion leftover you’re trying to figure out how to use.

Well, you’ve come to the right place for all your leftover buttermilk problems! We have some delightful recipes below to help you use up every ounce of that precious liquid. There are more here too!

  • Easy Buttermilk Waffles

    Easy waffle recipe served on a round plate with maple syrup
    Emma Christensen

    We have a tried and true method for making sure your waffles are crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. Add a little tang from the buttermilk and you’ll have some happy taste buds!

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  • How to Make Fluffy Buttermilk Pancakes

    Fluffy Buttermilk Pancakes from Scratch
    Sally Vargas

    If you’re not into waffles (don’t worry, we can still be friends), then go the pancake route! Buttermilk is a key ingredient in make sure these pancakes are as fluffy as ever.

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  • Fourth of July Buttermilk Pie

    Fourth of July Buttermilk Pie
    Elise Bauer

    Why wait for Independence Day?! This sweet custard pie is topped with plain whipped cream and berries! The tartness from the berries balances out the sweetness from the custard which means you get the best of both worlds.

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  • Classic Southern Buttermilk Biscuits

    Southern Biscuits with White Lily Flour - hands holding a plate of biscuits
    Alison Bickle

    These biscuits have simple ingredients, but we have all the best tips and tricks on how to make sure your biscuits are practically perfect in every way.

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    Continue to 5 of 12 below.

  • Homemade Buttermilk Ranch Dressing

    Elise Bauer

    Who needs the bottled stuff when all it takes is 5 minutes and simple ingredients to make the world’s best dressing?

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  • Buttermilk Fried Chicken

    Best Fried Chicken Recipe With Buttermilk
    Elise Bauer

    Our fried chicken gets a nice long buttermilk bath. Why? Because the acidity in the buttermilk helps tenderize the chicken which means it’ll stay tender when you fry it!

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  • Buttermilk Pudding

    Buttermilk Pudding
    Elise Bauer

    This pudding is sweet (but not too sweet!), super creamy, and has a sunny tang that will keep you coming back for more!

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  • Pasta Salad with Corn, Bacon, and Buttermilk Ranch Dressing

    Pasta Salad with Corn and Bacon
    Elise Bauer

    Make this recipe using corn kernels from your freezer and pasta from your pantry for a quick and easy lunch. Pro tip: Prep all your ingredients while the pasta is cooking!

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    Continue to 9 of 12 below.

  • Oatmeal Buttermilk Pancakes

    Healthy oatmeal pancakes stacked high on a whie plate drizzeled with maple syrup and topped with raspberries.
    Sally Vargas

    These pancakes are gluten-free thanks to oat flour and are sweetened with honey. Go ahead and make an extra batch because they’re freezer-friendly too!

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  • How to Make Gluten-Free Biscuits

    Gluten Free Biscuits
    Alison Conklin

    Another tasty biscuit recipe that uses buttermilk? Yes! Except this one is gluten-free! It’s the perfect weekend baking project.

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  • Panko Crusted Pork Tenderloin with Dijon Cream Sauce

    Panko Crusted Pork Tenderloin
    Elise Bauer

    Have you ever marinated pork in buttermilk? Turns out, it’s one of the best things that could ever happen to pork! It infuses a little tang while the panko gives a little crunch!

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  • Chicken and Avocado Salad with Buttermilk Dressing

    Chicken Avocado Salad
    Sally Vargas

    This is the lunchtime salad of your dreams. It uses up leftover buttermilk ranch dressing AND leftover chicken. Serve it with a hunk of garlic toast and call it good.

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