10 Ways to Use Buttermilk (Besides Pancakes and Biscuits)

Ever let a half carton of buttermilk spoil in the fridge because you just didn’t know what else to do with it after making pancakes or biscuits? It’s is one of those delightful must-haves for fluffy and light breakfasts, but you’re often left with more than you need. Here are 10 creative ways to use buttermilk that you may have never considered before.

What Is Buttermilk?

Before we get into the nitty-gritty details of how to use buttermilk, let’s begin with what it is. Traditionally, buttermilk was what remained after churning cream into butter. While you have a good chance of finding this in certain specialty grocers around the country, most of the cartons you’ll spot at the grocery store today are milk with added lactic bacteria that gives buttermilk its unique tangy flavor.

See more: 21 Delightful Dairy Recipes to Celebrate June Dairy Month

Ways to Use Buttermilk

Most home cooks know what an impact buttermilk can make in pancakes and biscuits. But here are some other clever and creative ways to use this prized ingredient in your home cooking:

1. Quick Breads

A quick bread is made without any chemical leavening agents or active yeast. Think about your favorite banana or pumpkin loaf and you’ll have the right idea. Try swapping out the milk for buttermilk next time and see if you can taste the boost in flavor.

Try this Garlic Dill Soda Bread

2. Waffles

OK, OK, waffles may not be that different from pancakes (although our waffle-loving friends in Belgium are sure to argue otherwise). But people rarely think to make buttermilk waffles. If you want an even fluffier stack of waffles to enjoy on Saturday morning, throw some of that extra buttermilk in the batter before firing up the waffle iron.

Try these Blueberries and Cream Waffles

See more: 10 Best Breakfast and Brunch Recipes

3. Salad Dressings

Need to whip up a quick salad dressing? Time to reach for that leftover buttermilk in the fridge. With the simple addition of lemon, herbs and garlic, you can have a downright decadent salad dressing that will have you heading back for seconds.

Try these Charred Green Beans with Blueberries, Pecans and Buttermilk Dressing

4. Veggie Dips

You can get really creative with veggie dips, but at the end of the day, you just want something that inspires you to eat more vegetables, right? If you’ve always struggled to enjoy celery and carrot sticks, a buttermilk-based veggie dip might be your ticket to a healthier snack.

Try this Buttermilk Ranch Dip from Skinny Comfort

5. Fried Chicken

Want to know the secret to making restaurant-quality fried chicken? Marinate your chicken in buttermilk first. Thanks to its acidity, the chicken will tenderize and flake beautifully when dredged through breading.

Try this Crispy Buttermilk Fried Chicken from Food & Wine

6. Popsicles

Homemade popsicles are infinitely tastier than store-bought ones, especially considering how easy they are to make. Buttermilk is key to achieving that extra creamy texture and a flavor that resembles frozen yogurt.

Try these Lemon Buttermilk Popsicles from Live Eat Learn

See more: Deciphering Dairy: Myths vs Facts

7. Mashed Potatoes

Instead of using milk or butter to add a punch of flavor to your mashed potatoes, try buttermilk. This genius tip will never let you down. Just be sure to incorporate a little at a time to make sure you reach your desired consistency.

Try these Simple Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes from Healthy Seasonal Recipes

See more: 10 Tasty Potato Recipes for Any Occasion

8. Hamburger Buns

If you’ve never made hamburger buns before, you might be surprised to learn just how simple they are to make at home. The flavor and acidity of the buttermilk really shine in baked goods, and these hamburger buns are no exception.

Try these Buttermilk Burger Buns from Cottage Chronicles

See more: Got Milk? 13 Fascinating Dairy Facts

9. Smoothies

Itching to blend up a smoothie but out of milk? Buttermilk makes an excellent substitution, particularly if you’re using sweet ingredients like bananas and berries. The tang and sourness offer a surprisingly good balance in flavors and may become your new go-to smoothie base.

Try this Blackberry Buttermilk Smoothie from Food & Wine

10. Soups

Making a cream-based soup? Buttermilk to the rescue. It’s wonderful stirred into vegetable-heavy soups for a little extra tang, makes an unsurprisingly good base for potato soups and brightens flavors that may otherwise fall to the wayside.

Try this Buttermilk Potato Soup with Bacon and Roasted Jalapeños from Homesick Texan