What’s up, y’all? Today we’re making the BEST crispy Baked Fried Chicken! 🙌 This recipe gives you all the crunchy goodness of fried chicken but without deep frying, which means it’s a bit healthier but still totally delicious.
Perfect for dinner, a snack, or just whenever you want some crispy chicken in your life. Let’s get to it! 😋🍗
📝 Ingredients:
- 4 chicken breasts (or thighs if you like ’em juicier)
- 1 cup buttermilk (or regular milk + 1 tbsp lemon juice)
- 1 egg
- 1 cup flour
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional, for a lil’ spice)
- 2 cups crushed cornflakes or panko breadcrumbs
- Olive oil spray or melted butter for brushing
👩🍳 Directions:
- Preheat & Prep: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil and spray it with non-stick spray. Let’s get that chicken crispy! 🔥
- Buttermilk Soak: In a bowl, whisk together the buttermilk and egg. This is gonna help make your chicken super tender and juicy! Toss your chicken pieces in the buttermilk mix and let them soak for at least 10 minutes (or longer if you have time).
Make the Coating: In another bowl, mix together the flour, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, salt, and cayenne pepper. This is the magic crispy coating! 🌟
Crush the Cornflakes: In a third bowl, toss in the crushed cornflakes (or panko if you’re using that). This is where the crunch comes from. You can crush the cornflakes by hand or in a plastic bag with a rolling pin for fun.
Coat the Chicken: Take each piece of chicken out of the buttermilk and dredge it in the seasoned flour. Then dip it back in the buttermilk and roll it in the crushed cornflakes. Make sure it’s completely covered for ultimate crunchiness! 😍
Bake It Crispy: Place the chicken on your prepared baking sheet. Spray each piece with olive oil or brush with melted butter to get that golden “fried” look. Bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes, flipping halfway through, until it’s crispy and cooked through (165°F internal temp). Crispy outside, juicy inside – YUM! 🍗
Serve & Enjoy: Once your chicken is done, let it rest for a couple of minutes before digging in. Serve with your favorite dipping sauce, and boom! You’ve got crispy, oven-fried chicken perfection. 💯