Description
Crispy Southern-style oven-fried chicken delivers irresistible golden-brown perfection without excess oil. Home cooks can easily master this classic comfort dish with simple ingredients and foolproof techniques.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken Ingredients:
- 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs or drumsticks
Breading Ingredients:
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) all-purpose flour
Seasoning Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Liquid Ingredient:
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) buttermilk
Cooking Spray:
- Cooking spray or oil mist
Instructions
- Create a crispy, golden coating by blending breadcrumbs with flour, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper in a shallow dish.
- Immerse chicken pieces in buttermilk, allowing them to marinate for a minimum of 30 minutes or refrigerate overnight for enhanced flavor absorption.
- Preheat the oven to 400F (200C) and prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper to ensure even cooking and easy cleanup.
- Carefully remove chicken from buttermilk, letting excess liquid drain, then thoroughly coat each piece in the seasoned breadcrumb mixture.
- Arrange coated chicken pieces on the prepared baking sheet, maintaining space between them for optimal crispiness.
- Lightly mist the chicken with cooking spray to promote golden browning and enhance exterior crunch.
- Roast in the preheated oven for 40-45 minutes, rotating the pieces midway through cooking to ensure uniform browning.
- Verify doneness by checking that the internal temperature reaches 165F (74C) using a meat thermometer.
- Allow chicken to rest for 5 minutes after removing from the oven, which helps retain moisture and makes the meat more tender.
Notes
- Buttermilk tenderizes chicken, making it extra juicy and soft by breaking down muscle proteins during marinating.
- Use gluten-free breadcrumbs or almond flour for a celiac-friendly version that maintains crispy texture.
- Pat chicken completely dry before breading to ensure maximum crispiness and better breading adherence.
- Adjust cayenne pepper quantity based on personal spice tolerance, allowing customizable heat levels for different preferences.
- Prep Time: 40 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 380 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 500 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg