Description
Crispy Southern-style oven-fried chicken delivers golden, crackling perfection without deep-frying messy oil. Herb-seasoned buttermilk coating and crunchy breadcrumb exterior promise restaurant-quality results right from home kitchens.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken:
- 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
- 4 drumsticks
Coating Ingredients:
- 1 cup breadcrumbs (or panko)
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Liquid Ingredients:
- 1 cup buttermilk
- Cooking spray
Instructions
- Prepare the oven by heating to 400F (200C) and arrange a wire rack atop a parchment-lined baking sheet for optimal air circulation.
- Submerge chicken pieces in buttermilk, allowing flavors to penetrate and tenderize for a minimum of 60 minutes, preferably overnight.
- Create a seasoned coating by thoroughly blending breadcrumbs, flour, and an aromatic mix of spices including paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne, salt, and black pepper.
- Drain chicken from buttermilk, allowing excess liquid to drip off, then meticulously dredge each piece in the spiced coating, ensuring complete and even coverage.
- Strategically position the breaded chicken on the prepared wire rack, then lightly mist with cooking spray to encourage a crisp, golden exterior.
- Roast in the preheated oven for 40-45 minutes, rotating midway to ensure uniform browning, until the chicken achieves a rich golden color and reaches a safe internal temperature of 165F.
- Allow the chicken to rest for 5 minutes, enabling juices to redistribute and ensuring maximum tenderness before serving.
Notes
- Swap buttermilk with yogurt or plant-based milk to create a dairy-free version that maintains the same tender, juicy texture.
- Use gluten-free breadcrumbs or crushed cornflakes to make the recipe suitable for those with gluten sensitivities.
- Pat chicken pieces completely dry before marinating to ensure the coating adheres perfectly and creates an extra crispy exterior.
- Allow chicken to come to room temperature before coating and baking, which helps ensure even cooking and prevents soggy breading.
- Prep Time: 1 hour
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 300 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg