Oven Fried Chicken Recipe (Super Crispy & So Easy!) - Cooking Classy (2024)

Published January 17, 2019. Updated April 20, 2020

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This Oven Fried Chickenhas all the flavors of the deep fried chicken without all the extra fat and oily mess! These chicken thighs are coated with a seasoned Panko and baked until golden brown and perfectly crisp! You wouldn’t believe how close they come to the real thing. This is how you do comfort food.

Oven Fried Chicken Recipe (Super Crispy & So Easy!) - Cooking Classy (1)

Deliciously Satisfying Baked Fried Chicken

I’ve always loved deep-fried chicken, but we all know it’s loaded with fat and calories. This version skips the frying and is coated with lightly oiled panko, then cooked in a hot oven instead of a pot of vegetable oil.

It’s deliciously flavorful and you’ll be swooning over the crispy breading and perfectly tender chicken.

I tested several different ingredients for the coating. I’ve tried melba toast, cornflakes, and Panko, and Panko is my favorite here. Then, I opted to leave out the flour for dredging because it works fine without it here, the egg whites are the perfect “glue” on their own.

I added some spices and herbs to the Panko to build flavor and mimic color (the paprika helps give it a nice orange shade). And you’ll love the light kick from the cayenne.

And this crispy oven fried chicken really isn’t difficult to make. The hardest part here will just be waiting for it to bake in the oven!

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Oven Fried Chicken Ingredients

The best part about this oven baked fried chicken recipe is that is requires just pantry staples!

  • Panko bread crumbs
  • Olive oil
  • Seasonings(paprika, thyme, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, S&P)
  • Egg whites
  • Bone-in, skinless chicken thighs(trimmed of fat)

How to Remove the Skin from Chicken Thighs

Removing the skin is actually really easy (and necessary for this recipe, you don’t want the extra oils). The skin mostly just pulls away then in areas where it sticks trim away with a sharp knife (HERE is a quick video that shows how).

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How to Make Oven Fried Chicken

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Spray a large wire rack with non-stick cooking spray and place in an 18 by 13-inch baking sheet.
  • Pour Panko into a shallow mixing bowl. Drizzle with olive oil and toss and rub with fingertips to evenly moisten.

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  • Sprinkle in paprika, thyme, garlic powder, cayenne pepper and season with salt and pepper to taste then toss.
  • In a separate shallow mixing bowl whisk together egg whites, salt and pepper until slightly frothy.

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  • Working with one piece of chicken at a time, dip both sides of chicken in egg white then transfer to Panko mixture and dredge both sides in mixture while pressing crumbs to adhere, sprinkle some over top as well and press.

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  • Transfer to prepared wire rack spacing evenly apart.
  • Bake in preheated oven until golden brown and cooked through (center of thickest portion should register 165ºF on an instant read thermometer), about 50 minutes. Serve warm.

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Can I Use Boneless Thighs or Chicken Breasts?

I personally prefer the bones because they add flavor, plus they take longer to cook with bone-in so you end with a really crispy coating that has a nice golden brown color. But boneless thighs or chicken breasts will work fine too.

How Long do You Cook Oven Fried Chicken?

  • Chicken thighs with bones (about 5 – 6 oz each, after removing skin) will take about 50 minutes at 400 degrees F.
  • If using boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 6 oz each), cook time should be about 20 – 25 minutes.
  • Boneless thighs (about 4 – 5 oz) should take about 25 – 30 minutes.

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Can I Use Regular Breadcrumbs?

No, I don’t recommend using regular breadcrumbs for this oven fried chicken recipe. Panko breadcrumbs are lighter and flakier than regular breadcrumbs, and they’re what make this baked fried chicken so crispy.

What to Serve with Fried Chicken

This healthy fried chicken pairs nicely with your favorite side dishes. A few of my favorite fried chicken sides include:

  • Oven Baked Sweet Potato Fries
  • Roasted Vegetables (or this other blend)
  • Apple Cranberry and Almond Coleslaw
  • Garlic Mashed Potatoes
  • Macaroni Salad
  • Steamed veggies (asparagus, green beans, broccoli, etc.)

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Tips for Making Oven Fried Chicken

  • If your oven generally browns more than average and you find the Panko coating is getting darker than you’d like, you can drape a sheet of foil over the chicken when needed and continue to bake through.
  • This baked breaded chicken is best enjoyed right away as it loses its crispness over time.
  • If you love heat, feel free to add more cayenne pepper.

More Comforting Chicken Dishes to Make:

  • Creamy Lemon Romano Chicken
  • The Best Chicken Parmesan
  • Chicken Marsala
  • Chicken Piccata
  • Skillet Chicken with Garlic Herb Butter Sauce

16 Quick & Easy 30 Minute Recipes! (plus weekly recipe updates)

Oven Fried Chicken Recipe (Super Crispy & So Easy!) - Cooking Classy (10)

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Oven Fried Chicken

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All the flavors of the deep fried chicken without all the extra fat and oily mess. These chicken thighs are coated with a seasoned Panko and baked until golden brown and perfectly crisp!

Servings: 8

Prep20 minutes minutes

Cook50 minutes minutes

Ready in: 1 hour hour 10 minutes minutes

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Place a large wire rack over an 18 by 13-inch baking sheet, spray wire rack with non-stick cooking spray.

  • Pour Panko into a shallow mixing bowl. Drizzle with olive oil and toss and rub with fingertips to evenly moisten.

  • Add paprika, thyme, garlic powder, cayenne pepper and season with salt and pepper to taste then toss.

  • In a separate shallow mixing bowl, whisk together egg whites, salt and pepper until slightly frothy.

  • Working with one pieces of chicken at a time, dip both sides of chicken in egg white then transfer to Panko mixture and dredge both sides in mixture while pressing crumbs to adhere, sprinkle some crumbs over top as well and press.

  • Transfer to prepared wire rack spacing evenly apart.

  • Bake in preheated oven until golden brown and cooked through (center of thickest portion should register 165ºF on an instant read thermometer), about 50 minutes. Serve warm.

Notes

  • If your oven generally browns more than average and you find the Panko coating is getting darker than you'd like, you can drape a sheet of foil over the chicken when needed and continue to bake through.
  • This method will work for boneless thighs or boneless chicken breasts too. Cook time will be about half but as always test to 165 degrees F in center for doneness.

Nutrition Facts

Oven Fried Chicken

Amount Per Serving

Calories 282Calories from Fat 90

% Daily Value*

Fat 10g15%

Saturated Fat 1g6%

Cholesterol 96mg32%

Sodium 219mg10%

Potassium 304mg9%

Carbohydrates 11g4%

Sugar 1g1%

Protein 22g44%

Vitamin A 190IU4%

Calcium 37mg4%

Iron 1.7mg9%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Nutrition values are estimates only. See full disclaimer here.

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Oven Fried Chicken

Author: Jaclyn

Oven Fried Chicken Recipe (Super Crispy & So Easy!) - Cooking Classy (2024)

FAQs

What is the trick to getting crispy chicken? ›

Fry it twice.

Try Fontana's method for “blanching” fried chicken: Heat oil to 250 degrees and cook chicken breasts for about five minutes, or bone-in chicken for about 12 minutes. Let them rest for 15 to 20 minutes, then fry again, two to three minutes for breasts or five minutes for bone-in.

Does baking soda or powder make fried chicken crispy? ›

That trick is a sprinkling of baking powder, and it'll get you the crispiest, crackliest bites of fatty, salty skin imaginable, whether you're cooking just one thigh, a plate of wings, or an entire bird. Baking powder, it turns out, is good for quite a lot more than baking.

Why didn't my chicken get crispy in the oven? ›

Chicken skin needs to be dry in order for it to crisp when cooked. Whether or not you rinse the chicken before prepping, you need to make sure the skin is as dry as possible. After removing the chicken from the package (and washing it, if that is your preferred method) pat each piece dry with paper towels.

Why is my oven fried chicken soggy? ›

If your chicken is greasy, soggy and dry, you are probably cooking it at too low of a temperature for too long. If your oil isn't hot enough, the breading will absorb oil rather than become crispy, that's why it is greasy and soggy.

What is the secret to keeping fried chicken crispy? ›

Bake in a high-temperature oven for around 5-8 minutes or until the coating is crispy once more. If you wish for the meat to remain crisp for a few hours following the cooking, lower the temperature to 200 degrees F (100 degrees C) and keep the chicken to rest until prepared to cook it.

What ingredient makes chicken skin crispy? ›

Coating the chicken in baking powder and salt before cooking produced an intensely crispy skin—at first.

Is cornstarch or baking powder better for crispy chicken? ›

My not-so-secret tip to the best fried chicken is a combination of FLOUR, CORNSTARCH, and BAKING POWDER. When mixed with the flour, the cornstarch makes the flour coating crispier and gives it that golden brown color! (It has to do with prevention of gluten development.)

What can I use instead of baking powder to make chicken crispy? ›

Substitute each teaspoon (5 grams) of baking powder in the recipe with 1/4 teaspoon (1 gram) baking soda and 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 grams) vinegar. Summary: Each teaspoon (5 grams) of baking powder can be replaced with a 1/4 teaspoon (1 gram) baking soda and a 1/2 teaspoon vinegar.

What goes first flour or egg? ›

Remember – flour first, then egg, then crumbs

The flour creates a dry surface on the wet or moist food and it's this dry surface that the egg will hold on to in the next step. If you didn't coat a chicken breast in flour, for instance, the egg would just slide right off the slippery chicken.

How do you're crisp fried chicken in the oven? ›

The best way to reheat fried chicken is in an oven.
  1. Bring it to room temperature: Take the chicken out of the fridge 20 to 30 minutes before reheating. ...
  2. Give it some air: Place chicken on a wire rack and preheat oven to 400°F. ...
  3. Go high and fast: Bake chicken for 12 to 15 minutes.
Dec 19, 2023

What does butter under chicken skin do? ›

Why Do It : Notoriously dry and chalky, roast chicken breasts can be transformed with softened butter. Two tablespoons of unsalted butter mixed with ½ teaspoon salt and spread underneath the skin of a whole breast before roasting will baste the white meat, keeping it juicy while adding flavor.

How do you keep chicken crispy in the oven? ›

Oven method: Preheat your oven to 200-250°F (93-121°C). Place the fried chicken on a baking sheet and cover it loosely with foil. Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and let it warm for 10-15 minutes. This will help the chicken stay crispy and warm.

Will fried chicken stay crispy in the oven? ›

The best way to keep fried foods crispy? Just place them on a cooling rack set over a baking sheet. If you're frying multiple batches, throw the whole setup into a low oven to keep everything warm as you keep frying and adding to the rack.

Why did my fried chicken turn black? ›

Since their bones have not calcified completely, pigment from the bone marrow can seep through the porous bones. When the chicken is cooked, the pigment turns dark. Freezing can also contribute to this seepage. It's perfectly safe to eat chicken meat that turns dark near the bone during cooking.

Is KFC chicken fried or baked? ›

KFC deep fries its chicken for 15 minutes and then drains the oil off for another five minutes – 20 minutes in total. If you don't have a deep fryer, heat up plenty of oil in a large saucepan and do it that way.

How do Chinese get their chicken so crispy? ›

The chicken is then air-dried for 10 to 12 hours before being flash-fried, then oil-poached. The skin gets its signature crispiness from 10 to 12 minutes of basting with scalding hot oil right before serving.

What's the secret to good fried chicken? ›

The secret to succulent fried chicken starts with a marinade or brine, which keeps the chicken at its peak juiciness. Fried chicken traditionalists generally choose a buttermilk marinade while others swear by a brine, which is a mixture of sugar, salt and sometimes spices dissolved into water.

Is cornstarch or baking soda better for crispy chicken? ›

Cornstarch: Coating the chicken wings with cornstarch gives them a very light breading and makes them extra crispy! Baking Powder: Be sure to use baking powder, and NOT baking soda. For baked chicken wings, the baking powder works with cornstarch and salt to coat the wings.

Does oil or butter make chicken crispy? ›

So if you want to achieve crispy chicken skin, you'll need to pan-fry it in oil. Go for options with high smoke points, such as canola, sunflower, and peanut oil, but stay away from olive oil for this dish, as its lower smoke point generally means you won't want to use it for frying.

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