I’m always thinking of ways to keep food delish and light, and this was my attempt at lightening up one of hubby’s favorite foods, fried chicken! He’s a big fan of the Colonel, so I had to come up with a recipe that rivals the delicious crunch, juiciness and flavor of those fast food chicken places. This crunchtastic oven fried panko crusted chicken definitely hits the spot, he even went back for seconds! This recipe captures it all…crunchy, zesty “fried” chicken, without the grease and guilt! Try this recipe next time you’re looking for a fried chicken fix without the grease stains on your jeans.
(4 servings)
8 skinless chicken drumsticks or thighs
1 1/2 cups Panko breadcrumbs (whole wheat if you can find it)
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon paprika
1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
2 eggs, beaten with 1 tablespoon of water
3/4 cup flour, seasoned with a big pinch of salt and pepper
Olive oil mister or cooking spray
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Set up your breading station so you can quickly and easily bread the chicken.
Add 1 teaspoon of salt, the paprika, garlic powder, black pepper and the thyme to the panko. Add the Parmesan cheese, if using. Mix it up to combine and distribute the spices.
Season the flour with a pinch of salt and pepper and stir to combine. Beat the eggs and add 1 tablespoon of water to loosen them up a little.
Dip the skinless leg or thigh into the flour, then into the egg, and finally, into the breadcrumbs.
Place the breaded chicken pieces onto a baking sheet lined with a baking rack, and spray them with cooking spray on both sides.
Bake the chicken for 40-45 minutes, until golden, crunchy, and cooked through. Flip the chicken once throughout cooking.
Serve with your favorite fixings, like perfect mashed potatoes or buttery garlic and dill corn. Bon appetit!
Oven Fried Panko Crusted Chicken
Ingredients
- 8 skinless chicken legs or thighs
- 1 1/2 cup Panko breadcrumbs
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 eggs beaten with 1 tablespoon of water
- 3/4 cup flour seasoned with a pinch of salt and pepper
- olive oil mister or cooking spray
Instructions
-
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Set up your breading station so you can quickly and easily bread the chicken.
-
Add 1 teaspoon of salt, the paprika, garlic powder, black pepper and the thyme to the panko. Mix it up to combine and distribute the spices.
-
Season the flour with a pinch of salt and pepper and stir to combine. Beat the eggs and add 1 tablespoon of water to loosen them up a little.
-
Dip the skinless leg or thigh into the flour, then into the egg, and finally, into the breadcrumbs.
-
Place the breaded chicken pieces onto a baking sheet lined with a baking rack, and spray them with cooking spray on both sides.
-
Bake the chicken for 40-45 minutes, until golden, crunchy, and cooked through. Flip the chicken once throughout cooking. Serve hot.
12 Responses
Absolutely DELISH! I had to bake it longer than directed over one hour due to my chicken thighs were very thick
I would like to try this for a dinner party next month ( 4 couples). Do you have suggestions for a sauce to put on the side with the chicken?
Hi Julia, I would go a few different options, like honey mustard, BBQ, and/or a horseradish dipping sauce. I also love fried chicken with a drizzle of good honey, so that would also be delish. Enjoy!
I love to make things ahead and freeze..Can I freeze after I bake them??
You can freeze them uncooked after you bread them, just freeze them on a baking sheet and then store them frozen. When you want to cook them you can pop them into the oven straight from the freezer. Just add 50% more cooking time to the original recipe.
Is the cooking spray for the rack or the chicken.
Hi Sandra, for the chicken, but you can spray your rack as well if it’s not nonstick.
I made this last night, and woooooow!!! My girlfriend who just loves fried foods said I never have to make pan fried anything anymore… she and I both loved it.. will try this process on chops as well as steak and maybe even some veggies!!!! Thanks!
So glad to hear that Katherine! Enjoy!