Ingredients
For the egg mix:
- 1 large egg
- 1/3 cup milk (OR buttermilk)
For the breading:
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 4 tablespoons plain breadcrumbs (Panko or Italian seasoned work as well)
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 tablespoon salt
- 2 teaspoons ground paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
For the Chicken:
- 2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breast (cut into strips (I do 3-4 per breast))
For the pan:
- 1/4 cup butter (or more as needed)
Instructions
- Prep: Heat the oven to 410°F (210°C). Place a dark-colored (or at the very least a silver metal) roasting pan (a rimmed baking sheet works as well) in the oven to heat up.
- Prepare breading: In a medium bowl, whisk together the egg and the milk. In a separate bowl, mix the flour, breadcrumbs, baking powder and seasoning together.
- Bread the chicken: Toss the chicken pieces in the flour, coating evenly and shaking off any extra flour. Next, toss the chicken pieces in the egg mixtures. Then, dip each into the flour mix again, this time coating very well – press the breading well on the chicken to make it stick.
- Place chicken on pan: Take the baking pan out of the oven and melt the butter on it. Place the coated chicken pieces on the tray – leave enough space in between, I usually bake it in two batches.
- Oven fry: Bake for 10-12 minutes, carefully flip and bake for another 5-10 minutes (depending on how thick your chicken pieces are). Finish by broiling the chicken until it turns golden brown and crispy.
Important ingredient notes:
Chicken parts: I usually use chicken breast only because it’s easiest for me to make and everyone will eat it. You can use whatever pieces you want, though – many readers have successfully made it with thighs and drumsticks.
Salt and spices: I reduced the salt by half from a previous version because some people felt it was too salty; if you’ve made this before and the saltiness was right for you, feel free to increase. And I know it sounds like a crazy amount of spices… But trust me here, your chicken will turn out bland if you don’t season it enough. If you want to add some heat, try using some cayenne pepper or chili powder.
Important Cooking Tips
Use a dark pan: A dark pan reflect the heat best, which results in the crispiest chicken. A silver pan is acceptable and yields good results, too.
Use kitchen tongs: Using kitchen tongs to toss the chicken, and then coat it with the breading, is the easiest way to keep the mess to a minimum.
Flip it VERY carefully: Use a spatula to slide underneath the chicken and very gently release the chicken from the pan before flipping/serving. If you just rip it off with tongs etc, the breading will fall off.
Let the chicken rest for 3-4 minutes before serving, but don’t let it sit around for longer than that for best results.
Reheating Leftovers:
If you have leftovers, you can easily reheat them in the oven. The chicken won’t be quite as juicy as freshly baked, but it’s still good.
Freezer Instructions:
Wait for the chicken to cool completely before freezing it (otherwise your freezer could heat up too much and affect the other frozen goods in there).
Use a container or bag that is suitable for freezing. Label the bag or container with the contents, today’s date AND the use-by time (the chicken is best eaten within 3 months).
I recommend freezing in a single layer on a cookie sheet for ~1 hour before transferring to freezer bags.
You can reheat the oven fried chicken in the microwave or for 20-25 minutes at 375 in the oven, or until it’s piping hot all the way through.
You don’t need to defrost it before reheating.
