Everyone will love this crispy oven fried chicken recipe – it’s so simple to make but so full of flavor. Serve it with the sides of your choice for a new family-favorite dinner!
Simple to make and absolutely delicious, this is better than getting KFC. Serve with your favorite sides for a meal your kids will go crazy for.
Oven Baked Fried Chicken:
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A few years back I loved getting chicken from KFC as a Sunday night tradition. Now that I have my own family I prefer to cook at home. And I especially prefer to have less greasy traditions! That’s why I figured out how to make it at home.
And I’m so happy to share my tried and perfected recipe for Oven Fried Chicken here on the blog! It’s similar to my Healthy Baked Chicken Nuggets, and obviously to my Buttermilk Oven Fried Chicken and my Garlic Parmesan Oven Fried Chicken. But this is the basic classic that’s absolutely perfect!
Watch the Video Tutorial:
In full disclosure: While I do love this recipeĀ 100% (I wouldn’t have shared it otherwise!) it is important to me to tell you that you shouldn’t expect the same results from baking as you should from deep-frying.
This recipe here does make a crispy oven fried chicken, but it’s not identical to regular deep fried chicken. It’s very delicious though (I do really like it better than KFC!) and your family will probably fight for the last crunchy oven fried chicken piece. I know mine does š
Finally, I want to show you just how versatile this recipe is. There are lots of ways to have fried chicken and these are some of our favorites:
- In a bun topped with sliced avocado and coleslaw on the side (I had this at a restaurant with regular fried chicken and it was so good!)
- Corn on the cob, baked beans and sweet potato fries
Really, this is THE recipe you’ve got to try. It’s what my kids want for their birthday dinner every single year, so you know it’s a good one š
Enjoy!
Crispy Oven Fried Chicken Recipe
Everyone will love this crispy oven fried chicken recipe - it's so simple to make but so full of flavor! Serve it with the sides of your choice for a new family-favorite dinner!
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
Instructions
- Prep: Heat the oven to 410Ā°F (210Ā°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:Ā 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:Ā 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 ā press the breading well on the chicken to make it stick.
- Place chicken on pan:Ā Take the baking pan out of the oven and melt the butter on it. Place the coated chicken pieces on the tray ā leave enough space in between, I usually bake it in two batches.
- Oven fry:Ā 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.
Notes
Important ingredient notes:
Chicken parts: I usually use chicken breast only because itās easiest for me to make and everyone will eat it. You can use whatever pieces you want, though ā 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 youāve 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 donāt 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:Ā 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:Ā 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:Ā 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 minutesĀ before serving, but donāt 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 wonāt be quite as juicy as freshly baked, but itās still good.
Check out my step by step instructions for reheating fried chicken here!
Freezer Instructions:
Wait for the chicken to cool completelyĀ before freezing it (otherwise your freezer could heat up too much and affect the other frozen goods in there).
Use a container or bagĀ that is suitable for freezing. Label the bag or containerĀ with the contents, todayās date AND the use-by time (the chicken is best eaten within 3 months).
I recommend freezing in a single layerĀ on a cookie sheet for ~1 hour before transferring to freezer bags.
You can reheatĀ the oven fried chicken in the microwave or for 20-25 minutes at 375 in the oven, or until itās piping hot all the way through.
You donāt need to defrostĀ it before reheating.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
6Serving Size:
1/6 of RecipeAmount Per Serving: Calories: 436 Total Fat: 15g Saturated Fat: 7g Unsaturated Fat: 6g Cholesterol: 181mg Sodium: 836mg Carbohydrates: 21g Fiber: 1g Sugar: 1g Protein: 52g
Try these chicken recipes next:
Check out our Oven Fried Chicken Breast Recipes and Easy Chicken Recipes collection for more ideas!
Kate C
I just made this and it was excellent!
Nora
I’m glad the chicken turned out well for you, Kate!
Mary
Love this recipe!!! I do not eat fried foods so this was perfect! I love to make it for company – very impressed guests- they think Iām a great cook! Ha! My question is – can I bread the chicken ahead of time, refrigerate, and then bake later? When I have company, I like to clean up ahead of time.
Ruth Ann
Was delicious. A bit salty so will cut back a bit. Didnāt have to use broiler; plenty crispy. Hubby loved it!
Nora
I’m so glad the chicken turned out well for you, Ruth Ann! I get a lot of feedback about the chicken being a tad salty, but I’ve never experienced it myself (and I’m pretty sensitive to overly salty dishes). I think it must really depend on the specific kind of salt – I use an unrefined sea salt most of the time and it seems to be less intense than other salts. Thanks so much for your feedback, I appreciate it!
Lisa
Delicious! So moist and the chicken had great flavor. The coating didnāt stick to the chicken tho! Once it was on the plate it slid off with every cut. What did I do wrong?
Nora
Hi Lisa, glad the flavor was great! I’m not sure about the coating – I think if you want it to totally stick to the chicken while eating, you have to eat by hand or cut it into larger pieces. It usually comes off for me when I cut the chicken into very small pieces for my 3 year old, but not when I cut larger pieces for myself.
Nikki Bee
This recipe is AMAZING. So good, crisp and delicious. Can you tell me though, is this oven recipe healthier than regular fried chicken?
Nora
Hi Nikki, glad you enjoyed the chicken. I guess “healthy” is a definition we all have to make for ourselves. Personally, I just like knowing what goes into my crispy chicken vs getting takeout. AND I hate deep-frying, just some reasons that make this recipe work so well for our family!
Rachel
This was so so good and really easy!! Followed instructions exactly and it turned out perfectly- my family inhaled it! I definitely plan to make again- thank you!!!
Nora
So glad to hear it, Rachel! And thanks for coming back to leave a review – I appreciate it!!
Rachel
This was so so good and really easy!! Following instructions exactly and it turned out perfectly- will definitely make again- thank you!!!
Brett Cox
This recipe was outstanding!
Everyone in my family absolutely loved it. I followed the recipe exactly, and – unlike many others I have tried – the results looked just like the photos. Taste-wise it was a very close comparison to KFC, with much less guilt due to the oven cooking vs deep frying.
Thanks for the recipe – this one is going straight into the regular rotation!
Nora
I’m so happy to read this, Brett! It’s one of my family’s favorite recipes, so I’m glad it was such a hit with yours! Thanks for coming back to leave a review – I appreciate it.
Elizabeth Mccrary
Awesome! I added a quarter of a cup of crushed cornflakes for a lil more crunch. What a great flavor! Making it a second time. Thank you.
Nora
What a great idea, Elizabeth! I’ll have to try that next time.
Susan
I used 4 medium sized breasts and had to add an extra 1/4 cup or so of flour for the last pieces. I also used smoked paprika and freeze dried minced garlic. I had a few pieces stick and lose their breading but over all the best oven fried chicken recipe Iāve tried. I would ease up on the salt too if using salted butter. Definitely would make again. The family loved it!
Nora
I’m very happy to be reading this, Susan! It’s one of our favorite recipes š
Luca
Crispy chicken is very popular in my country (Hungary), a classic weekend lunch. My husband loves it, but I don’t like making it, since it’s deep fried, smelly and frustrating to do all the coating. Your recipe changed this! It’s super easy to make, butter smell is lovely and it’s really crispy AND juicy! The seasoning is exotic (usually here just salt goes in it), but works fantastically. Just finished our wonderful lunch, so happy with it. š Thank you!
Christine
I followed your recipe but made it gluten free with gluten free bread crumbs and flour. It was fabulous! Will definitely make it again.
Shana
Hi! The chicken was super tasty…but my breading didnāt really āstickā so I just put it on top. Any tips to what I did wrong? Thanks!
Nora
Hi Shana, that’s strange, I’ve never had that happen OR had anyone tell me their breading didn’t stick. Did you follow the instructions? First a thin layer of the flour mix, then egg mix, and then coating them with a thick layer of the flour mix?
Rhiannon
Making this now. Smells delish! I’m sure my family will enjoy. Thanks for the recipe!
Nora
Glad to read this, Rhiannon! Hope the chicken was a hit with your family.
Shuh
Hi do u close the lid of the tray in the oven or leave it open?
Nora
No, the tray that has the chicken on it doesnāt need a lid, so the chicken can brown. Hope that helps!
Susan Fannon
I was looking for an oven fried chicken recipe that was crispy. This recipe really filled the bill. I’m making it for guests on Christmas Eve. I know it will be a hit. Thanks for sharing.
Nora
Glad to hear this, Susan! I hope your guests are going to love it. Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment – I appreciate your time.
Debbie Sharp
Tasty! Nice and crispy! Thanks for this recipe!
Nora
I’m very happy the chicken turned out so well for you, Debbie! Thanks for leaving a review, I appreciate it!
Barbara
Really good! I added a splash of hot sauce to the egg and milk. Gives it just a bit of a kick with the vinegar in the hot sauce. Yum! š
Nora
That sounds so good, Barbara! Thanks for coming back to leave a review – I appreciate it!
Carrie
Could I possibly use buttermilk?
Nora
Absolutely! I actually have a Buttermilk Oven Fried Chicken recipe on the blog, you can see it if you click right here!
Courtney
So delicious! I made bone in fried chicken, cook time is about 7 to 10 minutes longer on each side, but it turned out amazing!
Nora
Courtney, I’m so happy to be reading this! I yet have to try making this with bone-in chicken, but I bet it is amazing. Thanks for sharing the extra cooking time, and thank you for coming back to review the recipe. I appreciate it very much!
Kim
Can I use soy milk?
Nora
Hey Kim, I have never made it with soy milk, but I’m sure it will work. Let me know how it turns out!
Jeannie
Made this tonight for me and my husband. He said āYou can make this for me anytime!ā Thanks for the recipe. We both enjoyed it and I WILL make it again.
Nora
So happy you and your husband enjoyed the chicken, Jeannie! Thanks for leaving your sweet review, too. I appreciate your time!
Sharon
This is a fantastic recipe!! We are a family of 8 and any recipe that all 6 of my kids love and ask for is a good one! Thank you so much for sharing!
Nora
Sharon, your comment is making me so happy! Glad all your kids enjoy this chicken – mine do, too! Thanks so much for taking the time to share your experience, I appreciate it so very much.