If Chelsea is our in-house sweets guru, consider me your friendly resident fried foods gal. Much to many people’s chagrin (“what do you mean you think chocolate is JUST OKAY?!”), I’ve always preferred savoury over sweet. 9 times out of 10 I would rather have seconds (or thirds, who am I kidding) for dinner than a delicious dessert.
Of course, this isn’t to say I eat healthier (I definitely don’t). Cheese, fries, steak, pasta, mayonnaise/aioli… these things are my happy place. Not a sweet tooth, but a fat tooth.
Generally speaking, I am a strictly quality over quantity kind of girl (that’s a lie, I am quality and quantity and therein lies the problem, buuut given the choice…). If I want something decadent, I will make something decadent. I would rather two fluffy fried falafels than six dry and heavy baked ones (or maybe I just haven’t found a baked falafel recipe that has impressed me yet).
But then… this chicken. This marvelous chicken. It fulfills all my fried chicken love and more, but… isn’t fried. I hesitate to call it healthy since technically you’re still eating chicken skin, but it’s certainly heathier.
Baked ‘fried chicken’ has been around forever but this is my tried and true recipe. Something about the honey-vinegar drizzle at the end, baked up for a couple minutes. The chicken ends up crispy and crunchy but with a delicious sticky, sweet and tangy edge.
So… I will fry my falafels and I will add cream to my quiches, but my chicken… my chicken can be crispy baked, not fried. It’s just that good.
Best of all, this dish is a total crowd pleaser and a snap to put together. While the chicken is baking you can prep any sides to serve alongside it- grilled veg, salad, rice, quinoa, (*ahem fries*)- whatever your heart desires!
| No-fry Italian Fried Chicken | Print |
- 8 chicken drumsticks (bone in, skin on)
- 3 Tbs olive oil
- 1 tsp each fresh rosemary, thyme and sage, chopped
- 1 cup Italian breadcrumbs*
- 4 Tbs honey
- 4 Tbs apple cider vinegar
- Preheat oven to 400.
- Cover a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Mix olive oil and fresh chopped herbs together in a large bowl. Add chicken drumsticks and rub olive oil mixture into the meat.
- Place breadcrumbs in a medium bowl. One by one, dredge each herbed drumstick in the italian breadcrumbs, pressing the crumbs on to the meat to form a light crust.
- Once all drumsticks have been coated, place the chicken in the oven and cook for 25 minutes.
- In a small bowl, mix honey and apple cider vinegar together.
- After 25 minutes of baking, remove the drumsticks from the oven and rotate each piece. Cook for an additional 25 minutes (could be slightly less or more, depending on the size of your pieces).
- In the final 5 minutes of cooking, brush each piece of chicken with the honey and vinegar mixture.
Italian breadcrumbs:
1 cups dried breadcrumbs (4 pieces stale bread, whizzed through a food processor until fine)
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1 Tbsp parsley
1 tsp kosher salt
2/3 cup parmesan, grated
These look scrumptious and can’t wait to make it! It’s too hot here to turn the oven on so I’m definitely putting this recipe in my go to file.
Thanks, Bunny! They’re so easy and delicious- definitely my go-to crowd pleaser meal these days!
I made this the other night and it wowed EVERYONE, husband and two very picky kids! It was such a hit I made it again for a ‘grown ups’ night with some friends later in the week and they ALL asked for the recipe. Cannot rave enough, this is my new favourite chicken recipe. Thanks so much!
Thanks, Sophie! It’s great to hear this was such a hit across the board 🙂
Can you make this recipe with chicken cutlets? If so what temperature and hoe long?
I was so excited to try this recipe, but unfortunately mine didn’t turn out crispy like the pictures. I followed the instructions exactly as printed.
So sorry to hear, Lindsey! I don’t know why that might have been the case. Did you use store-bought breadcrumbs or homemade? The only thing I can think of is that perhaps that crumbs weren’t dry enough?
Hello! I know we are in 2016, but…
God, they look delicious! I can’t wait to prepare them.
I’m already saying thank you!
I think I will love those!
Thanks, Kuri! I hope you enjoy them!
I made this recipe, I eliminated the honey and cider, and it was very good and easy. I will make it again.
Thank you
Great to hear, Luana! It’s a favourite in our house, too!