Skip the added oil and mess that’s associated with traditional frying and make super-crisp “fried” chicken in the oven. A zesty marinade filled with lemon, rosemary and spices keeps the chicken tender and flavorful. Cornmeal and whole wheat breadcrumbs make a crunchy coating while baking on a rack ensures no soggy bottoms on the chicken.
| Level: | Intermediate |
| Total: | 1 hr 50 min |
| Prep: | 30 min |
| Inactive: | 30 min |
| Cook: | 50 min |
| Yield: | 4 servings |
Ingredients
- 1 lemon
- 1/2 cup low-fat milk
- 1/2 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 2 teaspoons chopped fresh rosemary, plus 2 whole sprigs
- 4 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed
- 2 pounds bone-in skinless chicken legs and thighs
- 2 slices whole wheat bread, (3-ounces)
- 1/4 cup yellow cornmeal
- 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese, optional
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Finely grate 1 teaspoon of zest from the lemon; set aside. Squeeze the juice of the lemon into a medium bowl. Whisk in the milk, sugar, and cayenne until the sugar and cayenne are dissolved. Add the sprigs of rosemary and garlic. Pierce each chicken piece several times with a fork, add to the milk mixture, turning to coat well. Cover, and marinate in the refrigerator for 2 hours.
- Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Lay the bread on a baking sheet in a single layer. Bake, turning a few times, until the bread is crisp and dry, 45 minutes to 1 hour. Cool completely. Break into large pieces and pulse in the bowl of a food processor until it forms coarse crumbs.
- Increase the oven temperature to 375 degrees F. In a shallow dish combine the bread crumbs with the corn meal, Parmesan (if using), chopped rosemary, reserved 1 teaspoon zest, and season with salt and pepper. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and top with a wire rack. Coat the rack well with nonstick cooking spray.
- Working with one piece at a time, remove the chicken from the marinade, allowing the excess to drip off. Press into the bread crumb mixture until the chicken is well coated and place on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining chicken and crumbs. Mist the chicken with nonstick cooking spray.
- Bake until the chicken is crisp and a thermometer inserted into the thickest part registers 160 degrees F, about 50 to 55 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.
- Nutritional analysis of 1/2 of total recipe for breading mixture
- Calories 181; Total Fat 3.5g (Sat Fat 1g, Mono Fat 1g, Poly Fat 0.5g) ; Protein 9g; Carb 29g; Fiber 4g; Cholesterol 1mg; Sodium 506mg
- Nutritional analysis per serving of chicken
- Calories 328; Total Fat 10g (Sat Fat 3g, Mono Fat 3g, Poly Fat 2g) ; Protein 48g;
- Carb 10 g; Fiber 1g; Cholesterol 186mg; Sodium 330mg
Nutrition Facts
| Serving Size | 1 of 4 servings |
| Calories | 639 |
| Total Fat | 40 g |
| Saturated Fat | 11 g |
| Carbohydrates | 23 g |
| Dietary Fiber | 3 g |
| Sugar | 4 g |
| Protein | 44 g |
| Cholesterol | 227 mg |
| Sodium | 732 mg |
Reviews
Delicious
Good!
Loved it. Look for recipes with skinless chicken for less fat. This was very moist and crispy
Easy, tasty. Though my chicken did stick to the foil.
I had never heard of spaying the chicken with cooking spray. Loved the lemon- I put more garlic & added crushed red pepper (just a touch-I’m in Texas) Turned out great
I made this recipe and it was amazing!
Nice
Love the idea thanks
We made this today and everyone loved it.
Followed the recipe to the T and it was perfect the entire family loved it. Will add this recipe to our favorites.