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Basket of crispy oven fried chicken drumsticks and thighs.

Crispy Baked Panko Crusted Chicken

Make this baked chicken with panko breadcrumbs the next time you're craving fried chicken but don't want to deal with the mess! It's perfectly seasoned, crispy on the outside, and juicy on the inside.
5 from 8 votes
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Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Servings: 4
Calories: 684kcal

Ingredients
 

  • 3-3.5 lbs bone in chicken pieces (skin removed (see note))
  • 3 cups panko bread crumbs
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons Kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 1 Tablespoon hot sauce

Optional Dipping Sauce

  • 1/4 cup ranch dressing
  • 1 Tablespoon Sriracha

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with foil and place a roaster or metal cooling rack on top. Spray it with cooking spray.
  • In a large gallon zip lock bag, combine the panko, salt, paprika, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper. Seal and shake well to combine.
  • In a medium sized bowl, whisk together mayo and hot sauce. Dip the chicken into the mayo mixture, coating both sides. Place 1-2 pieces of chicken in the the zip lock bag and shake until evenly coated. Repeat with remaining chicken, placing the finished pieces on the rack. If you have leftover panko in the end, you can sprinkle it on top of the chicken and pat it down. Spray with cooking spray.
  • Bake for 15-20 minutes (nuggets and tenders) or 40-50 minutes (bone in breasts and thighs), flipping halfway (SEE NOTE). Serve with a dipping sauce made from Ranch dressing and Sriracha.

Notes

  • This recipe makes enough coating for about 4 bone in chicken breasts or 3 bone in thighs and 4 drumsticks. If you want to substitute boneless skinless breasts or tenderloins, it will coat 2-2.5 lbs.
  • We recommend using a meat thermometer to test for doneness. Test in the thickest part of the meat, avoiding the bone. Chicken breasts and tenders should be removed from the oven at 165 degrees. Thighs and drumsticks are safe to eat at the same temperature, but will be more tender if cooked to 175 degrees.
  • As written, this chicken isn't particularly spicy. If you'd like to increase the heat, add additional hot sauce, cayenne pepper, or both.
  • To make the recipe gluten free, use gluten free panko breadcrumbs.

Equipment

Stainless Steel Cooling Racks, Half Sheet
Nordic Ware Aluminum Half Sheet Pans
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Keyword baked panko chicken, chicken with panko breadcrumbs, panko crusted chicken piccata

Nutrition

Calories: 684kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 44g | Fat: 40g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 17g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 127mg | Sodium: 1580mg | Potassium: 522mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 524IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 107mg | Iron: 4mg
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