Best Oven-Fried Chicken

By
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 06/14/24
Tested by
Danielle Centoni
Danielle Centoni
Tested by Danielle Centoni

Danielle is a James Beard Award-winning food writer and editor based in Portland, Oregon.

Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 45 mins
Total: 60 mins
Servings: 4 servings

Enjoy the crispy, juicy taste of fried chicken without the oil and greasy mess. This recipe fries chicken in the oven so it's cleaner, healthier, and easier. It's coated with a seasoned flour mixture, baked to perfection, and ready in an hour.

Southern oven-fried chicken pieces on a serving platter

The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

Butter might be the real secret to this oven-fried chicken's amazing flavor. It's melted in the baking pan and chicken is added to create a flavorful, crispy coating. You may think the butter will burn, but it won't. Just forge ahead and reap the delicious benefits.

Use a budget-friendly, cut-up chicken or your family's favorite pieces. It's excellent with whole chicken leg quarters or thighs. You can reduce or increase the amount of chicken and breading. Serve it with a couple of old-fashioned side dishes for a classic chicken dinner the whole family will enjoy.

Tips for Making Oven-Fried Chicken

  • Don't forget the corners! - For the crispiest results, make sure flour gets in all of the little crevices of the raw chicken and even under any hanging skin.
  • No metal pan, no problem! - If you don't have a metal pan with sides, use a baking or casserole dish instead. The main goal is to keep the butter and chicken juices contained. Be sure that the glass or ceramic dish can withstand the required oven temperature.
  • Choose the right butter - Unsalted butter is less likely to burn at high heat than salted butter.
  • Use a meat thermometer - Check the chicken's internal temperature with a food thermometer to ensure it's fully cooked. According to the USDA, the minimum safe temperature for chicken is 165 F.
  • Keep an eye on temperature - This recipe will work with boneless chicken breasts, but they will cook faster. Check the internal temperature after 12 to 15 minutes and keep cooking if needed. Some cooks prefer to soak the breasts in buttermilk overnight in the refrigerator to ensure the chicken is moist.
What You'll Need to Make This Oven-Fried Chicken Recipe
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A Great Set of Measuring Spoons
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A Nice Rimmed Baking Sheet
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An Instant Read Thermometer

"This recipe allowed me to get that crispy-outside-juicy-inside fried chicken goodness. The chicken is simply coated in seasoned flour, set in a baking dish with melted butter, and baked. I coated some of the pieces once, and some twice, and much preferred the twice-coated. Tip: The chicken is really good with hot sauce." —Danielle Centoni

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A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

  • 1/3 cup all-purpose flour

  • 1 teaspoon paprika

  • 1 teaspoon salt

  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • 3 pounds bone-in chicken parts, with or without skin

  • 1/3 cup unsalted butter

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients. Heat the oven to 425 F.

    Ingredients for Southern oven-fried chicken recipe gathered

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  2. In a pie plate or a wide, shallow bowl, combine the 1/3 cup all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon paprika, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper.

    Flour, paprika, and seasonings combined in a pie plate

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  3. Place 3 pounds of bone-in chicken parts (with or without skin) in the flour mixture, turning to coat thoroughly. Or combine the flour and seasonings in a paper bag or plastic food storage bag. Add chicken pieces a few at a time and shake gently to coat.

    Chicken pieces placed in seasoned flour on a pie plate

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  4. Put 1/3 cup unsalted butter in a shallow baking pan; place it in the hot oven. When the butter has melted, arrange the chicken in the pan in a single layer, skin-side down.

    Chicken pieces placed skin-side down in melted butter on a rimmed baking sheet

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  5. Bake for 30 minutes; turn and bake 15 minutes longer, or until chicken is tender and done (at least 165 F on a food thermometer).

    Golden brown baked chicken pieces on a baking sheet

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

Feeling Adventurous? Try This:

  • Make it cheesy! - Add a few tablespoons of grated Parmesan cheese to the flour mixture for extra flavor and texture.
  • Extra flavor is always a good time - Add about 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder, onion powder, or cayenne to the seasoned flour.
  • Try other seasonings - Try it with an adobo spice mix or Cajun seasoning.
  • For the adventure flavor seekers - For an interesting twist, add curry powder to the flour.
  • Make it crispy! - Panko breadcrumbs can replace the flour for a very crispy chicken.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
922 Calories
60g Fat
8g Carbs
83g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 922
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 60g 77%
Saturated Fat 22g 111%
Cholesterol 360mg 120%
Sodium 891mg 39%
Total Carbohydrate 8g 3%
Dietary Fiber 1g 2%
Total Sugars 0g
Protein 83g
Vitamin C 1mg 7%
Calcium 52mg 4%
Iron 6mg 34%
Potassium 724mg 15%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)