Skip the boiling vat of oil (and the ensuing fatty bird) and head straight to crispy, juicy results with these two recipes for easy-peasy oven-fried chicken. Click here for the recipe from Southern Plate’s Christy Jordan, and see below for a time-saving version from Michele Urvater.
Oven-Fried Chicken
Serves 4
Time: 15 minutes preparation, 1 hour no-work baking time
If at all feasible, prepare the chicken ahead of time so it can fully absorb the flavors of the yogurt marinade. Marinating the chicken for the full hour intensifies the flavor, but of course this dish tastes fine even if you can’t spare the hour. Good old-fashioned creamy coleslaw makes a great side dish and can be assembled in the time it takes to bake the chicken.
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar or honey
- 1/2 cup plain regular or low-fat yogurt
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1 chicken, quartered or cut into 8 pieces (3 1/2 to 4 pounds total)
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1. Combine the garlic, brown sugar, and yogurt in a mixing bowl. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Turn the chicken pieces in the yogurt mixture, and if you have the time, cover and set aside in the refrigerator for 1 hour.
2. Preheat the oven to 375°F.
3. Combine the flour with the paprika, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper in a shallow plate.
4. Lightly oil a baking dish large enough to accommodate the chicken without crowding. Coat the chicken with the seasoned flour and shake off any excess. Set the chicken, skin side down, in the dish and bake for 25 minutes.
5. Turn the chicken over and bake until cooked through, another 35 minutes. Serve immediately, or set on a rack to cool to room temperature.
VARIATIONS
• In step 3, instead of the paprika, combine the flour with 1/2 teaspoon chili powder or cayenne pepper.
• For a Creole touch, in step 3 add 1/4 teaspoon each of garlic salt, dried thyme, and cayenne pepper to the flour and paprika.
For more recipes like this, check out Michele Urvater’s Monday to Friday Pasta—just $2.99 this month!
Rev up your family’s pasta routine with over 175 delicious pasta recipes that take less than a half-hour to prepare, and a stock-your-pantry approach that means you’re just a fresh ingredient or two away from a tasty, crowd-pleasing meal.
GET THE BOOK: Amazon | B&N | eBooks.com | Google Play | iBooks | Kobo
