As a child, the promise of crispy, juicy, oven-baked chicken kept me from putting off getting home. Most of the time, when our mother prepared Shake’N Bake instead of her usual Hamburger Helper or tuna-noodle casserole, we thought we had won the dinner lottery.
The idea is the same: Cover chicken in crunchy breadcrumbs to be the dinner king. My own kids yearn for chicken nuggets, but they mostly know the freezer variety.
Although this method requires a little more work than simply shaking chicken in a bag with breadcrumbs, the end result is well worth it. A paste made of eggs and mayo keeps the chicken juicy while panko breadcrumbs give it a golden, crispy exterior.
Not Oven-Fried, but Still Crispy and Juicy
This recipe pays homage to the baked, crumb-coated chicken of our youth, whether you grew up with Shake’N Bake or cornflake-crusted chicken cutlets. It is not a play on oven-fried chicken. Additionally, it provides a quick dinner option when the drive-thru would normally be calling your name.
The Secret to Juicy, Quick-Cooking Chicken
As you are aware, there are numerous shapes and sizes available for chicken breast. To keep this crispy oven chicken juicy while it cooks, pound the chicken into thin, even pieces.
Use my go-to trick if pounding the chicken sounds more time-consuming than therapeutic for you: Pound the chicken inside a gallon-sized zip-top bag. The bag contains all the mess and won’t slide around when used with a rolling pin or mallet.
On extremely busy weeknights, we love this chicken as a substitute for chicken fingers served with roasted broccoli and apple sauce, but you can dress it up and serve it with a salad and a nice sparkling wine. Dinner hero achievement unlocked: chop it up to serve over pasta or toss it into salads!
FAQ
How long does it take to bake thin chicken breasts at 400?
Boneless chicken breasts should be thinly sliced in no more than 15-20 minutes at 400°F. Depending on how thinly the chicken is sliced at 350°F, it might take 25–30 minutes.
How long does it take to cook thin chicken breast in the oven?
It takes 15-20 minutes to bake thinly sliced chicken breasts or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Checking the internal temperature of the meat with a meat thermometer is highly advised. To avoid dry chicken, turn off the oven as soon as it reaches 165°F. Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before serving.
How long does it take to bake thin chicken breasts at 350?
Whether you use chicken strips or a big slice of a thinly sliced chicken breast, you should ideally cook it for about 25 to 30 minutes in a 350°F oven.
Is it better to bake chicken at 350 or 400?
The range for roasting or baking is 325 to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. A good rule of thumb when roasting a whole chicken is to start the oven at 400 to 425 degrees F, reduce the temperature to 350 after 15 minutes, and cook the chicken until the internal temperature registers between 165 and 175 degrees F.