In the south, we're always on the hunt for crispy and crunchy baked chicken. If it's at home, then Shake and Bake chicken is the way to go. It's super easy and if you haven't tried it, do yourself a favor and add it to your weeknight meal. Here's the easiest way to prepare Shake and Bake chicken for a fast meal.
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What is Shake and Bake?
In summary, Shake and Bake is the process of making the meal. You shake it and you bake it. You can't do both without the mix, and that's where Shake 'n Bake comes into play. The coated seasoning mix comes in a box and can be found at your local grocery store. While baking isn't frying, baking your chicken with this breadcrumb coating can give it a consistency similar to fried chicken, making it perfect for those nights you're craving crispy chicken.
You can find many flavors for the coating mix, such as original chicken, teriyaki, hot and spicy, and extra crunchy. You can even find gluten free in some brands. It all depends on which chicken recipe you want to tackle for the night, and what brand of mix you get. Kraft produces Shake and Bake, but you can find copycat mixes all over the place. You can even make one yourself!
How Do You Shake and Bake?
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First, choose which chicken pieces you want to eat. Are you going for boneless or bone-in? Are you going to do wings, chicken thighs, or chicken breast? It's really all up to you. Heat oven to 400 degrees F. This should give you enough prep time.
For specifics, "Moisten 2-1/2 lb. bone-in chicken pieces (about 6 pieces), 2 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts (6 to 8 breasts), or 6 to 8 (1/2-inch thick) bone-in or boneless pork chops with water," as found on HyVee's website.
Next you'll shake the chicken in the coating. You can use a plastic bag or container for this step. If you're not wanting to use the pre-made mix, there are many recipes online for copycat Shake and Bake mixes. You can also freestyle it to fit your flavor profile. Parmesan, salt, wheat flour, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, cayenne, dried onions, and breading such as panko bread crumbs will be tasty for a homemade shake.
Lastly, butter a baking sheet and bake the chicken accordingly. This Shake 'n Bake chicken will be done in a total time of less than an hour. Make sure you check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer. If you're looking for meatless Monday material, you can even use Shake 'n Bake with veggies. Talk about crispy goodness that's easy, and lighter on your cholesterol than fried food!
