Crispy Oven Fried Chicken

Skip the deep fryer. This easy oven fried chicken stays juicy inside with a crispy, crunchy panko and seed crust packed with toasted, nutty flavor.

📝 Ingredients

• 4 chicken breasts
• 1 tsp kosher salt
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp dry thyme
• 1/4 cup pumpkin seeds
• 2 tbsp benne seeds
• 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
• 1 cup corn starch
• 2 large eggs
• 2 tbsp unsalted butter
• Cooking spray

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1Pound each breast flat so chicken thickness is even all across the breasts.
2. 2Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Butter a baking sheet and place in the oven for 5 minutes.
3. 3Mix together the dry spices. Set aside.
4. 4Place corn starch in wide mixing bowl. Season it with spice mix (1/2 tsp).
5. 5Place eggs in mixing bowl and beat. Season the wash with more of the spice mix (1/2 tsp). Set aside.
6. 6Using a spice grinder to coarsely grind the pumpkin seeds. Alternatively you can place in a plastic bag and pound them with the flat side of a heavy bottom skillet.
7. 7In another mixing bowl, mix the crushed pumpin seeds with benne (sesame) seeds, and panko bread crumbs. Add 1/2 tsp of the spice mix.
8. 8Season the chicken with the rest of the spice mix. Coat the chicken with the corn starch mix.
9. 9Dip chicken into egg wash. Coat it generously in the bread crumb mixture pressing the crumbs into the chicken.
10. 10Add chicken to the heated pan and spray the top of the chicken with cooking spray. Bake for 20 minutes, flipping half way.