Crispy Baked Chicken

Crispy baked chicken is a healthy alternative to fried chicken, maintaining the same appealing crunch on the outside but without the excess fat. Here is the recipe with an Italian touch.

Ingredients

• 1 whole chicken cut into pieces or parts of your choice such as thighs or breast (about 1.2 kg)
• 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons of lemon juice
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 tablespoon of dried Italian herbs (rosemary, sage, thyme, oregano)
• Salt and black pepper to taste
• 100 g of breadcrumbs
• 50 g of grated Parmesan
• 1 teaspoon of paprika (optional for a bit of spice)
• 1 teaspoon of garlic powder

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 200 °C.
2. In a large bowl, combine the lemon juice, olive oil, minced garlic, and dried herbs. Mix well to combine the ingredients.
3. Add the chicken pieces to the marinade and make sure they are all well coated. Let marinate for at least 30 minutes if you have time.
4. In another bowl, combine the breadcrumbs, Parmesan, paprika, and garlic powder. Mix well.
5. Remove the chicken pieces from the marinade, leaving a little on, and coat them in the breadcrumb mixture, pressing well so it adheres on all sides.
6. Arrange the chicken pieces on a wire rack over a baking tray (to catch any drips of fat) or directly on a baking tray lined with parchment paper.
7. Drizzle the chicken with a little extra virgin olive oil and bake in the upper part of the preheated oven.
8. Cook for about 40-45 minutes or until the coating is golden and crispy and the chicken has reached 75 °C in the center.
9. Remove from the oven and let rest for a few minutes before serving.

Fun Fact

In Italy, chicken is not often cooked fried as in the American tradition, but the oven is one of the most used tools for cooking this meat. The combination of breadcrumbs with Parmesan provides a rich and flavorful coating that is made crispy by oven baking, and the addition of aromatic herbs offers that Mediterranean touch that never hurts.