This crispy oven fried chicken is a healthier version of traditional fried chicken. With tender, juicy chicken covered in an extra flavorful, crispy coating, this will be your new favorite “fried” chicken recipe!

Pieces of extra crispy oven fried chicken drumsticks are stacked on a plate, garnished with fresh parsley leaves.

Hey sweeties! Y’all have been asking for healthy soul food and comfort food options. Well, say no more! In this post, I’m sharing a recipe for delicious fried chicken – no deep frying required!

What the Heck is Oven Fried Chicken?

Don’t let the oven frying fool you. The end result is just as delicious as traditional Southern fried chicken. However, since we’re going to oven “fry” the chicken, we use a lot less oil!

This extra crispy oven fried chicken is prepared the same way as regular fried chicken – brined and battered with a seasoned flour mixture. Instead of deep frying, I use an oil spray to mist the chicken with oil. It crisps up the flavorful chicken coating while it bakes, and it’s far healthier than regular deep-fried chicken (although I love me some deep-fried chicken as well).

Oven fried chicken is the easiest dinner recipe. You can prep it ahead of time and toss it in the oven – no standing over hot oil, gettin’ spat at, oil-soaked paper towel, or tons of oil to discard later. My crispy oven fried chicken recipe is a family favorite. Everyone loves that extra crunch!

How to Make Extra Crispy Oven Fried Chicken

Ingredients

You only need a handful of simple ingredients to make this healthy fried chicken recipe! I firmly believe in always having the ingredients for fried chicken on hand, so I always make sure my fried chicken recipes use everyday, affordable pantry staples. Be sure to check out the recipe card for the full ingredient measurements!

Chicken: like most fried chicken recipes, I use drumsticks and wings, but you can use any chicken pieces you prefer!
Buttermilk: a classic fried chicken ingredient, buttermilk seals in the moisture for tender, juicy chicken.
Self-Rising Flour: the secret to an extra crispy chicken coating with no deep-frying.
Seasonings: we ain’t skimping on flavor here! I season my chicken with poultry seasoning, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika.
Cooking Spray: for that “deep fried” flavor without the calories! I use canola oil spray.

Why use self-rising flour for oven fried chicken instead of all-purpose flour?

Self-rising flour is the secret to getting that extra crispy chicken without deep frying. Self-rising flour contains baking powder, which is a leavening agent. Just like when you put baking powder in a cake, it causes a rising reaction when it’s heated (baked or fried). That’s what makes it extra crispy and delicious! If you don’t have self-rising flour, don’t worry! You can use AP flour and add two teaspoons of baking powder per cup of flour for the same effect.

What are the best pieces of chicken to use for crispy oven fried chicken?

I prefer chicken drumsticks and wings. I find that they’re the juiciest pieces, even when baked or fried – you can’t go wrong! However, this recipe works with any pieces – chicken thighs, breasts, legs, whatever you like. Bone-in pieces take longer to cook, as do thick chicken breasts. If you’re using chicken breasts, consider thin-slicing them so they cook quicker.

Instructions

Okay, fam. It’s time to make some hella good oven fried chicken! It’s one of my favorite ways to make crispy chicken without hassle. The whole family eats it up every time!

If you want to watch how I make my extra crispy oven fried chicken recipe, peep the video tutorial below! While you’re at it, subscribe to I Heart Recipes on YouTube so you can catch all my recipe videos right when I share them.

Step 1: Brining the Chicken

Like many of my other fried chicken recipes, I start by brining the chicken in buttermilk. This locks in the moisture and flavor and gives the breading and seasoning the perfect base to cling to. I prefer to let the chicken brine overnight for best results, but if you’re tight on time, aim for at least 4 hours. When the chicken is ready, simply drain the buttermilk from the chicken – but DO NOT RINSE the buttermilk off!!

Step 2: Season, Season, Season!

Next comes the seasoning. Before breading the chicken, I season it with poultry seasoning. Then, make the flour mixture by combining the self-rising flour, salt, pepper, paprika, onion powder, and garlic powder.

Some people like to dredge their chicken in paper bags; others like to use the bowl or tray method. I’m nosey–I wanna see what’s going on, so I dredge my chicken in plastic freezer bags. Give everything a good toss, make sure it’s all well-coated, and we’re good to go!

Step 3: Bake Until Crispy

Once your chicken is all nice and coated, prepare it for the oven. Prep a baking tray with aluminum foil and spray it down with cooking spray. You don’t want too much, just a thin layer. Place the chicken in a single layer on the baking tray, then spray the top with more cooking spray – again, just a light spray!

Bake until the chicken is crispy and golden brown, flipping ever 10 minutes. The cooking time will depend on the pieces of chicken you use. Just make sure your chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees.

A platter full of oven "fried" chicken drumsticks, covered in an extra-crispy breading.

Tips and Tricks for the BEST Oven Fried Chicken Recipe

So, how do you make an already great recipe even more fantastic? Follow Cousin Rosie’s tips, of course! Have I ever steered you wrong?

If you’re worried about the chicken sticking to the foil while baking, use a wire rack and spray the rack with cooking spray. This way, your chicken will get nice and crispy on all sides with no breading loss.
For even more flavor, swap out the cooking spray for melted butter! The fat in the butter will help brown and crisp up that chicken beautifully. Brush it on the baking sheet and chicken using a pastry brush.
Wanna add a kick of spice to your chicken? Add hot sauce to the brine (like I do in my Southern style oven fried chicken recipe here) and/or add cayenne pepper to the flour mixture.
You want to serve this chicken immediately for the best taste.
Store leftover chicken in an airtight container for 2-3 days in the fridge.
Don’t have buttermilk? Don’t skip that step! Instead, make your own buttermilk by adding 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar for each cup of milk. Let it sit for 10 minutes, and voilà, homemade buttermilk!

Can I make “oven fried” chicken in the air fryer?

Heck yeah! While it’s not exactly the same, you can definitely achieve extra crispy fried chicken in the air fryer. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you might have to cook the chicken in batches. Cook the chicken at 390 degrees for 20-25 minutes.

Remember, different chicken pieces have different cooking times, so always check the temperature with a meat thermometer! The chicken will also continue cooking once you take it out of the oven (or air fryer), so aim to remove the chicken around 160 degrees.

Why isn’t my oven fried chicken getting crispy?

I know baked “fried” chicken isn’t the same as deep-fried, but with the right technique, you can get that perfectly crispy chicken in the oven! Here are some reasons why your oven-fried chicken might not have that extra crisp:

The type of baking dish you use matters! Dark pans reflect heat better, getting that skin nice and crispy. Glass baking dishes heat unevenly and typically leave you with crowded chicken. Choose your pan wisely.
Cranking up the oven to a higher temperature at the end of the cooking time can add an extra crisp. I usually broil my oven fried chicken for 3-5 minutes.
Using too much oil on the pan or the chicken will cause it to become soggy and greasy on the pan. Avoid this by using a light spray, a wire rack, or using butter instead of cooking spray.
Don’t let the chicken sit long before OR after baking. For the crispiest results, bake the chicken immediately after dredging and serve immediately.

What to Serve with Crispy Oven Fried Chicken

You can serve your favorite fried chicken sides with this healthier version! Y’all know I love my Southern sides—mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, and soul food greens are always my go-tos. Here are more side dish options for oven fried chicken:

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