Homemade Shake and Bake Chicken (with Video)
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How to make this retro comfort food classic at home, in less than 40 minutes! Homemade Shake and Bake Chicken features all of the crunch and flavor of the boxed version, but at a fraction of the price and it can be customized to feature different flavor profiles (including less salt for those who find the original too salty).
Homemade Crispy Chicken Legs Recipe
This classic breadcrumb-coated chicken was marketed in the 1960s as a easier, baked alternative to fried chicken and has definitely established itself as a classic chicken dinner option for many families – including mine.
However, I always like to give my own spin on things and I like to save money wherever possible.
Making our own flavored breadcrumb coating that tastes just like the boxed coating mix was a fraction of the cost – in fact it was 1/4 of the cost of buying the boxed version. That’s HUGE, and when you combine that with how affordable chicken legs are, that makes for one inexpensive meal!
The result is a crispy, crunchy coating that adds amazing flavor, while keeping the chicken incredibly juicy and tender. No dry, flavorless chicken legs here!
I like to make a big batch of the seasoned breadcrumbs and keep in a mason jar in the kitchen for a cheap and easy chicken dish whenever we’re crunched for time.
It’s also a fun recipe to make with the kids – my daughter has always loved shaking up the bag, just like they show in this classic commercial from 1968! Even with the kids’ help, this recipe is relatively mess-free and has very little clean-up.
Homemade Shake and Bake Chicken Variations:
- use chicken breasts or boneless thighs, then top the baked chicken with tomato sauce and shredded cheese and bake just until the cheese melts for a quick chicken parmesan
- can use on pork chops
- can use a different cut of chicken, though I think one of the best things about shake and bake chicken is that it makes great use of one of the cheapest cuts of chicken you can buy
- swap out seasonings (give examples – BBQ, buffalo, ranch)
- for a bit of sweetness, add a couple teaspoons of brown sugar to the breading mixture
- use finely crushed pretzels in place of the Panko breadcrumbs
- use regular breadcrumbs for a finer crumb (and lower price tag)
How to cook shake and bake chicken in the air fryer: Instead of baking, you can cook the chicken at 375F for 14-16 minutes in the air fryer.
How to prevent overcooked chicken: The easiest way to ensure that chicken is cooked properly is to use a meat thermometer and insert it in the thickest part of the chicken, avoiding hitting touching the drumstick bone. Chicken is fully cooked when the meat thermometer reads 165F.
How to store leftover shake and bake chicken: Leftover chicken legs can be kept in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days, or frozen in an airtight freezer container for up to 3 months. (This set of freezer containers is a crazy bargain.)
More Easy and Affordable Chicken Leg Recipes:
Check out our quick recipe video to see just how easy it is to make this homemade shake and bake chicken for yourself – and then don’t forget to scroll down to grab your free printable recipe card:
Ingredients for Homemade Shake and Bake
- Panko Bread Crumbs
- Salt
- Garlic Powder
- Onion Powder
- Black Pepper
- Dried Parsley
- Dried Thyme
- Cayenne Pepper
- Paprika
- Oil of Choice
- Chicken Legs
Scroll down to the printable recipe card for full measurements.
Tip: swap out the seasonings listed here for your own preferred seasoning mix – a ranch, Italian, or cajun spice blend would be delicious!
Kitchen Tools You May Find Helpful
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
- Ziptop Bags
- Casserole Dish <– I love these Pyrex dishes with fitted lids for easy transportation to parties or leftover storage
- Large Bowl
How to Make Homemade Shake and Bake Chicken
Preheat oven to 375F.
Line a baking sheet or casserole dish with tinfoil and set aside.
Place the bread crumbs, herbs and spices in a bowl and whisk to combine.
Pour the bread crumb mixture into a freezer bag and set aside.
Place the chicken legs in a bowl and pour the oil overtop. Toss to coat the chicken legs completely in the oil.
Add the chicken legs two or three at a time to the freezer bag and shake to coat in the bread crumb mixture.
Place the breaded chicken legs on the prepared baking sheet or casserole dish.
Bake for approximately 35 minutes, until an inserted thermometer reads 165F.
Pin this Easy Homemade Shake and Bake Chicken recipe for a new family favorite meal:
Grab your free printable recipe card for our homemade shake and bake chicken recipe:
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Homemade Shake and Bake Chicken
Homemade Shake and Bake Chicken features a homemade flavoured breadcrumb mixture that creates a crispy, crunchy coating that adds amazing flavor, while keeping the chicken incredibly juicy and tender. No dry, flavorless chicken legs here!
Ingredients
- 2 cups Panko Bread Crumbs
- 2 teaspoons Salt
- 2 teaspoons Garlic Powder
- 1 teaspoon Onion Powder
- 1/2 teaspoon Black Pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon Dried Parsley
- 1/2 teaspoon Dried Thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon Paprika
- 2 Tablespoons Oil of Choice
- 8 Chicken Legs
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375F.
- Line a baking sheet or casserole dish with tinfoil and set aside.
- Place the bread crumbs, herbs and spices in a bowl and whisk to combine.
- Pour the bread crumb mixture into a freezer bag and set aside.
- Place the chicken legs in a bowl and pour the oil overtop. Toss to coat the chicken legs completely in the oil.
- Add the chicken legs two or three at a time to the freezer bag and shake to coat in the bread crumb mixture.
- Place the breaded chicken legs on the prepared baking sheet or casserole dish.
- Bake for approximately 35 minutes, until an inserted thermometer reads 165F.
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
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Thermapen Mk4 (Red) Professional Thermocouple Cooking Thermometer -
ThermoMaven Meat Thermometer Digital, 3X Faster 0.5 Sec Instant Read, NIST Certified Accurate to ±0.5°F, IP67 Waterproof, Auto-Rotating Bright Display, Magnetic, Auto Wake/Sleep, NSF Certified
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Kikkoman Panko Japanese Style Bread Crumbs, 8 Oz
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
8Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 617Total Fat: 28gSaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 18gCholesterol: 328mgSodium: 980mgCarbohydrates: 21gFiber: 1gSugar: 2gProtein: 66g
Sugar, Spice and Glitter uses an auto-generate nutrition calculator. Nutrition information isn’t always accurate unless analyzed in a scientific lab, so these should be considered more of a guideline than medical information.
I hope your family loves this easy, crispy chicken leg recipe as much as my family does!
For more ways to enjoy chicken, check out our full chicken recipe collection here:
Just tried this homemade Shake and Bake chicken recipe and it turned out amazing, super crispy and flavorful! Thanks for sharing such an easy and tasty idea. While cooking, I used Notube to download a YouTube recipe video so I could watch it offline while cooking, made the whole process even smoother. Definitely bookmarking both!