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I did NOT NAME this Man-Catching Oven Baked Fried Chicken, I’m just putting that out there right now off the bat! This is one of the oldest and most popular oven baked fried chicken recipes on my website and this was named Man Catchin’ chicken by someone on Facebook years and years ago and the name has STUCK with everyone! Sorry not sorry, I find it hilarious!
The Best Oven Baked Fried Chicken Recipe
I have been meaning to re-shoot the photos and republish this recipe for years now. I think it is one of the most under-loved recipes on my entire website, I keep thinking to myself ” If only everyone knew how delicious and easy this chicken is!” So now I’m bringing my oven baked chicken back, with a brand new name.
I’d like to thank Kristina’s husband ( I’ll fill this in with a name if he comes forward later) for the name. When she told me on my Facebook Page that she was making my oven baked chicken that her husband called ” Man Catching Chicken” and everyone started calling it that….. I knew that it was getting a new name. Who’s going to argue with a bunch of my readers on Facebook? Not this blogger!
How to Make Oven Baked Chicken
- Whisk together the first five ingredients in a medium sized bowl. Grease a baking sheet large enough for 8 pieces of chicken and set aside.
- Beat the eggs in a small bowl. Line up your bowls and your baking sheet in this order from right to left; egg, flour, then baking sheet.
- First, dip your chicken into the flour mixture and cover it completely. Dip it into the egg mixture, then into the flour mixture again for a second coat.
- Place on the baking sheet. Repeat with all chicken pieces. Place in fridge for half an hour.
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F.
- Melt the margarine ( or butter!) and drizzle evenly over the top of the chicken pieces.Bake for 30-40 minutes or until the chicken reaches the appropriate temperature (165 for Breast meat, 180 for dark meat) Remove and serve!
Oven Baked Chicken Breasts Recipe
You are all probably aware that my least favorite cut of chicken to bake is chicken breasts, but this chicken recipe makes the BEST oven baked chicken breasts, bar none. The batter keeps in the moisture and bakes up perfectly. You can even make chicken breast tenders if you want, simply follow the instructions and use strips of chicken breast and reduce the cooking time. I would use skin on chicken breasts for this recipe for the best results, skin off would have a coating and work as well, but it won’t be crispy.
Important Tips & Cooking Advice For Oven Fried Chicken
- I USED to tell everyone not to use butter because it would burn. I LIED hahaha! Thank you to all my readers that tested this recipe over the past 8 years and have weighed in. Hey, I was a fledgling blogger, what did I know way back then? Heck, what do I even know now….
- MAKE SURE to let the chicken sit in the fridge for half an hour. This guarantees a crispy skin that doesn’t fall off right away! This I have never, ever been wrong on and I will stick by my advice! This is the scientific magic that helps this be the best oven fried chicken ever!
- This recipe is probably the best one to make oven fried chicken breasts. Chicken breasts are my least favorite cuts of chicken to oven bake, to be honest. They dry out so easily. This recipe helps prevent chicken breasts from being too dry.
What are the best chicken pieces to use in this recipe?
You can use any and all chicken pieces from chicken thighs, to chicken breasts and even chicken drumsticks! I would dare say that you can even try making chicken wings with it and I think I’ve been inspired to try! Whatever cut of chicken you have on hand, you can use and this recipe will be a success!
So here is an oldie goldie of a recipe you guys! I love a good walk down memory lane – it’s quite the long memory lane when you have been blogging for almost a decade now! Sheesh. We are getting old together, aren’t we?
Here are some other chicken recipes that you might like to try:
- Air Fryer Fried Chicken
- Chex Oven Fried Chicken ( Gluten Free)
- Rosemary Lemon Oven Baked Chicken Thighs
- Crispy Oven Baked Chicken Thighs
- Oven Fried Potato Chip Chicken
Love you more than chocolate,
Karlynn
Man Catching Oven Fried Chicken
- Prep Time
- 40 minutes
- Cook Time
- 40 minutes
- Total Time
- 1 hour 20 minutes
- Course
- Main Course
- Cuisine
- American
- Servings
- 8
- Calories
- 168
- Author
- Karlynn Johnston
Ingredients
- 1 1/3 cups of flour
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 2 tablespoons seasoning salt
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 2 large eggs
- 1/3 cup of margarine ( or butter!! it works!)
- 8 pieces of your choice of chicken, SKIN ON
Instructions
- Whisk together the first five ingredients in a medium sized bowl.
- Grease a baking sheet large enough for 8 pieces of chicken and set aside,
- Beat the eggs in a small bowl.
- Line up your bowls and your baking sheet in this order from right to left; egg, flour, then baking sheet.
- First, dip your chicken into the flour mixture and cover it completely.
- Dip it into the egg mixture, then into the flour mixture again for a second coat.
- Place on the baking sheet.
- Repeat with all chicken pieces.
- Place in fridge for half an hour.
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F.
- Melt the margarine ( or butter!) and drizzle evenly over the top of the chicken pieces.
- Bake for 30-40 minutes or until the chicken reaches the appropriate temperature (165 for Breast meat, 180 for dark meat)
- Remove and serve!
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
Tips and Tricks
- I USED to tell everyone not to use butter because it would burn. I LIED hahaha! Thank you to all my readers that tested this recipe over the past 8 years and have weighed in. Hey, I was a fledgling blogger, what did I know way back then? Heck, what do I even know now….
- MAKE SURE to let the chicken sit in the fridge for half an hour. This guarantees a crispy skin that doesn’t fall off right away! This I have never, ever been wrong on and I will stick by my advice! This is the scientific magic that helps this be the best oven fried chicken ever!
- This recipe is probably the best one to make oven fried chicken breasts. Chicken breasts are my least favorite cuts of chicken to oven bake, to be honest. They dry out so easily. This recipe helps prevent chicken breasts from being too dry.
Nutrition Information
All calories and info are based on a third party calculator and are only an estimate. Actual nutritional info will vary with brands used, your measuring methods, portion sizes and more.
Made this recipe?
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DeeDee2003 says
I have made this twice now. I use butter, as my family doesn’t like margarine. I have not had any issues thus far. Thanks for sharing this fantastic and easy recipe.
jckm97 says
do you use skin on or skinless chicken pieces?
Elizabeth Personeni says
Do I have to use margarine to get the same texture result? Or can I use straight up butter?
Kristina Craig says
I absolutely LOVE the name of this chicken! Someone really witty must have pointed you in that direction \U0001f609
Lori Bergman says
I love the title…and boo to all those that can’t have a laugh!! 🙂
BeckyAdams says
I don’t user margarine. Thinking coconut oil would work. Sounds (and looks!) so good!
The Kitchen Magpie says
Well played Elroy!
Elroy Jenkins says
You caught me!!!
Jennifer Print says
My hubby would totally love this ….
Jen Westfall says
I think it’s a great title.
The Kitchen Magpie says
HA your husband? I kid, I kid…..seriously though, it’s the best name EVER!
The Kitchen Magpie says
Kimberley Tremblay Are you going crazy with the love emojis today?
Kimberley Tremblay says
LOVE this! (the sarcasm!!!) And clicked the new emojiiiii to show i LOVE it!! woot lol
The Kitchen Magpie says
Haha Eileen Bulger!!! Well, it IS sinfully good 😉
Eileen Bulger says
So if I’m married, I better not make this. That might be adultery, right\U0001f604
RosaB says
This recipe is so delicious, yet very simple! It’s so simple in fact, that my 10 yr. old son made these! 🙂 We did them with chicken tenders and baked them only 20 minutes. We all loved them!! This is a new favorite! 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
NyteShayde says
The recipe is interesting, but the title is repulsive
thekitchenmagpie says
@NyteShayde Pretty sure that a) you’ll get over it or b) enjoy some funny tongue-in-cheek recipe titling.
GoMa to 2 says
I’ve been making oven fried chicken for over 50 years and husband still loves it. Can adjust the seasonings to suit your taste. You are right. You have to use margarine and not butter!
Faith says
Made this last night and it was FANTASTIC!! I used 4 chicken breasts for the husband and myself and then made a package of chicken tenders for the little one. A huge hit all around. Tasted amazing, no additional seasoning needed and the crisp crust was unreal. The best baked “fried” chicken I’ve ever made. Definitely going into my recipe rotation. Thank you for a fool-proof, outstanding recipe!!
thekitchenmagpie says
@Faith You are welcome! I love when my recipes become favorites! Supper can be so tough sometimes!
MichelleMLittle says
Definitely want to try this one out!! Yum! Will have to by margarine though… is there really no alternative?
thekitchenmagpie says
MichelleMLittle Other than oil, there’s nothing that has a high enough smoke point and also tastes good. It’s better than drenching it in oil LOL! Butter would taste better but burns.
Faith says
MichelleMLittle I used regular unsalted butter and chilled it with the chicken and it worked perfectly for me.
Faye29 says
Just cooked this today and it was fantastic, I used 4 chicken thighs and the batter indeed stayed on and it crisped up beautifully, will be making this more often now : ) thanks for a great, simple tasty recipe karlynn
thekitchenmagpie says
Faye29 I’m so glad that you liked it! It’s my favorite!
Faye29 says
Hi karlynn, could you leave this for longer than half an hour in the fridge. Would love to know if I could prep it all then leave in fridge and bake it when ready, Thankyou Faye
Nicole Ebbesen Rowan says
By “man catching” are you referring to Gerard Butler? Just need to know if I should warn Duane….
The Kitchen Magpie says
Yup!
Kristina Craig says
Hahaha! This is so funny! I did not catch my husband with this chicken though he is combined that’s how you hooked your husband, Karlynn!
Kristina Craig says
Stupid phone. Convinced not combined. Lol.
Lakeisha Hutton says
Ok I will.
The Kitchen Magpie says
Not yet! If you have a favorite, send it on!
Lakeisha Hutton says
Have you tried Jamaican jerk recipes?
Lakeisha Hutton says
Dwl Man catching! Will be testing it out.