Unfried Chicken

Time :1 hour 30 minutes
Yield :8 servings

The Scoop

Using ranch dressing as a marinade is a major power move!
We all want the dopamine hit of crispy fried chicken, but nobody has the emotional capacity to deal with a vat of boiling oil on a random weeknight. Enter this beautiful, low-effort hack.
You’re basically using ranch dressing as a marinade, which is already a major power move, and tossing the chicken in an extra-crispy coating mix before letting the oven do 100% of the heavy lifting. You get all the crunch and savory flavor of fried chicken with zero of the grease-splatter anxiety.
It’s crispy, it’s witty, and it proves that working smarter, not harder, is the ultimate adult vibe!
Hack it:
Place the coated chicken on a wire rack set over your baking sheet. The hot air circulates underneath, helping every side get crisp.
Mix a little smoked paprika, garlic powder, or cayenne into the coating for a custom spice blend.
Use Greek yogurt mixed with a splash of lemon juice and ranch seasoning for a tangy homemade swap.
Let the chicken marinate overnight. The longer it hangs out in that ranch bath, the more flavorful it becomes.
Leftovers:
How about a chicken sandwich glow-up: Slice the leftover chicken and tuck it into a sandwich with lettuce, pickles, and a little ranch for a crispy lunch upgrade.
Or chop the chicken and roll it into tortillas with veggies and sauce for an easy weekday meal.
Add crispy chicken pieces to a big salad and pretend you planned a balanced meal all along.
Chop leftovers and add them to scrambled eggs, breakfast wraps, or a cheesy hash for a savory morning win.

Ingredients

  • 1 (4-pound) whole chicken, cut up
  • 1/2 cup ranch dressing
  • 1 (2.5-ounce) packet extra-crispy seasoned coating mix

Directions

  • Discard the skin from all of the chicken except for the wings.
  • Place the chicken pieces into a large resealable plastic bag.
  • Add the dressing to the chicken.
  • Seal the bag and turn the chicken to evenly coat it.
  • Allow the chicken to marinate in the fridge for at least 30 minutes and up to overnight.
  • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
  • Place the extra-crispy seasoned coating mix in a shallow dish.
  • Dip the marinated chicken in the coating, turning to evenly coat all sides of each piece.
  • Place the coated chicken in a single layer on a baking sheet and sprinkle with any of the remaining extra-crispy seasoned coating mix.
  • Bake until the chicken's internal temperature reads 165 degrees F, about 40-45 minutes.
  • Serve.
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