Crispy Oven-Baked Fried Chicken With Panko Bread Crumbs

When you're craving comfort food, nothing satisfies a hungry palate more than succulent fried chicken. The crispy crust and moist interior please your mouth with both taste and texture. But what do you do when you crave old-fashioned fried chicken but you don't want all the fat or cholesterol that comes with it? You bake it instead with this recipe that has a very crispy crust, thanks to the Panko bread crumbs it's coated with.

It's easy too, much easier than pan or deep frying, plus there's much less mess to clean up after or a large amount of oil to discard. Anyone can make this recipe regardless of cooking skills. Panko bread crumbs are a light and a healthy alternative to store-bought Italian bread crumbs, and are available in most supermarkets and Asian specialty stores everywhere.

To ensure a moist interior infused with a zesty flavor, honey mustard and mayonnaise are combined and coat each individual chicken piece prior to applying the bread crumbs, allowing not only a juicy, tender interior but one that's very flavorful. The next time you crave fried chicken, make this oven-baked fried chicken instead. All the taste and satisfaction with way less hassle.

• Ingredients:
• 2/3 cup mayonnaise
• 1/3 cup Dijon honey and mustard blend
• 1/2 teaspoon dried tarragon (or thyme if you don't have tarragon)
• 1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes
• 6 boneless chicken breast halves
• 1 cup Panko bread crumbs
• 1/2 cup fine dried bread crumbs
• 1/2 teaspoon salt (may be eliminated for low salt version)
• Pepper, to taste
• Dash paprika, optional
• Dash cayenne pepper, optional

Directions:

1. Line a casserole or baking dish with foil and lightly coat with spray oil.
2. To a small bowl, add honey mustard, mayo, thyme or tarragon, and parsley. Mix well.
3. Coat each piece of chicken evenly with the mustard/mayo mixture with a pastry brush or fingers.
4. Put the bread crumbs in a separate bowl. Add salt, pepper, and paprika.
5. Press each piece of chicken in bread crumbs, turn and press into other side.
6. Arrange the chicken pieces in the foil-lined baking pan. Do not crowd.
7. Bake at 400 degrees for 25 minutes. Turn the pieces over and continue to cook for about 10 to 15 minutes more, or until thoroughly cooked thru and internal temperature is 165 degrees.

Serves 4 to 6.