Oven "Fried" Chicken Breasts

I have mentioned before on this blog that fried chicken is one of my great weaknesses when it comes to trying to eat healthy on a consistent basis. I have always been skeptical of recipes that claim a breaded, baked chicken can replace the deep fried taste I love. Until this recipe, those doubts were well founded.

The secret in this recipe, I believe, is in both the marinade and the use of bone-in chicken breasts with the skin. The marinade and the skin and bones in the breast lock in the juices and flavor. Additionally, the skin actually gets crispy and because the rib bones lift the breast meat up off the bottom of the pan, the bottom doesn't suffer the soggy fate you would experience with a boneless-skinless chicken breast. While there is still a difference between this chicken prepared in the oven and that which is deep fried, it's good enough to put into dinner rotation at our house, any time I crave fried chicken. I hope you will enjoy it as well.

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Lemon Oven "Fried" Chicken Breasts

Ingredients
3 small lemons (2 zested and 3 juiced)
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 large garlic clove, pressed
1/4 cup canola oil
1 teaspoon salt, divided
1 teaspoon pepper, divided
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1 tablespoon paprika

Instructions
Zest and juice the lemons and place the produced juice and zest in a gallon sized Ziploc bag.

Add the soy sauce,

 pressed garlic clove,

1/2 teaspoon of the salt, 1/2 teaspoon of the pepper and canola oil to the bag.

 Shake to mix well then add the chicken breasts and seal the bag, squeezing out most of the air. Place the bag with the chicken in a baking dish and set in the fridge to marinate for at least an hour.

Preheat the oven to 350 degree. After an hour, take another gallon sized Ziploc bag and add the flour,

 paprika and the remaining salt and pepper.

 Seal the bag and shake to mix well.

 One by one, remove a chicken breast from the marinade and place in the flour mixture, seal the bag and shake to coat. place in a prepared baking dish.

 Pour the remaining marinade over the chicken and place in the oven to bake for an hour.

 Remove and let cool, and serve with your favorite veggies.

 

Source: Neiman Marcus In Circle Cookbook