Want to learn how to bread chicken? Follow these simple techniques, tips, and tricks to make perfect breaded chicken that cooks up evenly and turns out golden and crispy every time.
Friends, I know that breading chicken can often result in a soggy, gloppy mess. #yuck. But the good news is that making your own homemade breaded chicken doesn’t have to be difficult.
After a lot of trial and error, I have found some foolproof ways for getting perfectly breaded chicken that cooks up evenly and turns out golden, crispy, and delicious.
So if you’re ready to learn how to bread chicken easily, gather up your ingredients and let me show you how!
Related Link: Homemade Poultry Seasoning Recipe.
Setting up for Breading Chicken
I suggest the first thing you want to do is create a breading station by setting up everything you need for making Breaded Chicken. This will make the breading process will be so much easier.
Get the breaded chicken ingredients together…
- Chicken (I used boneless skinless chicken breast, but this works for any cut of chicken)
- All Purpose Flour
- Beaten Eggs
- Bread Crumbs (use store-bought, homemade fresh breadcrumbs, or Panko breadcrumbs)
- Optional Seasonings (salt and pepper, dried herbs, parmesan cheese, etc).
Then get the equipment together…
- Three shallow rimmed bowls that are wide enough to hold the ingredients and dip the chicken into.
- A zip top bag (if you are using the bag method).
- A plate or lined baking sheet to hold the breaded chicken.
- Paper towels to dry the chicken and wipe your hands.
How To Bread Chicken Using Bowls
I find that using a series of bowls (or dishes) is the best way to bread chicken. Here’s how to prepare your breading station:
- Place flour in one bowl.
- Add the beaten eggs to another shallow bowl.
- Put the breadcrumb mixture (breadcrumbs combined with seasonings) in the third shallow dish.
- Dip in flour – Pat the chicken dry with a paper towel, then dip the chicken cutlets in the flour, flipping over so both sides are well coated with a thin layer. Shake off the excess flour.
- Dip in egg – dip both sides of the floured chicken into the beaten egg mixture, making sure both sides are coated, and then shake and drip off the excess.
- Bread the chicken – Now place the chicken into the bread crumbs and flip over to coat both sides. Gently shake off the extra bread crumbs (holding only the tip so you don’t dislodge too many breadcrumbs) and then transfer them to a paper towel lined plate or baking sheet.
- Repeat – repeat the breading process until all the rest of the chicken is done.
Note – if you have pieces like chicken thighs, drumsticks, wings, etc. then you will need to try and get the sides coated as well. Or use the bag method below.
How To Bread Chicken In A Bag
Alternatively, you can bread the chicken pieces in a bag. Simply add the bread crumbs into a zip top bag instead of in a bowl or on a plate. This method might be easier for larger and more awkwardly shaped pieces of chicken.
- Dip in flour – So dip your chicken into the flour, flip and add back in so both sides are coated. Shake off the excess flour.
- Dip in egg – dip both sides of the floured chicken in the egg, making sure both sides are coated, and then shake and drip off the excess egg.
- Bread the chicken – Add the chicken into the zip top bag with the breadcrumbs, close the bag, and shake so the chicken is coated. Open the bag, remove the chicken and shake off the extra breadcrumbs (holding only the tip so you don’t dislodge too many breadcrumbs) and then transfer to a plate or lined baking tray.
- Repeat – repeat until all the rest of the chicken is done.
How To Bread Chicken Without Eggs
I think using eggs for breading chicken changes the taste very, very slightly. So if you prefer to bread chicken without eggs, then you can do that too.
All you need to do is lightly coat the chicken with low calorie cooking spray or olive oil before dipping it in the bread crumbs. I tend to do this more often than not.
Related Link: How To Scald Milk Easily.
Breaded Chicken Tips
- If you mistakenly get too much moisture into your flour or breadcrumbs on the plate, simply scoop that bit off the plate and re-spread the remaining flour/ breadcrumbs.
- If the whole breadcrumb or flour mixture gets too wet, you might want to discard and start fresh.
- Soak chicken in buttermilk for up to 24 hours before breading which will make sure that the chicken is nice and moist.
- Bring the chicken to room temperature before breading so you end up with nice crispy chicken.
- You can season both the egg and the breadcrumbs mixtures for extra flavor.
- You can bake, air fry, grill, or fry your chicken in a skillet.
- Use a spray bottle to spray on a tiny mist of oil before air frying or baking.
Chef’s Tip: When cooking chicken, it is important to always check the internal temperature using a meat thermometer to ensure it has reached a safe internal temperature of 165 degrees F/ 75 degrees C.
How to Make Sure Your Breaded Chicken is Crispy?
Getting the breading right can be the difference between crispy and soggy chicken.
- Don’t let the chicken sit in the coating mix or it will get soggy. Coat the chicken breast and then immediately add to a baking tray and cook.
- Fine crumbs tend to coat better than larger pieces.
- Coat both sides of the chicken cutlets and then cook ASAP.
- Make sure the egg drips off thoroughly.
- Use a very small amount of olive oil spray, or try brushing a small amount of olive oil before dipping. Otherwise, you will end up with soggy breading.
How To Season Your Breadcrumbs
If you buy plain breadcrumbs from the store or make some homemade breadcrumbs, you then have the option to season them to your taste.
One of my favorite ways to season them is to use grated Parmesan cheese. The important point is please try to grate/shred the cheese freshly from a block using a really good box grater, just before you need it.
And do grate and/or shred it as finely as you can, as the finer grated cheese will encrust the chicken better. Mix everything together in a mixing bowl.
Other seasoning options include a mix and match of the below:
As a basic rule of thumb, add 1-2 teaspoons of herbs and spices to about 1 cup of breadcrumbs. Start with the smaller amount the first time you make seasoned breadcrumbs, then add more to your taste.
How To Make Gluten Free Breaded Chicken
If you would like to make gluten-free breaded chicken, then you would need to use gluten-free substitutes. I have suggested some below, all of which I have been able to buy from my regular supermarket:
- Gluten-free panko breadcrumbs
- Gluten-free breadcrumbs
- Potato Chips (crush by hand or in food processor)
- Corn Flakes (crushed)
- Polenta
- Cornmeal
- Crushed nuts (buy nuts whole and crush them yourself)
Please do read the packaging information to make sure you get versions that are not contaminated by any gluten (especially when looking at things like cornmeal and polenta).
How To Bread Chicken Without Flour (Low Carb Chicken)
If you would like to make low carb breaded chicken (keto breaded chicken) then you would need to use low carb substitutes as shown below:
- Almond Flour
- Coconut Flour
- Chickpea Flour
How To Cook Air Fryer Chicken Breast in the Air Fryer
- First, preheat air fryer to 350 degrees F / 180 degrees C.
- Place breaded chicken breasts in the air fryer basket, making sure they do not overlap.
- Cook the first side for 15-18 minutes, then check the meat for doneness. Turn over and cook for an additional 8-10 minutes, depending on the size of chicken breasts.
- Remember to check the temperature of the cooked meat using an instant read digital thermometer to ensure it has reached a safe internal temperature of 165 degrees F/ 75 degrees C.
As air fryer temperatures can vary depending on the make and model, this recipe includes a range of suggested cook times.
How To Bake Breaded Chicken Breast
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees F / 220 degrees C / fan-assisted 200 degrees C / gas 7.
- Add breaded chicken to a baking pan.
- Bake the chicken tenders in the hot oven for up to 20-25 minutes.
What To Serve With Breaded Chicken
More How To Posts You May Like
Kitchen Tips
Seasonings
Weight Watchers Points
There are 3 Blue Plan SmartPoints in one serving of this.
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How To Bread Chicken Easily
Learn how to bread chicken that turns out perfectly crispy and golden every time.
Servings: 4
Calories: 210kcal
Instructions
How To Bread Chicken
Add your flour in one shallow bowl, your beaten egg in another shallow bowl and your breadcrumbs in another shallow bowl.
Make sure your chicken fillets are completely dry, then dip into the flour, flip and add back in so both sides are coated. Shake off the excess flour.
Dip both sides of the floured chicken into the eggs, make sure both sides are coated and then shake and drip off the excess egg.
Next, place the chicken into the breadcrumbs, flip over to make sure both sides are well coated. Gently shake off the extra breadcrumbs (holding only the tip so you don’t dislodge too many breadcrumbs) and then transfer to a plate or lined baking tray.
Repeat this process until all of the chicken is breaded.
How To Cook Breaded Chicken in the Air Fryer
First, preheat the air fryer to 350 degrees F / 180 degree C.
Place breaded chicken breasts in the air fryer basket, making sure they do not overlap.
Cook the first side for 15-18 minutes, then check the meat for doneness. Turn over and cook for an additional 8-10 minutes, depending on the size of chicken breasts.
How To Bake Breaded Chicken Breast
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F / 220 degrees C / fan-assisted 200 degrees C / gas 7.
Add breaded chicken to a baking pan.
Bake the chicken in the hot oven for up to 20-25 minutes.
Notes
- If you mistakenly get too much moisture into your flour or breadcrumbs on the plate, simply scoop that bit off the plate and respread the remaining flour/ breadcrumbs.
- If the whole breadcrumb or flour mixture gets too wet, you might want to discard and start fresh.
- Soak chicken in buttermilk for up to 24 hours before breading which will make sure that the chicken is nice and moist.
- Bring the chicken to room temperature before breading so you end up with nice crispy chicken.
- You can season both the egg and the breadcrumbs mixtures for extra flavor.
- You can bake, air fry, grill, or fry your chicken in a skillet.
- Use a spray bottle to spray on a tiny mist of oil before air frying or baking.
- Air fryer temperatures can vary depending on the make and model, so it is important to always check your food for doneness.
- When cooking chicken, always check the internal temperature using a meat thermometer to ensure it has reached a safe internal temperature of 165 degrees F/ 75 degrees.
- Storage – keep leftovers in an airtight container inside the fridge for 3 days.
- There are 3 WW Blue Plan SmartPoints in one serving.
Nutrition
Calories: 210kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 95mg | Sodium: 224mg | Potassium: 370mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 85IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 39mg | Iron: 2mg
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