The Best Homemade Shake and Bake Chicken that will have you gnawing at the bone. Prepared the same way as Shake n Bake. This recipe also includes a Keto Shake and Bake & a Gluten Free Shake and Bake.
While the typical Shake and Bake Coating is made up mostly of Flour or Bread Crumbs. This version is heavy on the Herbs & Spices with very little flour or alternative to flour. Just enough to create a coating.
Original Baked Chicken
This Shake and Bake Chicken Coating is a recipe I developed years ago and is a heavy blend of Herbs & Spices for a Baked Herb Chicken. Where you could see the different Herbs speckled on the Chicken, with that Yellow dripping coming from the Turmeric.
While this wasn’t originally intended as a Shake and Bake Style breading. It almost immediately ended up like that with the addition of Flour and preparing it pretty much the same way.
The Flavor also is not something where I was aiming for the same thing as Shake n Bake, but my very own. However, since the Chicken is prepared in the same fashion. I now call this my version of a Shake and Bake Chicken, or a Shake and Bake Chicken with Herbs.
Original Baked Chicken Seasoning
- 1 Tbl Kosher Salt & Savory
- 1 tsp each of the following
- Thyme
- Dill weed
- Oregano
- Ginger
- Garlic
- Paprika
- Cumin
- 1/2 tsp Turmeric
- 1/4 tsp Black Pepper
- 1/8 tsp Cayenne Pepper
Modifications
I have exchanged the 1 Tbl of Savory with Oregano, Sage, Thyme, and Rosemary. Savory was really the best one. I tried many times to get something better by adjusting or replacing certain ingredients, and nothing beats the original.
Later I grounded the seasoning and sent them out like that. Although this does cause the Chicken to cook up darker. It can be remedied by adding in 3 Tbl of Flour instead of the 2 Tbl. For me, I prefer to make it as it was originally done with just the Herbs & Spices not grounded and combined with 2 Tbl of Flour. Quick and Easy Shake and Bake Coating. Just toss everything into a bowl. Plus I really like the speckling of Herbs on the Chicken.
Shake and Bake Coating
2 Tbl of Flour with the Seasoning not grounded. This is how I use it today.
Grounded Shake and Bake Coating
If you want to grind the spices for a more uniform look, then add in an extra Tbl of flour for a total of 3 Tbl of Flour and grind the whole mix.
This is because with the spices ground up, the Chicken will cook up a bit darker and that extra Tbl of Flour helps to keep a decent color on the Chicken.
Salt content
The Salt is very important to bring out the Flavors in the Herbs & Spices added in, as well as to season the Chicken. I later changed the Kosher Salt to Sea Salt and in the same amounts for better coverage and even distribution. With not enough Salt, the Flavors won’t really be there.
At 1 Tbl amounts, the Kosher Salt & Sea Salt is about the same weight. The difference is really negligible. In higher amounts, these weights would be different. 1 Tbl is pretty spot on for the Salt content in this seasoning and to use with 8 pieces of Chicken (thighs & legs).
Shake and Bake Chicken Seasoning
The Shake and Bake Coating I use today has 2 Tbl of Flour and the Herbs & Spices not Ground with the Kosher Salt exchanged with Sea Salt.
Just combine everything into a bowl or bag. If grinding the Spices, add an extra Tbl of Flour, so the Chicken doesn’t cook up too dark. Exchange the Flour for a Keto or Gluten Free version.
Shake and Bake Coating
- 2 Tbl Flour
- 1 Tbl Sea Salt & Savory
- 1 tsp each of the following
- Thyme
- Dill weed
- Oregano
- Ginger
- Garlic
- Paprika
- Cumin
- 1/2 tsp Turmeric
- 1/4 tsp Black Pepper
- 1/8 tsp Cayenne Pepper
Keto Shake and Bake Chicken
The original recipe with Kosher Salt uses the seasoning without flour to sprinkle over the Chicken and this does very well for a Keto Baked Chicken with Herbs.
For a Keto Shake and Bake Coating, replace the Flour with Lupin Flour. I picked mine up at the local Bulk Barn. This surprisingly works really well.
Keto Flour
Replace the All Purpose Flour with a Keto Flour or Lupin Flour.
Lupin Flour also does not contain Gluten. So this is also a Gluten Free Shake and Bake Chicken.
Keto Shake and Bake Chicken
A Keto version and cooks up just as good.
Gluten Free Shake and Bake Chicken
For a Gluten Free Shake and Bake Chicken Coating. Substitute the Flour with Corn Flour or as in the Keto version use Lupin Flour. Cornstarch also works.
Gluten Free Flour
Made with 2 Tbl of Corn Flour.
Gluten Free Shake and Bake Chicken
A Gluten Free version made with Corn Flour.
How to Prepare Chicken Quarters
Use Chicken Quarters, Legs or Thighs. Clean out the internal organs that are lodge in the backbone if present. With Chicken Quarters, chop through to separate the thigh from the leg into two pieces.
The recipe given for the Shake and Bake coating is just enough to coat 8 pieces (4 Thighs & 4 Legs) pretty consistently. You can also do these with 8 Chicken Legs or Thighs. Although with Thighs you may be pushing it for coverage depending on size. Because there is a lot more surface area with Chicken Thighs. In that case the recipe can easily be doubled to account for this.
How to Moisten Chicken
The Chicken should and usually does have enough moisture on it already to allow the Shake and Bake coating to adhere. If, however, you need to moisten the Chicken. Then brush the Chicken with a small amount of Water. You don’t want it wet, just moistened enough for the coating to adhere. You can also place into a bowl of water and then strain out or with a bit of oil to toss or brush on the Chicken.
How to make Homemade Shake and Bake Chicken
Take the completely thawed or Fresh Chicken out while the Oven is preheated to 375 F with the rack in middle position.
Shake
Combine all the Shake and Bake Ingredients into a bowl or bag.
Add Chicken 1 piece at a time and toss or shake to coat. Shake off any excess and transfer to a tray.
Optionally lay down a sheet of tinfoil on the tray for easier cleanup.
Bake
Bake for 45 minutes. Halfway through, brush the Chicken with the drippings in the pan or Oil to eliminate any dry spots and coat the Chicken for a better Crisp. Don’t skip this.
At 45 minutes, shut the heat off and leave the Chicken in there for 15 – 20 minutes to rest before serving.
Shake and Bake Chicken
Fresh out the oven after the 15-20 minute rest and ready to serve with various side dishes.
Equipment
- 1 Mixing Bowl or Bag
- 1 Baking Tray
- 1 Brush to coat the Chicken with drippings halfway through cooking
Ingredients
- 4 Chicken Quarters - Separated (thighs & legs) or 8 pieces
Shake & Bake Coating
- 2 Tbl Flour - See Notes for Keto & Gluten Free versions
- 1 Tbl Sea Salt & Savory - each
- 1 tsp Thyme, Dill Weed, Oregano, Ginger, Garlic, Paprika, and Cumin - each
- 1/2 tsp Turmeric - this can be dropped to 1/4 tsp
- 1/4 tsp Black Pepper - or more
- 1/8 tsp Cayenne Pepper - or more
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 F with the rack in middle position. Clean and trim the Chicken Quarters and separate the Thigh from the Leg.
- Combine all the Shake and Bake ingredients together in a bowl or bag.
- Add Chicken Thighs first to coat and then legs. One piece at a time. Shake off any excess and transfer to a tray, presentation side up. Optionally lined with foil for easier cleanup.
- Bake for 25 minutes. Then use the drippings in the pan to brush any dry spots on the Chicken or use Oil. Place back into the oven for another 20 minutes.
- After 45 minutes, shut the oven heat off but leave the chicken in the oven for 15–20 minutes before serving.