Faux Fried Chicken

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Faux Fried Chicken

This crowd pleaser delivers big flavor with less than a quarter of the fat in the original.

By the editors of FITNESS magazine

Sweet 'n' Spicy Crispy Chicken Recipe

Makes: 6 servings

Prep time: 15 minutes

Cook time: 35 minutes

Ingredients

Nonstick cooking spray

1/2 cup apricot preserves

2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon hot pepper sauce

2 cups crushed cornflakes

2 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon dried thyme

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 2 pounds)

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly coat a 13-by-9-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
To make the glaze: Whisk together apricot preserves, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, and hot pepper sauce in a small bowl.
Mix together cornflakes, salt, thyme, and black pepper on a piece of waxed paper.
Brush chicken breasts with apricot glaze and coat in cornflake mixture. Arrange chicken in a single layer in prepared baking dish.
Bake chicken 35 minutes or until internal temperature registers 170 degrees on an instant-read thermometer.

Nutrition facts per serving: 343 calories, 34g protein, 43g carbohydrate, 4g total fat (1g saturated), 1g fiber

Tips for Crunchy Baked Chicken

For extra crunch, lightly spritz the coated chicken with nonstick cooking spray before baking.
In a pinch, you can use low-fat buttermilk or Greek yogurt thinned with a little nonfat milk in place of the glaze.
A thinner layer of cornflakes equals crispier chicken, so brush off any excess before baking.

How to Bake Baked Chicken Crispy

Because you're using skinless breasts and baking instead of frying, you'll need the perfect coating for a crispy exterior. We use cornflakes in this recipe, but Rebecca Lang, the author of Quick-Fix Southern, says you can also dredge chicken in these ingredients:

2 1/2 cups crushed whole wheat melba toast
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour + 1/4 cup sesame seeds
2 cups whole wheat panko
1 1/4 cups whole wheat flour + 1/2 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
2 cups whole wheat bread crumbs + 1/3 cup shredded sharp cheddar

Originally published in FITNESS magazine, July/August 2012.