• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Grits and Pinecones
  • Cinco de Mayo Recipes
  • All Recipes
  • About
  • Contact
  • Navigation Menu: Social Icons

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • 4th of July
  • Big Green Egg, Grilling & Smoking
  • All Recipes
  • About
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×
    Grits and Pinecones » Recipes » Chicken » Southern Oven-Fried Chicken

    Southern Oven-Fried Chicken

    October 10, 2021 by Sharon Rigsby, Updated May 18, 2022 5 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
    Pinterest pin showing oven fried chicken thighs on a plate.

    A family favorite, real comfort food, and an easy dinner recipe, easy Southern Oven-Fried Chicken has a crispy, fried to perfection crust, juicy, flavorful meat, fewer calories, and less mess to clean up than classic fried chicken.

    Two oven fried chicken thighs on a plate with a knife and fork.

    I can’t imagine a more perfect food than Southern Fried Chicken; that is, I couldn’t until I made this simple Southern Oven-Fried Chicken recipe.

    Of course, these days, love it or not, fried chicken isn’t something I eat or cook regularly, and you know all of the reasons for this, so there is no point in covering them here. But guess what? This recipe for Southern Oven-Fried Chicken is so close to the real thing, I don’t miss traditional fried chicken at all, and you won’t either.

    I really could go on and on about how good it is, but I’m just going to keep this short and sweet and ask you to try it yourself!  Please be sure to let me know if you agree that this recipe is an excellent substitute for classic fried chicken. 

    Here’s what you will need:

    Raw chicken thighs on a plate.
    • Chicken thighs – bone-in, skin-on, are the stars of this show. Moist and tender and loaded with flavor, dark meat is much more forgiving if overcooked and contains more nutrients than white meat.
    • Kosher salt – is an essential ingredient in the brine which flavors the meat.
    • Butter – cooks the poultry and provides a deep rich taste.
    • Flour – coats the thighs and helps seal in moisture.
    • Ground black pepper – along with salt enhances the flavor of this dish.

    Here’s how to make it:

    1. First, mix two cups of water and two tablespoons of kosher salt in a large bowl to brine the chicken. Next, add the thighs and make sure they are completely submerged. Cover, and refrigerate for at least four hours, up to 24 hours.
    Brining chicken pieces in water and salt for Southern Crispy Oven Fried Chicken
    1. When you are ready to bake the thighs, preheat your oven to 400 degrees F.
    2. Remove the meat from the refrigerator, drain, and pat dry with a paper towel.
    Drying chicken pieces which have been brined for Southern Crispy Oven Fried Chicken
    1. Place the butter in a 9×13 metal roasting pan.
    2. Place the pan in the oven to allow it to heat up and the butter to melt. Watch it carefully, and don’t let the butter burn. You just want it hot enough so that the thighs starts cooking as soon as it hits the pan.
    3. While the pan is heating, place the flour, remaining salt, and pepper in a large plastic storage bag. Add the poultry, a piece at a time, and shake well until each piece is thoroughly coated. Shake off any excess flour and repeat with the rest of the pieces.
    4. Remove the pan from the oven and place the pieces in it, skin side down.
    Chicken thighs coated in flour in a pan to makeSouthern Crispy Oven Fried Chicken
    1. Oven-fry for 30-40 minutes, or until the bottom is golden brown and crispy.
    2. Remove the pan from the oven, use a spatula and turn the thighs over—Cook for an additional 20 minutes.
    Southern Crispy Oven Fried Chicken cooking in a large metal pan
    1. Remove the chicken from the oven, and place it on paper towels to drain.
    2. Season to taste with additional salt and pepper, if desired, and serve immediately.
    Four oven-fried chicken thighs on a plate.

    Frequently asked questions:

    Is oven-fried chicken healthy?

    While I wouldn’t call this health food, it’s certainly healthier than traditional fried chicken, and one might even go so far as to say it’s “healthy-ish.”

    What is brine, and what does it do?

    Brine is a solution made by mixing salt and water and sometimes herbs or other seasonings. When a piece of meat is soaked in a brine solution, the solution is drawn into the meat, and it adds flavor and helps to keep it tender and juicy.

    What to serve it with?

    These oven-fried thighs can be served with almost any side dish. My favorite pairing is Southern Potato Salad and Southern Peas, such as Purple Hull or Field Peas.

    Of course, Southern Baked Mac and Cheese, Corn Salad, Sweet and Sour Green Beans, or Fried Cabbage with Bacon would also go nicely with it too.

    Can it be made in advance?

    This dish is best made and eaten the same day. You should, however, brine it ahead and can do so up to 24 hours ahead.

    How to store and reheat leftovers?

    According to the USDA, cooked poultry should be kept covered in the fridge and eaten within three to four days.

    Leftovers can be reheated in a 350 degree F. oven for ten to fifteen minutes.

    Sharon’s Tips:

    For the maximum flavor, be sure to plan ahead and start brining your thighs the morning before or even the night before cooking it.

    Instead of a bowl, you can use a large plastic storage bag to brine and store the poultry.

    You can substitute bone-in skin-on breasts for thighs. However, If they are large, cut them into equal thirds so they will cook evenly.

    Related recipes:

    If you like dark meat as I do, I know you will also love these easy dishes. A bonus: most recipes are also one-pan skillet meals. 

    • Easy Honey Baked Bone-In Chicken Thighs
    • Skillet Mediterranean Chicken Bake 
    • Bacon and Mushroom Skillet Chicken
    • Broiled Chili Rubbed Chicken Thighs
    • Healthy Chicken Cauliflower Skillet
    • Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Thighs
    • Easy Baked Pecan Crusted Chicken

    If you want even more recipes, check out all of my chicken recipes here. 

    ★ If you make this dish, please leave a comment and give this recipe a star rating. I would love to know how you liked it!

    Thank you so much for visiting Grits and Pinecones!

    Two oven-fried chicken thighs on a plate with sliced tomatoes.
    Print Pin
    5 from 4 votes

    Southern Oven-Fried Chicken Recipe

    A family favorite, true comfort food, and an easy dinner recipe, easy Southern Oven-Fried Chicken, has crispy, fried to perfection crust, juicy, flavorful meat, fewer calories, and less mess than classic fried chicken.
    Course Main Dish
    Cuisine Southern
    Prep Time 15 minutes
    Cook Time 1 hour
    Brining time 4 hours
    Total Time 5 hours 15 minutes
    Servings 6 servings
    Calories 169kcal
    Author Sharon Rigsby

    Ingredients

    • 2½ tablespoons kosher salt divided
    • 6 chicken thighs bone-in, skin-on
    • 2 tablespoon unsalted butter
    • ½ cup all-purpose flour
    • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper

    Instructions

    • First, mix two cups of water and two tablespoons of kosher salt in a large bowl to brine the chicken. Next, add the thighs and make sure they are completely submerged. Cover, and refrigerate for at least four hours, up to 24 hours.
    • When you are ready to bake the thighs, preheat your oven to 400 degrees F.
    • Remove the poultry from the refrigerator, drain, and pat dry with paper towels.
    • Place the butter in a 9×13 metal roasting pan.
    • Place the pan in the oven to allow it to heat up and the butter to melt. Watch it carefully, and don't let the butter burn; you want the thighs to start cooking as soon as they hit the pan.
    • While the pan is heating, place the flour, remaining salt, and pepper in a large plastic storage bag. Add the thighs, a piece at a time, and shake well until it's thoroughly coated. Shake off any excess flour and repeat with the rest of the chicken.
    • Remove the pan from the oven and place the thighsn in it, skin side down.
    • Oven-fry the chicken for 30-40 minutes, or until the bottom is golden brown and crispy.
    • Remove from the oven and use a spatula and turn the chicken over. Cook for an additional 20 minutes.
    • Remove the chicken from the oven, and drain on paper towels.
    • If desired, season with additional salt and pepper and serve immediately.

    Notes

    For the maximum flavor, be sure to plan ahead and start brining your chicken the morning before or even the night before cooking it.
    Instead of a bowl, you can use a large plastic storage bag to brine and store the chicken.
    You can substitute bone-in skin-on chicken breasts for chicken thighs. However, If they are large, cut them into equal thirds so they will cook evenly.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 169kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 47mg | Sodium: 229mg | Potassium: 99mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 0.03g | Vitamin A: 200IU | Calcium: 10mg | Iron: 1.1mg
    Tried this recipe?Please leave a comment below and/or give this recipe a rating. On Instagram? Take a picture and tag @gritsandpinecones or #gritsandpinecones!
    Don’t miss any recipes!Subscribe to Grits and Pinecones.

    **This recipe was originally published on October 12, 2018. It was republished on October 10, 2021, with new photos, and the addition of a FAQ section. There was no change to the original recipe.

    « Zucchini Mushroom Pasta
    Chicken Marsala Pasta with Mushrooms »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jessica Blacketter

      November 17, 2021 at 7:16 am

      Tried this last night. So good. Careful not to use too much butter. I had 8 breasts and split in two pans and the one with excess butter had to cook longer to get crisp. I also added spices (provencal). Crispy, tender and delicious, and so easy!

      Reply
    2. Mary Carroll

      September 30, 2019 at 8:14 pm

      5 stars
      I have made this recipe probably about 10 times now–it has almost become a staple for us! It is always superb and is really very easy to do. Just get it in the oven and then relax with a glass of wine until it’s done! No mess! Thanks, Sharon, for another great recipe!

      Reply
    3. Ernest Wayne Toney

      July 18, 2019 at 8:13 am

      5 stars
      Now all my family love chicken any way it is fixed but we are going to try this fried chicken.

      Reply
    4. Kristy Murray

      October 16, 2018 at 2:56 pm

      Oh my goodness Sharon. This chicken is to die for! Just looking at your photos made me hungry. I went years without brining and I cannot believe how much of a difference it makes in chicken now that I do it. I love chicken thighs and this is perfect. Thanks for posting.

      Reply
      • Gritsandpinecones

        October 23, 2018 at 6:43 pm

        Hi Kristy,
        I love fried chicken prepared anyway, anytime! And, I can eat this without all of the guilt…
        Take care,
        Sharon

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Sharon Rigsby, blogger at GritsandPinecones.com

    Hello, I'm Sharon Rigsby, blogger, recipe developer, videographer, and photographer for Grits and Pinecones®. I have well over 50 years of experience in the kitchen, and there is nothing I like better than developing and reimagining recipes for my family, friends, and you!

    More about me →

    Most popular recipes:

    • Classic Southern Potato Salad
    • Best Southern Crispy Fried Oysters
    • Blackened Grouper
    • Quick and Easy Hoe Cakes (Fried Cornbread)

    See all of my recipes →

    4th of July recipes:

    • Red White and Blue No-Bake Icebox Cake
    • 38 Easy 4th of July Recipes and Menu Ideas 2022
    • Easy Southern Tomato Pie
    • Easy Old-Fashioned Southern Peach Cobbler

    See more 4th of July recipes →

    Featured in Parade, The Today Show, Better Homes & Gardens, Greatist, and more.

    Footer

    More Recipe Categories

    • Appetizer Recipes
    • Beef Recipes
    • Bread Recipes
    • Breakfast Recipes
    • Chicken Recipes
    • Cocktail Recipes
    • Condiments, Jams, Jellies, Sauces, and Salad Dressings
    • Dessert Recipes
    • Game Day and Tailgating Recipes
    • Healthy Recipes

    More…

    • Lunch Recipes
    • Main Dish Recipes
    • Pork Recipes
    • Salad Recipes
    • Seafood Recipes
    • Side Dish Recipes
    • Snack Recipes
    • Soup Recipes
    • Southern Recipes
    • Southern Peas (Cowpeas) Recipes

    Grits and Pinecones

    • About
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Legal Disclaimer

    Copyright © 2022 Grits and Pinecones® · Privacy Policy · Legal Disclaimer

    • 121Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Pinterest
    • Yummly
    • Email
    714 shares