I can't think of a better recipe to end the year on than this delicious and simple chicken recipe. Did you have Shake & Bake when you were growing up? It was a favourite of my brother, sister's and mine!
And as a woman who worked outside the home, it was a favourite of my mother's also. Not that we had chicken very often. We did not. Chicken must have been really expensive back then.
Usually if we had chicken legs mom would use the shake and bake on them. If we had chicken breasts, she did her Maryland Fried Chicken, which we thought was a REAL treat!
Bone-in chicken breasts, with the skin on, rolled in egg and cracker crumbs and fried in butter and oil. Oh boy but we thought it was magnificent. We had it maybe once a year and we were all really pleased when we did!
This is not that, its not my mum's Maryland Fried Chicken, but I can tell you that it is even better than that. That's why its called Heavenly Chicken.
Its like a combination of mom's chicken recipe and shake and bake, but I like to think it is a lot healthier than either one. (Don't burst my bubble.)
First of all, it uses boneless, skinless chicken breasts pounded lightly to an even thickness.
Secondly it is baked, not fried . . . we won't think about the butter drizzled on top, shhh . . .
You begin by making up a flavourful mixture of sour cream and some seasonings, which you coat the chicken with. It is then rolled in fine round buttery cracker crumbs. I am sure you know the kind I mean.
Placed on a baking sheet, drizzled with butter and baked. We love this. It's so, so, SO Tasty! You are guaranteed to love it!
Yield: 2 (but can easily be doubled)
Heavenly Chicken
prep time: cook time: total time:
Tender, moist and filled with flavour. This is a real favourite simple supper. I like to serve it with sweet potato fries and a vegetable.
ingredients:
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
- 2 TBS melted butter
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/4 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- 90g light sour cream (3/4 cup)
- 90g finely crushed buttery round crackers
- 1 TBS light olive oil
instructions:
How to cook Heavenly Chicken
- Preheat the oven to 180*C/350*F/ gas mark 4. Line a baking tray with aluminium foil and spread with the olive oil.
- Measure the sour cream, salt, onion and garlic powders, and paprika into a bowl and mix well together. Measure the cracker crumbs into another bowl.
- Pound the chicken until it is an even thickness. Roll it in the sour cream mixture and then into the cracker crumbs to coat completely. Place onto the baking tray.
- Drizzle the melted butter over top of each piece.
- Bake for 35 to 45 minutes (depending on the size of your chicken pieces) until golden brown, crisp and the juices run clear.
It always comes out moist, tender and very delicious. I am not sure why, but its a combination that works. I like to serve it with sweet potato fries and a vegetable. On this particular day it was peas. I really hope you will give it a go. The recipe quantities are for two people, but it is very easily doubled or even tripled to serve more!
Have a happy New Years Celebration tonight. If you are out and about stay safe and drink responsibly. Talk to you next year!
