Best 8 Cajun Cornmeal Crusted Chicken Recipes

CORNMEAL BAKED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Combine cornmeal, bread crumbs, cheese, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper in a freezer ziplock bag (you can use a large bowl and dredge the chicken if you don't have a bag). Pour buttermilk in a shallow bowl to dip chicken in. Dip chicken in buttermilk and then add it to the bag. I did about a pound of chicken at a time. Shake well to make sure the entire piece of chicken is covered. Remove from bag and lay in a greased 9X13 pan. Continue this step until all chicken is coated.
• Bake for 10 minutes, remove and pour melted butter over chicken. Bake for 20-25 more minutes or until chicken is no longer pink. You will have to adjust your cooking time if you use breast or a larger piece of chicken.
• You can also broil this chicken for about 2 minutes at the end of baking to crisp it up, if you like.
• You can easily add smoked paprika, basil, ranch seasoning, to the bag to change the taste of the chicken. This is a great base recipe to begin with and make your own.

CAJUN CORNMEAL CRUSTED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a medium bowl, whisk 1/2 cup of the flour with the cornmeal, cajun spice and 1/2 tsp salt.
• Put the remaining 1 cup flour, buttermilk, and the cornmeal mixture respectively in 3 shallow dishes.
• Season the buttermilk with hot sauce, to taste.
• Pound each breast to equal thickness with flat side of cook's knife or other flat surface.
• Pat the chicken breasts dry and season with salt.
• Lightly coat each breast in flour and shake off any excess.
• Dip each breast into buttermilk to coat and remove, shaking so excess buttermilk drips back into the bowl.
• Dredge the chicken in the cornmeal mixture, shaking off any excess coating.
• Lay the chicken on a piece of wax paper.
• Heat a large cast iron skillet (12 inches in diameter) over medium heat with about 1/2 inch of oil.
• Lay 2 chicken breasts smooth side down in the pan and cook, until golden brown.
• Turn over and cook until opposite side is equally browned.
• Repeat with remaining chicken.
• Place all chicken breasts on a rack over a baking pan and bake until firm to the touch, about 6-8 minutes.
• Season with salt to taste.

CORN CHIP-CRUSTED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Put the potatoes in a saucepan, cover with cold water and season with salt. Bring to a boil and cook until the potatoes are tender, 6 to 8 minutes, adding the broccoli halfway through. Drain and transfer the potatoes and broccoli to a large bowl; set aside.
• Meanwhile, set a wire rack on a rimmed baking sheet. Pulse the corn chips in a food processor until finely ground. Transfer the crumbs to a shallow bowl. Season the chicken on both sides with salt and pepper. Spread the chicken with 1/4 cup sour cream, coating both sides, then press into the corn chip crumbs to coat; transfer to the rack. Bake until crisp and cooked through, about 18 minutes.
• Add the tomatoes and olive oil to the potatoes and broccoli; season with salt and pepper and toss. Mix the remaining 1/2 cup sour cream, the scallion, cilantro, lime juice, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 2 tablespoons water in a small bowl. Drizzle over the vegetables and serve with the chicken.

CORNMEAL-CRUSTED CHICKEN WITH HORSERADISH SAUCE AND PEARS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Top a baking sheet with a wire rack or line it with paper towels.
• In a large bowl, combine the leeks, pears, olive oil, 1 tablespoon honey, 1 tablespoon hot sauce, 1 tablespoon vinegar and salt and pepper to taste. Toss to combine and place on a baking sheet. Roast, tossing the leeks and pears about every 10 minutes, until golden brown and cooked through, 25 to 30 minutes.
• Meanwhile, pat the chicken breasts dry. Using a sharp knife, split each chicken breast in two horizontally, so you have 4 cutlets. Gently pound each breast with a mallet or bottom of a small heavy saucepan so it's thinner and even in thickness. Sprinkle the cutlets on both sides with salt and black pepper.
• Whisk the eggs, 1 tablespoon of the prepared horseradish and 2 tablespoons water together in a shallow bowl or pie plate. Combine the cornmeal and Parmesan in a second shallow bowl or pie plate. Dip a chicken cutlet in the cornmeal mixture, then in the eggs, and then back into the cornmeal. Place on a plate or small baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining cutlets.
• Pour about 1 inch of the frying oil into a large skillet with high sides and place over medium-high heat. When the oil is very hot, working in two batches, fry the chicken until golden on the outside and cooked through, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Set aside on the prepared baking sheet. Immediately sprinkle with kosher salt.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the sour cream, mayonnaise, remaining 1 tablespoon prepared horseradish, remaining 1 tablespoon honey, remaining 1 tablespoon hot sauce and remaining 1 tablespoon vinegar. Whisk in half of the chopped chives. Season the sauce with salt and pepper to taste.
• Spoon sauce onto the bottom of each serving plate. Top each with a chicken cutlet and roasted leeks and pears and sprinkle with chives. Enjoy!

WASABI PEA-CRUSTED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Brush both sides of the chicken breasts with olive oil. Whirl the wasabi peas in a blender until they are the consistency of bread crumbs, and spread them on a plate. Dip one side of the chicken breasts into the peas, pressing gently so that the surface is evenly coated with the wasabi crumbs. Repeat with the other side of chicken breast. Set aside and continue with the remaining chicken breasts.
• In a large, flat-bottomed nonstick skillet, heat the butter and 2 tablespoons olive oil on medium. Place the chicken breasts in the skillet and cook until the pea crust becomes crisp and starts to brown lightly, about 4 minutes, turn and lightly brown the other side. Lift the edge of each breast carefully to check the browning, and lower the heat if necessary to prevent burning. Turn the breasts and continue to cook until the fillets are medium rare, about 4 minutes. Remove to a paper towel-lined plate to drain briefly. Place chicken into a baking dish and bake on 375 degrees F for 12 to 15 minutes.

PARMESAN CRUSTED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
• Combine Hellmann's® or Best Foods® Real Mayonnaise with cheese in medium bowl. Arrange chicken on baking sheet. Evenly top with mayonnaise mixture, then sprinkle with bread crumbs.
• Bake 20 minutes or until chicken is thoroughly cooked.
• Cost per recipe*: $7.16
• Cost per serving*: $1.79
• *Based on average retail prices at national supermarkets.

CORNMEAL-CRUSTED OVEN-FRIED CHICKEN

Steps:

• In a large bowl whisk, together buttermilk, lemon zest, lemon juice, oil, shallots, thyme, 1 tsp of the salt, and 1 tsp of the cayenne, add the chicken, stirring to coat it with the marinade, and let it marinate, covered and chilled, stirring occasionally for 3 hours or overnight. (I put everything in a large zip lock bag.).
• Preheat the oven to 425°F.
• In a separate bowl, make the egg wash by mixing together the eggs, water and 1 tbl lemon juice.
• In another large bowl combine the cornmeal, bread crumbs, Parmesan, parsley, remaining 1 tsp salt, paprika and the remaining 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper. (I put everything in a large zip lock bag, and coat the pieces two at a time.).
• Remove the chicken from the marinade with a slotted spoon, letting the excess marinade drip off, dip it in the egg wash, and dredge it in the cornmeal mixture, shaking off the excess.
• Arrange the chicken in a one layer onto a rack and let it dry for 30 minutes.
• (The chicken may be prepared up to this point 6 hours in advance and kept covered loosely and chilled.).
• Arrange the chicken, skin side up, in one layer in a lightly oiled jelly-roll pan, drizzling the butter over it, and bake it in the middle of the oven for 35-45 minutes, or until it is done and crisp.

CORNMEAL-CRUSTED CHICKEN BREASTS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Mix 1 cup breadcrumbs, 1 cup yellow cornmeal, 2 tablespoons minced parsley, 2 tablespoons minced thyme, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper in large bowl. Whisk 1/2 cup Dijon mustard and 2 eggs in medium bowl to blend.
• Using mallet or rolling pin, pound each chicken breast half between sheets of plastic wrap to 1/2- to 1/3-inch thickness. Dip pounded chicken first into mustard mixture and coat well, then into breadcrumb mixture and coat well; shake off excess breadcrumbs.
• Melt 2 tablespoons butter with 2 tablespoons oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add half of chicken to skillet; cook until golden, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer chicken to 13 x 9 x 2-inch glass baking dish. Repeat with remaining butter, oil and chicken.
• Bake chicken until cooked through, about 8 minutes. Garnish with lemon wedges and serve.