Best 12 Cornmeal Crusted Baked Chicken Recipes

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**Cornmeal-Crusted Baked Chicken: A Southern Classic with a Crispy Twist**

Craving a crispy, flavorful chicken dish that's packed with Southern charm? Look no further than cornmeal-crusted baked chicken. This classic recipe combines juicy, tender chicken with a golden-brown crust made from a savory mixture of cornmeal, herbs, and spices. Enjoy a delightful symphony of flavors and textures in every bite.

This article features a collection of cornmeal-crusted baked chicken recipes that cater to various preferences and occasions. From a simple yet satisfying everyday meal to an elegant dish perfect for special gatherings, these recipes offer a range of options to suit your culinary needs.

The "Classic Southern Cornmeal-Crusted Baked Chicken" recipe serves as the cornerstone of this culinary journey. It showcases a traditional approach to this beloved dish, highlighting the harmony between crispy cornmeal coating and succulent chicken. The "Cornmeal-Crusted Baked Chicken with Herbs and Lemon" recipe adds a refreshing twist with a vibrant blend of herbs and a hint of citrus, resulting in a delightful combination of flavors.

For those seeking a spicier kick, the "Cornmeal-Crusted Baked Chicken with Chili and Lime" recipe delivers a tantalizing blend of heat and zesty lime. And for those with dietary restrictions, the "Gluten-Free Cornmeal-Crusted Baked Chicken" recipe offers a delicious alternative that caters to gluten-free diets without compromising on taste.

Whether you're a seasoned home cook or just starting your culinary adventure, these cornmeal-crusted baked chicken recipes promise an unforgettable dining experience. Embrace the Southern charm and enjoy the crispy, flavorful goodness of this classic dish.

Here are our top 12 tried and tested recipes!

CORNMEAL OVEN FRIED CHICKEN



Cornmeal Oven Fried Chicken image

This Cornmeal Oven Fried Chicken gets SO crispy, all without deep frying! The ultimate comfort food made healthier.

Provided by Nora from Savory Nothings

Categories     Main Course

Time 1h

Number Of Ingredients 12

1 large egg
1/3 cup buttermilk
1 cup all purpose flour
4 tablespoons coarse cornmeal
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 tablespoon salt
2 teaspoons ground paprika
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
2 pounds skinless boneless chicken breast (cut into pieces (I do 3-4 per breast))
1/4 cup butter

Steps:

  • Prep: Preheat the oven to 410°F. Place a dark-colored baking sheet or pan in the oven to heat up (you want it to get really hot).
  • Make egg mix: In a medium bowl, whisk together the egg and the buttermilk.
  • Make dry mix: In a separate bowl, mix the flour, cornmeal, baking powder and seasoning together.
  • Coat chicken: Dip the chicken pieces in the flour, coating evenly and shaking off any extra flour. Next, coat the chicken pieces in the egg mixtures. Then, dip them into the flour again, this time coating very well.
  • Put chicken on pan: Take the baking tray out of the oven and melt the butter on it. Place the coated chicken pieces on the tray. Make sure there's butter underneath every chicken piece, or it will stick! Add more butter if it's not enough to cover your pan!
  • Bake chicken: Bake for 10-12 minutes, carefully flip and bake for another 5-10 minutes (depending on how thick your chicken pieces are). IF THE CHICKEN STICKS: Do NOT just flip it! Use a spatula to carefully loosen it from the pan, then flip. Otherwise the breading will fall off. Finish by broiling the chicken until it turns golden brown and crispy.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 366 kcal, Carbohydrate 22 g, Protein 36 g, Fat 13 g, SaturatedFat 6 g, Cholesterol 145 mg, Sodium 851 mg, Fiber 1 g, ServingSize 1 serving

CORNMEAL BAKED CHICKEN



Cornmeal Baked Chicken image

Easy oven baked chicken recipe!

Provided by The Southern Lady Cooks

Categories     Main Course

Time 40m

Number Of Ingredients 9

1/2 cup of cornmeal
1/2 cup of bread crumbs
1/3 cup of grated parmesan cheese
3/4 teaspoon of garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon of black pepper
1/2 teaspoon of onion powder
1/2 cup of buttermilk
2 tablespoons of butter melted
2.5 - 3 lbs of skinless chicken (I used chicken tenders)

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.

CORNMEAL CRUSTED BAKED CHICKEN



Cornmeal Crusted Baked Chicken image

Bone in chicken breasts crusted with a mixture of cornmeal and fresh rosemary; then baked until golden brown is juicy and delicious.

Provided by Carrie's Experimental Kitchen

Categories     Main Entree

Time 55m

Number Of Ingredients 5

4 bone-in chicken breasts
2 large eggs
1 cup stone ground yellow cornmeal
1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary
cooking spray

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
  • Prepare two bowls. Whisk the eggs in one medium sized bowl and the rosemary and cornmeal in another.
  • Dip the chicken first into the eggs; then into the cornmeal mixture. Place on a baking sheet on a wire rack and coat with cooking spray.
  • Bake approximately 40 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and has a minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees F.

CORNMEAL OVEN-FRIED CHICKEN



Cornmeal Oven-Fried Chicken image

This cornmeal fried chicken dish perks up the dinner table. Its flavorful cornmeal/bread-crumb coating is a good variation form the usual. -Deborah Williams, Peoria, Arizona

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 1h

Yield 6 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 12

1/2 cup dry bread crumbs
1/2 cup cornmeal
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup minced fresh parsley or 4 teaspoons dried parsley flakes
3/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 broiler/fryer chicken (3 to 4 pounds), cut up and skin removed
1 tablespoon butter, melted

Steps:

  • In a large shallow dish, combine the first 9 ingredients. Place the buttermilk in a shallow bowl. Dip chicken in buttermilk, then dip in bread crumb mixture, a few pieces at a time, and turn to coat. , Place in a 13x9-in. baking pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 375° for 10 minutes; drizzle with butter. Bake until juices run clear, 30-40 minutes longer.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 244 calories, Fat 9g fat (3g saturated fat), Cholesterol 82mg cholesterol, Sodium 303mg sodium, Carbohydrate 11g carbohydrate (1g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 27g protein. Diabetic exchanges

CAJUN CORNMEAL CRUSTED CHICKEN



Cajun Cornmeal Crusted Chicken image

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Categories     main-dish

Time 35m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 9

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup yellow cornmeal
2 tablespoons Cajun spice mix
Kosher salt
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
1/2 to 1 teaspoon hot sauce
4 boneless skinless chicken breast, each about 6 ounces
1/3 to 1/2 cup oil, for shallow frying
Serving suggestions: Mayonnaise blended with mustard, to taste, or sliced tomatoes

Steps:

  • Preheat the oven 350 degrees F.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk 1/2 cup of the flour with the cornmeal, Cajun spice, and 1/2 teaspoon 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.
  • With the flat side of a cook's knife or the smooth side of a meat-pounder, pound each breast to equal thickness. Pat the chicken breasts dry and season with salt.
  • Lightly coat each breast in flour and shake off any excess. Dip each breast into the buttermilk to coat and remove, shaking slightly so the excess buttermilk drains back into the bowl. Dredge the chicken in the cornmeal mixture, shaking off any excess coating. Lay the chicken on a piece of waxed paper.
  • Heat a large (12-inch) cast iron skillet 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, 3 to 4 minutes. Flip and cook 3 to 4 minutes more. Drain chicken on a paper towel. Repeat with remaining chicken.
  • Place all chicken breasts on a rack over a baking sheet and bake until firm to the touch, 6 to 8 minutes. Season with salt, and serve immediately with mustard mayonnaise or sliced tomatoes.

CORNMEAL-CRUSTED CHICKEN BREASTS



Cornmeal-Crusted Chicken Breasts image

Categories     Chicken     Bake     Sauté     Cornmeal     Bon Appétit

Yield Serves 6

Number Of Ingredients 12

1 cup fresh breadcrumbs made from crustless French bread
1 cup yellow cornmeal
2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
2 tablespoons minced fresh thyme
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 cup Dijon mustard
2 large eggs
6 skinless boneless chicken breast halves
4 tablespoons butter
4 tablespoons olive oil
Lemon wedges

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.

CORNMEAL-CRUSTED OVEN-FRIED CHICKEN



Cornmeal-Crusted Oven-Fried Chicken image

This has a really nice crispy, flavorful crust...it originated from Gourmet Magazine...enjoy! Cooking time does not include marinating time...

Provided by teresas

Categories     Whole Chicken

Time 1h20m

Yield 4-6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 18

3/4 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon lemon zest, freshly grated
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup olive oil
2 shallots, minced
1 tablespoon fresh thyme leave
2 teaspoons salt (divided)
1 1/2 teaspoons cayenne pepper (divided)
3 lbs chicken, cut into 8 pieces
3/4 cup yellow cornmeal
1/3 cup dry breadcrumbs
1/4 cup parmesan cheese, freshly grated
2 tablespoons fresh parsley leaves, minced
1/2 teaspoon paprika
2 large eggs
2 tablespoons cold water
1 tablespoon lemon juice
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

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.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 1143.5, Fat 79.5, SaturatedFat 24.4, Cholesterol 378.4, Sodium 1658.6, Carbohydrate 30.9, Fiber 2.6, Sugar 3.8, Protein 74

CORNMEAL CRUSTED CHICKEN LEGS



Cornmeal Crusted Chicken Legs image

Make and share this Cornmeal Crusted Chicken Legs recipe from Food.com.

Provided by Evie3234

Categories     Chicken Thigh & Leg

Time 1h5m

Yield 4-6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 7

3/4 cup cornmeal
3/4 cup breadcrumbs (or crushed cornflakes if you want a crunchier crust)
1 pinch cayenne pepper
salt & freshly ground black pepper
4 large chicken legs, cut into leg and thigh pieces
1/3 cup Dijon mustard
2 -3 tablespoons liquid honey, warmed slightly

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 400F (200C).
  • Combine the cornmeal, breadcrumbs (or crushed cornflakes)cayenne, salt and pepper in a shallow sided dish.
  • Brush the chicken all over wth the mustard.
  • Place the chicken in the crust mixture and pat the mixture onto the chicken to coat it on all sides.
  • Set on a baking sheet skin side down and bake for 20 minutes.
  • Turn the pieces over and bake for 15 minutes more.
  • Drizzle the top of the chicken with honey and bake for 10-15 more, or until cooked through.
  • *For a calorie reduced version of this dish, remove the skin from the chicken before coating.
  • ** I made this tonight using boneless, skinless chicken breasts, it was really tasty -- just decrease the cooking time.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 520.8, Fat 22.8, SaturatedFat 6.1, Cholesterol 138.6, Sodium 521.7, Carbohydrate 42.5, Fiber 3.3, Sugar 10.6, Protein 35.7

CRISPY BAKED CHICKEN



Crispy Baked Chicken image

My siblings and I couldn't wait to sit down to supper when Mom was making this delicious chicken. The cornmeal in the coating gives each juicy golden piece a wonderful crunch. -Karen Wingate, Coldwater, Kansas

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 1h5m

Yield 6 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 9

1/2 cup cornmeal
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1-1/2 teaspoons salt
1-1/2 teaspoons chili powder
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/2 cup 2% milk
1 broiler/fryer chicken (3 to 3-1/2 pounds), cut up
1/3 cup butter, melted

Steps:

  • In a shallow bowl combine the first six ingredients. Pour milk in another shallow bowl. Dip chicken in milk, then roll in the cornmeal mixture. , Place chicken in a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking pan. Drizzle with butter. Bake, uncovered, at 375° for 50-55 minutes or until juices run clear.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 430 calories, Fat 25g fat (11g saturated fat), Cholesterol 118mg cholesterol, Sodium 785mg sodium, Carbohydrate 18g carbohydrate (1g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 31g protein.

CORNMEAL-CRUSTED OVEN-FRIED CHICKEN



Cornmeal-Crusted Oven-Fried Chicken image

Categories     Milk/Cream     Chicken     Bake     Marinate     Parmesan     Lemon     Cornmeal     Fall     Gourmet

Yield Serves 4 to 6

Number Of Ingredients 16

3/4 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon freshly grated lemon zest
1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup olive oil
2 shallots, minced
1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
2 teaspoons salt
1 1/2 teaspoons cayenne
a 3-pound chicken, cut into 8 pieces
3/4 cup yellow cornmeal
1/2 cup fine dry bread crumbs
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan
2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley leaves
1/2 teaspoon paprika
an egg wash made by beating 2 large eggs with 2 tablespoons cold water and 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

Steps:

  • In a large bowl whisk together the buttermilk, the zest, the lemon juice, the oil, the shallots, the thyme, 1 teaspoon of the salt, and 1 teaspoon 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.
  • Preheat the oven to 425°F. In another large bowl combine the cornmeal, the bread crumbs, the Parmesan, the parsley, the remaining 1 teaspoon salt, the paprika, and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon cayenne. 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 one layer on 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 minutes, or until it is crisp and golden. Transfer the chicken to paper towels to drain. Serve the chicken warm or at room temperature.

CORNMEAL-CRUSTED OVEN FRIED CHICKEN



Cornmeal-Crusted Oven Fried Chicken image

I saw this recipe on AOL Food and had to try it. I used Herbs de Provence instead of the cayenne pepper for two reasons. 1. My husband doesn't like spicy food. 2. They serve a cornmeal herb crusted chicken sandwich at Foxy's on Jost Van Dyke that is to die for, and I wanted to try and copy the recipe at home. I am sure they...

Provided by Linda Knowles

Categories     Chicken

Number Of Ingredients 7

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
2 c lowfat buttermilk
3 Tbsp vegetable oil
1 c cornmeal
1 tsp kosher salt
1 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper

Steps:

  • 1. Gather these tools: cutting board; chef's knife; wet and dry measuring cups; measuring spoons; pastry brush; resealable plastic bag; shallow baking dish; sheet pan
  • 2. Combine chicken and buttermilk in a resealable plastic bag and refrigerate for 1-2 hours.
  • 3. Preheat oven to 400oF degrees. Brush a sheet pan with vegetable oil and set aside.
  • 4. In a shallow baking dish, mix the cornmeal, salt, paprika, and cayenne pepper. Shake well to combine. Remove one piece of chicken from the buttermilk and shake off any excess liquid. Put the chicken in the dish one piece at a time and shake well to coat. Place the coated chicken pieces on the oil sheet pan as you work.
  • 5. Brush the chicken with the remaining oil, and bake for 20 minutes. Serve Immediately.

CORNBREAD CRUSTED CHICKEN



Cornbread Crusted Chicken image

From Betty's Soul Food Collection... Mmm! No-muss, no-fuss, delicious chicken that's "fried" in your oven.

Provided by By Betty Crocker Kitchens

Categories     Entree

Time 1h50m

Yield 4

Number Of Ingredients 10

2 cups buttermilk
2 packages (1 oz each) ranch dressing mix
1 cut-up whole chicken (3 to 3 1/2 lb)
Cooking spray
1 pouch (6.5 oz) Betty Crocker™ cornbread & muffin mix
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon pepper
1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt
1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper (cayenne)
Fresh parsley sprigs for garnish, if desired

Steps:

  • In large resealable food-storage plastic bag, mix buttermilk, dressing mix and chicken. Seal bag; turn bag several times to coat chicken. Refrigerate at least 1 hour or overnight.
  • Heat oven to 425°F. Spray 15x10x1-inch pan with cooking spray. In shallow dish, mix breading ingredients. Remove chicken pieces one at a time from buttermilk mixture. Dip chicken in breading, turning to coat completely; shake off excess. Place chicken, bone side down, in pan. Lightly spray top of chicken with cooking spray.
  • Bake 35 to 40 minutes or until juice of chicken is clear when thickest piece is cut to bone (170°F for breasts; 180°F for thighs and drumsticks). Garnish with parsley sprigs.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 610, Carbohydrate 51 g, Cholesterol 135 mg, Fat 1, Fiber 0 g, Protein 49 g, SaturatedFat 6 g, ServingSize 1 Serving, Sodium 1770 mg, Sugar 18 g, TransFat 1/2 g

Tips:

  • Choose the right chicken pieces: For this recipe, bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts or thighs work best. The bones and skin help keep the chicken moist during baking.
  • Use a good quality cornmeal: Stone-ground cornmeal will give the chicken a more flavorful and textured crust.
  • Season the chicken generously: Be sure to season the chicken with salt, pepper, and paprika before dredging it in the cornmeal mixture. This will help ensure that the chicken is flavorful throughout.
  • Don't overcrowd the baking pan: Make sure to leave enough space between the chicken pieces so that they can cook evenly.
  • Bake the chicken until it is golden brown and cooked through: The chicken is done when it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degreesFahrenheit.

Conclusion:

Cornmeal-crusted baked chicken is a delicious and easy-to-make dish that is perfect for any occasion. The cornmeal crust gives the chicken a crispy, flavorful exterior, while the chicken itself remains moist and juicy. This dish is sure to be a hit with your family and friends.

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