Oven Baked Panko Crusted Chicken (with Mayo). Juicy, crunchy, and perfectly seasoned, this weeknight favorite has everything you want from a chicken dish! This crispy chicken is so compelling you will dream of its delicious crunch!

Oven Baked Panko Crusted Chicken (with Mayo)

We all know the struggle of trying to eat well during the workweek, and sometimes it feels like a lost cause. Not any more, thanks to this dreamy Oven Baked Panko Crusted Chicken. Easy to make and delicious to eat, this chicken is sure to become your new favorite!

Why This Recipe Works

Marinade Magic- This chicken is so delicious; the secret trick is all in the marinade! Chicken strips take a bath in a delicious creamy marinade that adds moisture and flavor to the chicken. The marinade works double-time as a binder to help the crumbly panko stick to the strips.
Baking Options- Crispy, crusty Panko Crusted Chicken is straightforward to make in the oven, but this recipe goes over the top with options for how to cook it. The essential preparation uses a range, but I have included instructions for making this easy chicken in an air fryer or traditional fryer, too! Get creative and make this recipe your thanks to these choices!
Crunchy Coating- Texture in food is so important. No dish is perfect without a little crunch, and this chicken brings it! The light panko is baked to add a crunchy, toothsome texture to the rich and juicy chicken. It’s the perfect balance of flavors and textures!
Weeknight Wonder– Life can get so crazy that we struggle to find time for the things we love. This chicken is here to help maximize your free time. The prep work for Panko Crusted Chicken is fast and tidy so that you can get back to your life! Throw the chicken in the marinade on Sunday night for a welcoming crunch for Monday’s dinner!

Here’s How You Make It

Recipe Ingredients

Chicken Breast makes for a wonderfully lean, juicy, crusted chicken. Be sure to trim any excess skin and fat off the chicken breast before you slice it into strips ¼ to ½ inch thick. If you want to cut down on the work, purchase pre-trimmed chicken tenders from the butcher.
Light Mayo– This is the secret of this moist yet crackly chicken. Marinating the chicken in a light mayo mixture helps infuse flavor and moisture into the chicken, then the sticky mayo helps the panko cling to the chicken if you prefer the full-fat mayo, that is an acceptable substitute.
Yellow Mustard– Every crusted chicken needs a little tang, and that’s what this yellow mustard adds. This kitchen staple adds a nice color and zing to the marinade.
Salt- To add balance to the mayo marinade.
Sugar– A slight touch of sweetness to compliment the flavors of the creamy marinade.
All-Purpose Flour– Flour helps to thicken the marinade so it will stick to the chicken strips very well.
Panko Bread Crumbs– Panko bread crumbs are excellent for adding crunch to fried dishes. They are extra light and enjoyable on their own, but when baked as they are in this recipe, they become an irresistible crunch! If you are out of panko, you can optionally substitute other varieties of bread crumbs in a pinch.
Spray Oil- Cooking oil spray helps save your crisp chicken from sticking to the pan or air fryer basket.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Place chicken in a large bowl and add the marinade ingredients. Mix until the chicken is well-coated. Let it sit in the fridge overnight or 1 hour before baking.
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spread the breadcrumbs on the baking sheet and toast bread crumbs for eight minutes, or until the Panko is golden brown. Start checking at 6 minutes.
Transfer the Panko to a flat surface. Using a fork, tongs, or your hand, coat the marinated chicken on all sides with panko. Press the breadcrumbs to adhere to the chicken.
Cook Panko Crusted Chicken in the Oven –Put the oven rack in the middle. Place a wire rack on your baking sheet and spray with nonstick oil. Preheat the oven to 390°F and bake the chicken. For thicker tenders, bake for 20 minutes; for thinner tenders, bake for 15 minutes.

Cook Panko Chicken in the Air fryer

Complete steps 1 through 3. Spray the air fryer basket with nonstick oil and place breaded chicken in the basket in a single layer. Spray the chicken with nonstick oil.
Cover with the Air Fryer Lid. Set the temperature to 390°F and set the timer to fourteen minutes.

Fry the breaded chicken.

Heat one cup of oil and fry chicken for five minutes per side.

How to Serve Oven-Baked Panko Crusted Chicken

No matter how you cook this chicken, it will come out delightfully crunchy and moist. The delightful texture of the chicken goes so well with warm veggies, and try this chicken with a warm spinach salad or flavorful green beans.

How to Store Oven-Baked Panko Crusted Chicken

Allow the chicken to cool completely, then move it to an airtight container. Store the chicken in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

How to Reheat Oven-Baked Panko Crusted Chicken

This tasty chicken can be reheated in the oven. Preheat the oven to 390°F and prepare a baking sheet with nonstick spray. Place leftover chicken on the baking sheet and heat for up to 10 minutes, flipping once in the middle of the cooking.

How Do I Get Tenders From Chicken Breasts?

Cutting the chicken into strips is simple once you have the technique down. Here are a few tips on how to trim your chicken into tenders:
Slice the chicken breast down the middle lengthwise, just like you’re cutting the breast into two cutlets. The cutlets should be about ½ inch thick.
Take your cutlets and begin slicing them into strips. Try to keep the strips to a uniform thickness of ¼ inch to ½ inch, uniform pieces will cook more evenly.

Can I Make Panko Crusted Chicken in Advance?

One great thing about this delicious Panko Crusted Chicken is how versatile it is. If you can take 10 minutes to get the chicken into marinade the night before baking, you can save yourself time on cooking day and simply pick up the recipe at the baking and enjoy!

Expert Tips and Tricks

If you have the time, let the chicken marinate overnight. It adds so much moisture, and cuts the already short prep time into two easy-to-manage sessions!
Don’t overdo it on the mayo. The mayo helps the panko stick and adds moisture, but you don’t want large clumps of mayo just a nice ever spread over the chicken.
If you fry the chicken in oil, be sure to use a thermometer in your fryer and try to maintain a temperature of 375°F. Dry deep-fried chicken on paper towels.

Can I freeze them?

Yes! YOu can freeze these Panko chicken after you bread them. Line the breaded chicken in a pan and freeze them. Transfer to a Ziplock and store in the freezer for up to three months.

How do you cook them frozen?

You can cook these breaded chicken while frozen in three ways: deep fry, air fried, and baked.

More Recipes You’ll Love

If you’re looking for a sumptuous side dish for this amazing chicken try one of these recipes:
Green Beans
Three Bean Salad

Now that you’ve had dinner you will need dessert! Satisfy your sweet tooth with these fun and easy dessert recipes:

Instant Pot Flan
Red Velvet Crinkles
Easy Sweet Potato Pie

Pan Fried Panko Crusted Chicken with Mayo

Oven Baked Panko Crusted Chicken (with Mayo)

Juicy, crunchy, and perfectly seasoned, this weeknight favorite has everything you want from a chicken dish! This crispy chicken is so compelling you will dream of its delicious crunch!

5 from 1 vote

Print Pin Rate

Author: Shobee

Equipment

baking sheet
bowl
spatula

Ingredients

2 lbs chicken breast
3/4 cup Light Mayo
1/4 cup Yellow Mustard
1/4 cup All Purpose Flour
1 large egg
1/2 tsp salt and pepper pepper optional
1 tsp sugar

Instructions

Marinate the Chicken

Place chicken in a large bowl and add the marinade ingredients. Mix until the chicken is well-coated. Let it sit in the fridge overnight or 1 hour before baking.

Toast the Panko Breadcrumbs

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spread the breadcrumbs on the baking sheet and toast bread crumbs for eight minutes, or until the Panko is golden brown. Start checking at 6 minutes.
Transfer the Panko to a flat surface. Using a fork, tongs, or your hand, coat the marinated chicken on all sides with panko. Press the breadcrumbs to adhere to the chicken.

Cook the Panko Crusted Chicken

Cook Panko Crusted Chicken in the Oven –Put the oven rack in the middle. Place a wire rack on your baking sheet and spray with nonstick oil. Preheat the oven to 390°F and bake the chicken. For thicker tenders, bake for 20 minutes; for thinner tenders, bake for 15 minutes.
Cook Panko Chicken in the Air fryer-Complete steps 1 through 3. Spray the air fryer basket with nonstick oil and place breaded chicken in the basket in a single layer. Spray the chicken with nonstick oil. Cover with the Air Fryer Lid. Set the temperature to 390°F and set the timer to fourteen minutes.
Airy fry frozen chicken and air fry for fourteen minutes. Turn chicken as required
Fry the breaded chicken. Heat one cup of oil and fry chicken for five minutes per side.
After freezing cook them right away without thawing. Cook them deep-fried with one cup of oil and fry until golden brown, or until the chicken is cooked through.
Bake frozen: Spray the chicken in a pan and bake until the chicken temperature reached 165 F.

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Welcome!

Hi, my name is Shobee. Welcome to The Skinny Pot, where we cook Easy Recipes from the available ingredients from our pantry and fridge! We’re your go-to source for simple and delicious recipes that make the most of what you already have at home. Talk about the pantry challenge. Read more...