French Fried Chicken Recipe
Updated Apr 27, 2025
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
French fried chicken really hits the spot If you’re craving a fast, family-friendly dinner with big flavor and very little fuss,. If that’s the case, then this baked chicken with crispy French fried onion crust needs to be at the top of your list.
One of our many ways to make chicken in the oven, this French’s Fried Onion Ring Chicken is one of my family’s favorite meals. Read on and I’ll show you how to have this awesome chicken dinner on your table in about an hour.
Table of Contents
- About this Baked Chicken with French Fried Onions
- 🥣 Ingredient for Crispy Onion Chicken
- 📝 French Fried Chicken Recipe – Snapshot
- 🍗 How to Make this French Fried Chicken
- Step 1: Prep the Ingredients
- Step 2: Bread the Chicken
- Step 3: Bake the Chicken
- 🍴 What to Serve with French Fried Chicken
- 🥡 How to Store and Reheat
- 🚀 Quick Air Fryer Directions
- ❓ FAQs for This French Fried Onion Ring Chicken
- More Juicy Chicken Recipes
- French Fried Chicken Recipe
About this Baked Chicken with French Fried Onions
Our favorite family meals are mostly those made with chicken. These include comfort food classics like old-fashioned chicken pot pie, chicken breasts coated in panko, and oven-fried chicken made with buttermilk, to name a few!
This crispy onion chicken recipe combines juicy chicken with a crunchy, savory onion coating made from crushed French-fried onions, breadcrumbs, and Parmesan cheese.
It’s perfect for busy weeknights when you want a great recipe that tastes like comfort food but only takes about an hour start to finish. The flavor profile is similar to everyone’s favorite Thanksgivnig green bean casserole, but now it’s the main dish!
🥣 Ingredient for Crispy Onion Chicken
This easy chicken dish uses a few simple pantry items, but some ingredients really make the magic happen:
- French-fried onions give the chicken a salty crunch that’s hard to beat. Crushing them into smaller crumbs helps them stick better and gives you an even crispier bite.
- Breadcrumbs help even out the onion coating so it bakes up golden brown without getting too greasy or heavy.
- Parmesan cheese adds a nutty, savory flavor and helps the crust stay crisp after baking.
- Boneless skinless chicken breast halves bake quickly and easily, but if you want even juicier chicken, you can swap them for chicken thighs.
- Butter mixture drizzled over the top before baking helps lock in moisture and gives the whole dish a rich, crispy finish.
Crushing the crispy fried onions into fine crumbs and combining them with breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese gives you a coating that bakes up perfectly golden brown and crunchy, while keeping the chicken juicy inside.
Recipe Tip
Always start with a preheated oven and bake the chicken on a wire rack. This lets the hot air move all around the chicken, helping the crust stay crunchy and keeping the bottom from getting soggy.
📝 French Fried Chicken Recipe – Snapshot
Category: Dinner, Baked Chicken Recipes, Comfort Food
Cuisine: American
Skill Level: Easy to Intermediate
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Servings: 8
Main Ingredients: Chicken pieces, French fried onion rings, breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, eggs, milk
Equipment Needed: Shallow bowls, baking sheet, oven-safe rack, whisk, mixing bowls
Summary:
This French Fried Onion Ring Baked Chicken takes crispy baked chicken to a whole new level. Coated in a crunchy mix of crushed French fried onions, Parmesan, and breadcrumbs, each piece bakes up golden and juicy with a rich, savory flavor that’s perfect for family dinners or casual gatherings.
Why This Recipe Works
- Extra-Crispy Coating: Crushed French fried onions create an irresistible crunchy texture you can’t get from breadcrumbs alone.
- Bold, Savory Flavor: Parmesan cheese and white pepper add extra depth to every bite.
- Oven-Baked for Convenience: You get the satisfying crunch of fried chicken without the mess or oil splatter.
- Easy Breading Method: Using a simple dredging technique ensures even coating and better texture.
Good to Know
- Adjust Temperature If Needed: If the chicken is browning too quickly, lower the oven temperature by 25–50°F.
- Butter for Moisture: Drizzling melted butter over the chicken before baking locks in juiciness and adds richness to the coating.
- Serving Ideas: Pair with mashed potatoes, coleslaw, or a crisp garden salad for a complete meal.
- Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven to maintain crispness.
🍗 How to Make this French Fried Chicken
This recipe keeps things simple: bread, bake, and enjoy. Perfect for beginners or anyone looking for an easy recipe that still feels special!
Step 1: Prep the Ingredients
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (preheated oven).
- Set a wire rack over a baking sheet or cookie sheet and spray with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Set up three bowls:
- In the first shallow bowl, add the flour.
- In the second shallow dish, whisk together the eggs and milk to create an egg mixture.
- In the third bowl, mix the crushed French fried onions, breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, white pepper, and kosher salt.
Step 2: Bread the Chicken
- Dip chicken into the flour to lightly coat.
- Move the chicken to the egg mixture, making sure it’s fully coated.
- Press the chicken into the onion crumb mixture, covering it completely.
- Pro Tip: Firmly press the onion crumbs into the chicken to help them stick better and create a thicker crust.
Step 3: Bake the Chicken
- Place chicken directly on the greased wire rack for even baking.
- Drizzle the butter mixture over the tops for extra crispiness.
- Bake in the center rack of the oven for about 50 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165°F on a meat thermometer.
Want to Save This Recipe, Friend?
We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!
Example:
If your chicken is browning too fast but not cooked through, lower the oven temperature by 25–50°F and keep baking slowly to get that perfect golden brown crust without burning.
🍴 What to Serve with French Fried Chicken
This delicious chicken recipe goes perfectly with easy side dishes like:
- Fresh sautéed green beans with garlic
- Fluffy white rice or savory rice pilaf
- Creamy sour cream mashed potatoes with garlic and parsley.
➡️ For more quick sides, check out our healthy cherry tomato salad or our crispy air fryer potato wedges.
🥡 How to Store and Reheat
- Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Reheat on a baking sheet in a 350°F oven to keep the crispy onions from getting soggy.
- Avoid microwaving if possible, as it can soften the crust.
🚀 Quick Air Fryer Directions
Want an even faster version?
- Preheat your air fryer to 360°F.
- Cook the breaded chicken for 18–20 minutes, flipping halfway through.
- Always check with a meat thermometer for an internal temperature of 165°F.
❓ FAQs for This French Fried Onion Ring Chicken
(Yes — cut the baking time to about 20–25 minutes.)
(Press crumbs firmly onto the chicken and bake on a wire rack for best results.)
(Yes — freeze on a cookie sheet first, then store in an airtight container. Reheat from frozen in the oven.)
More Juicy Chicken Recipes
Casserole recipes
Crispy Leftover Chicken and Shells Casserole
Roasted and Baked Chicken
Jamie Oliver’s Chicken in Milk
Chicken Recipes
Baked Lemon Rosemary Chicken
Slow Cooker Chicken Recipes
BEST Crockpot Chicken Leg Quarters
👨🍳 Tried this Recipe? Please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating in the recipe card below and leave a comment. We love hearing from our readers!
⏩ Stay in touch with us on social media by following us on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and YouTube!
📬Get our Recipes delivered to your inbox for FREE!
French Fried Chicken Recipe
Want to Save This Recipe, Friend?
We’ll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!
Ingredients
- 3-4 lbs of chicken.
- 1 6 oz container French fried onion rings, crushed
- 2 cups breadcrumbs
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 1 tablespoon white pepper
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup milk
- 1 cup flour
- 1/2 cup butter, melted
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 ° F.
- Place flour in shallow bowl.
- In another shallow bowl, whisk egg and milk.
- In third bowl, combine crushed French fried onions, breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese and seasoning.
- Using standard breading technique, dredge chicken in flour, egg mixture, and finally breadcrumbs and other ingredients. It may be necessary to firmly pat breadcrumb mixture on chicken so that it sticks well.
- Place chicken on baking sheet until all are ready to place in oven.
- Place chicken directly on a greased oven rack, in center of oven. Place pans beneath rack, to catch drippings.
- Drizzle butter over chicken and bake for about 50 minutes until juices run clear.
Notes
-
Press the Coating Firmly:
After dredging the chicken, press the onion-breadcrumb mixture onto each piece with your hands to help it stick and form a thicker, crunchier crust. -
Use an Oven Rack:
Baking the chicken directly on an oven-safe rack allows heat to circulate around each piece, making the coating crispier without the need for flipping. -
Keep an Eye on Browning:
Check the chicken every 10–15 minutes during baking. If it starts getting too dark too quickly, reduce the oven temperature by 25–50°F to ensure even cooking without burning the crust.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I absolutely love this! Looks so delicious and love that this can be made in the oven instead of deep frying!
You’re going to love it even more when you taste it! Thanks so much for the great comments!
This looks dangerously delicious! French fried onions are one of my greatest weaknesses…but I’ve never thought to use them to coat chicken. YUM.
Live dangerously! Thank so much for the great comments.
Isn’t this deliciously creative, love onion rings, love chicken!
What a unique recipe! sharing
They look absolutely delicious, crunchy outside and juicy inside! The perfect meal!
That is really pretty chicken, Dan. It looks like a keeper recipe for sure. I enjoy reading your stories about your boys. So fun to remember the endlessly, questing minds of my own kids. Such a special time of life!
I can see why the kids loved this chicken dish Dan. So full of flavor and FUN! Thank you for sharing another great family-friendly dish with us!
Thanks for the comments, Byron. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed with this one!
Two of my favourite things! I’m a sucker for those French fried onions, and I’m with your kids on the chicken drumstick thing. LOL. I’ll be making these for sure!