This Amish recipe for homemade shake-and-bake chicken makes crispy, golden chicken legs or thighs - an easy weeknight dinner without any boxed mix. Made from scratch with a simple blend of seasonings, flour, and crumbs, that creates a crunchy, flavorful coating everyone loves.
If you love crispy oven-fried chicken, this easy baked chicken recipe is one you'll make again and again. It's perfect for busy weeknights or casual family dinners.
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love This Homemade Shake and Bake Chicken
- What Is Shake and Bake Chicken?
- Why Make Homemade Instead of Using Store‑Bought?
- How to Make Crispy Oven-Baked Chicken
- Baked Chicken Legs in Oven
- Tips for Extra Crispy Baked Chicken
- Variations & Flavor Ideas
- How to Store & Reheat
- What to Serve with Shake and Bake Chicken
- Frequently Asked Questions
- More Amish Chicken Recipes
- Easy Amish Baked Chicken
- 📖 Recipe Card
Why You'll Love This Homemade Shake and Bake Chicken
- Crispy without frying - Oven‑baked but still golden and crunchy.
- Pantry‑friendly - No special ingredients required.
- Simple, affordable, and always a crowd‑pleaser - Perfect for feeding a family on a budget.
- Healthier than store‑bought - No preservatives or artificial flavors.
- Customizable - Make it spicy, mild, or gluten‑free. Customize to suit your taste!
What Is Shake and Bake Chicken?
Shake and Bake Chicken is a popular recipe that involves coating chicken in a crumb mixture and baking it until crispy and golden brown. The recipe is simple and easy to follow, making it a go-to for busy weeknights.
This homemade Amish version uses flour, crushed crackers or breadcrumbs, butter, and spices to create a richer, more flavorful coating than the boxed mix. The chicken is shaken in a bag with the crumb mixture to coat it evenly (hence the name shake & bake).
Once the chicken is coated, it is placed on a baking sheet and baked until fully cooked. The result is a delicious and flavorful chicken that is juicy on the inside and crispy on the outside.
This style of oven-fried chicken is a classic in Amish kitchens and was a staple at our family dinners growing up.
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Why Make Homemade Instead of Using Store‑Bought?
When I can easily buy a premade shake-and-bake mixture, why should I bother with DIY shake and bake? Well, I'm glad that you asked because I have a couple of reasons why you should use homemade instead of store-bought shake and bake.
Number one, homemade is cheaper, and it's very easy to make. I keep all the ingredients stocked in my pantry, and it only takes a couple of minutes to mix them.
Secondly, It's better for you. (In case you didn't know, homemade is almost always better for you than store-bought.) The list of ingredients on packaged food often has stuff that most of us don't even know what they are. With artificial sweeteners, high fructose corn syrup, and lots of preservatives included in processed foods, homemade is the better option.
And last but not least, you can adjust the seasonings and flavors to create something that you will love.
How to Make Crispy Oven-Baked Chicken
Homemade Shake and Bake Chicken is a classic recipe that has been a favorite among home cooks for decades.
To make this Amish Shake and Bake Chicken, you will need bone-in chicken pieces such as drumsticks or thighs. These cuts of chicken are perfect for this recipe because they are flavorful and can withstand the high heat of baking without drying out.
The crumb mixture for Homemade Shake and Bake is made with a combination of flour, cracker or breadcrumbs, and spices. The flour helps the mixture adhere to the chicken while the spices add flavor, and the crumbs give the chicken its crispy texture. (Panko breadcrumbs are great to use for this copycat shake and bake and will produce a lighter and crunchier coating.)
To begin, preheat your oven to 400°F. Then mix the crumbs, flour, seasonings, and oil. You can mix this in a large ziplock bag, or mix it in a bowl and then pour it into a bag.
Brush or dip the chicken pieces into melted butter. Then add the chicken (a few pieces at a time works best) to the bag and shake until the chicken is evenly coated with the crumb mixture. And you can press it onto the chicken to make sure it is well-coated.
Next, place the chicken pieces onto a baking sheet pan lined with foil or parchment paper. Make sure to leave some space between each piece of chicken to allow for even cooking.
Baked Chicken Legs in Oven
Place the baking sheet into the preheated oven and bake for about 45 minutes or until the chicken is fully cooked and the crumbs are golden brown.
I recommend using a cooking thermometer to check the chicken for doneness. Insert the thermometer into the fattest part of the chicken to get a proper reading.
Chicken is considered safe to eat when the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees. But, in my opinion, that's not cooked well enough for legs and thighs. I prefer them cooked to 180 degrees.
Once the chicken is fully cooked, remove it from the oven and let it rest for a few minutes before serving. This allows the juices to redistribute, resulting in a more tender and flavorful chicken.
Tips for Extra Crispy Baked Chicken
- Use melted butter, not oil spray - it helps the crumbs brown.
- Leave space between pieces so steam doesn't soften the coating.
- Bake on the middle rack for even heat.
- Optional: Flip halfway through for even browning.
- For ultra‑crisp skin, place chicken on a wire rack over the baking sheet.
Variations & Flavor Ideas
One of the great things about Homemade Shake and Bake is that it can be easily customized to your taste preferences.
- Spicy - Add extra cayenne or chili powder.
- Garlic Lover's - Double the garlic powder.
- Herby - Add rosemary, oregano, or Italian seasoning.
- Parmesan - Add ¼ cup grated Parmesan to the crumb mix.
- Homemade Shake and Bake Without Breadcrumbs - Use Ritz crackers for extra richness, or experiment with different types of crackers to give the chicken a unique flavor and texture. (When crushing them, however, make sure to leave little pieces. You don't want to turn them into powder.)
- Gluten‑Free Shake and Bake - Replace flour with cornstarch or gluten‑free flour, and use gluten‑free crackers or breadcrumbs.
- Use Legs Thighs, Breasts, or Wings - You can use this shake-and-bake mixture to coat any pieces of chicken (legs, thighs, breasts, or wings). However, baking time will decrease when using breasts or wings.
How to Store & Reheat
To Store:
- Cool and refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
To Reheat:
- Oven: 375°F for 10 to15 minutes (best texture).
- Air fryer: 350°F for 6 to 8 minutes.
- Microwave: Works, but coating softens
What to Serve with Shake and Bake Chicken
Homemade Shake and Bake Chicken is a versatile dish that can be served with various sides. It pairs well with roasted vegetables such as broccoli, carrots, or potatoes. Or you could serve it with mashed potatoes, scalloped potatoes, buttered noodles, layered lettuce salad, broccoli salad, etc.
Any leftover chicken can be removed from the bones and used in chicken casseroles, soups, or chicken salad.
Frequently Asked Questions
Usually from overcrowding the pan, too little fat, or baking at too low a temperature.
Butter gives the best flavor and browning, but oil works in a pinch.
Yes - coat the chicken and refrigerate up to 12 hours before baking.
Yes! Preheat the air fryer to 375°F.
Arrange chicken in a single layer.
Cook approx. 22 minutes (legs/thighs), flipping halfway.
Internal temp should reach 180°F for dark meat.
Easy Amish Baked Chicken
These Easy Baked Chicken Legs are a delicious and convenient way to enjoy crispy baked chicken, without the hassle of frying. With just a few ingredients and minimal prep work, you can have flavorful and crispy chicken in no time. So, the next time you're looking for a quick and easy dinner idea, try this Amish Homemade Shake and Bake Chicken recipe. It's a classic - perfect for busy weeknights or when you want a simple and delicious meal.
If you try this Amish recipe, I would love it if you left a comment and star rating below. Thank you!
📖 Recipe Card
Homemade Shake and Bake Chicken Legs Recipe
Ingredients
- ½ c. all-purpose flour
- ½ c. crushed crackers or breadcrumbs
- 2 tsp. paprika (I like to use smoked paprika)
- 1 ½ tsp. salt
- 1 tsp. sugar
- ¾ tsp. garlic powder
- ½ tsp. onion powder
- ½ tsp. dried thyme
- ½ tsp. black pepper
- ½ tsp. poultry seasoning (optional)
- ¼ tsp. cayenne pepper (optional)
- 1 Tbsp. cooking oil
- approx. 4 ½ lb. chicken legs (about 10 - 12 legs)
- 4 Tbsp. melted butter (¼ c.)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°.
- Place a piece of foil onto a large baking sheet and spray the foil with cooking spray.
- In a bowl, combine the flour, crumbs, and seasonings. Add the oil and mix well. Pour it into a large ziplock bag.½ c. all-purpose flour, ½ c. crushed crackers or breadcrumbs, 1 ½ tsp. salt, 2 tsp. paprika, 1 tsp. sugar, ¾ tsp. garlic powder, ½ tsp. onion powder, ½ tsp. dried thyme, ½ tsp. black pepper, ½ tsp. poultry seasoning (optional), ¼ tsp. cayenne pepper (optional), 1 Tbsp. cooking oil
- If the legs have excess fatty skin, trim them a bit.approx. 4 ½ lb. chicken legs (about 10 - 12 legs)
- Melt the butter, and dip or brush each piece of chicken to cover with butter.4 Tbsp. melted butter (¼ c.)
- Put a few pieces of buttered chicken into the bag of crumbs/seasoning mixture at a time and shake to cover.
- Place the chicken onto the foil-lined tray, leaving a bit of space between each piece.
- Bake at 400°, uncovered, for about 45 minutes. Or until the internal temperature reaches about 180°.
- Let the chicken rest for a few minutes and enjoy!
Mary D Davis
Woah!!! I made this chicken and can you spell e a s y!?!? Not only is it easy, it's tasty. I will be using it often!!!!
Anna
So glad you are happy with it! Thanks for the feedback!
Anna
This chicken is perfect every time!
Sherry Wenta
Family loved this chicken. So quick and easy to make the coating mix. I mixed up another batch while I had all the ingredients out for the next batch. I will never buy the store product again. Thank you for contributing to a healthier version of this recipe.
Anna
You're welcome! I'm so glad y'all enjoyed it! Thanks for leaving a comment.
Sonya Entwistle
Perfect combination of flavors for a much healthier version of Shake & Bake, definately a repeat
Anna
Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment.
Suzanne
Super easy and delicious!! I pretty much just threw in a variety of spices since my boys love spicy food. Will definitely be making this again!!
Anna
I'm so glad you enjoyed it!
Roger Schmidt
Nice combo of ingredients. Will skinless chicken tenders work out o.k. and not dry out while cooking?
Anna
I've never used it for tenders. It should work, but definitely adjust the baking time. Tenders don't take long, so I would check for doneness at least by 30 minutes.
I typically use my rice krispie chicken recipe for tenders. https://amish-heritage.org/amish-chicken-recipe-rice-krispie-chicken/
Kimberly
Great recipe! Thank you for including a gluten free variation! 🙂