Servings: 4
SmartPoints (per serving): ~4–6 (varies based on cut and coating)
Cooking Method: Oven-baked, no frying
🧂 Ingredients:
Chicken:
- 4 skinless chicken drumsticks or thighs (bone-in or boneless)
(use chicken breast tenders for leanest option — 0 Points on many plans)
Buttermilk Marinade:
- ½ cup low-fat buttermilk (or ½ cup milk + 1 tsp lemon juice)
- 1 tsp hot sauce (optional)
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
Crispy “KFC-Style” Coating:
- 1 cup cornflake crumbs (or crushed Special K, or WW-approved breadcrumbs)
- ¼ cup whole wheat flour (optional for extra crunch)
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp dried thyme
- ½ tsp dried basil
- ½ tsp oregano
- ½ tsp chili powder or cayenne (optional for heat)
- Salt & pepper to taste
- Olive oil spray
🔥 Instructions:
- Marinate the chicken:
- In a bowl or Ziploc bag, combine buttermilk, hot sauce, salt, and pepper.
- Add chicken and marinate for at least 1 hour, or overnight for best flavor.
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking tray with parchment or foil, and place a wire rack on top (if available) to keep chicken crispy underneath.
- Prepare the coating:
- In a shallow bowl, mix cornflake crumbs, flour (if using), and all the seasonings.
- Dredge chicken pieces in the coating mixture, pressing to adhere well.
- Spray lightly with olive oil spray to help crisp.
- Bake for 30–35 minutes (breasts/tenders) or 40–45 minutes (drumsticks/thighs), flipping once halfway through, until golden and crispy.
🍽️ Serving Suggestions (0 Points):
- Steamed green beans or broccoli
- Cauliflower mash
- WW-friendly coleslaw (Greek yogurt base)
💡 WW Tips:
- Use boneless, skinless chicken breast tenders to reduce points
- Cornflakes or Special K are lower-point crispy options vs. panko
- Avoid traditional frying — this oven method gives crisp without the oil
