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Cornflake crusted chicken is a nostalgic, family-friendly recipe that delivers big flavor with minimal effort. The Italian dressing marinade tenderizes the chicken while adding tangy seasoning, and the crushed cornflakes bake into a golden, crunchy coating. Rolling chicken in cornflakes has been popular since the 1950s!
It’s a great alternative to fried chicken and works with any bone-in chicken pieces you have on hand. The melted butter is optional, but it does help the coating crisp and brown beautifully in the oven.
What You’ll Like About This Dish
Crunchy coating. Cornflakes bake into a crisp, golden crust without frying.
Simple prep. Marinate, coat, bake — that’s it.
Customizable seasoning. Italian dressing + herbs adds tons of flavor.
Great for weeknights. Hands-off oven time makes it easy.
Ingredient Notes
- Chicken pieces – Bone-in thighs, drumsticks, or breasts all work well.
- Italian salad dressing – Adds tang and seasoning while tenderizing the meat.
- Cornflake crumbs – Give the chicken a crisp, crunchy coating.
- Italian herb blend – Boosts the flavor in the crumb mixture.
- Garlic powder – Adds aromatic depth.
- Butter – Optional but helps with browning and crispness.
Steps to Make Cornflake Crusted Chicken
- Marinate the chicken in Italian dressing.
- Preheat the oven and line a baking pan.
- Combine the cornflake crumbs and seasonings.
- Coat the chicken pieces thoroughly in the crumb mixture.
- Arrange on the pan and drizzle with butter if using.
- Bake until the chicken is cooked through and crisp.
Tips
- Crush whole cornflakes in a bag with a rolling pin if you don’t have packaged crumbs.
- Shake off excess marinade so the coating sticks better.
- Use a wire rack on the baking sheet for extra-crispy chicken.
- Bake similar-size pieces together for even cooking.
Recipe Variations
- Use panko instead. A good option if you’re out of cornflakes.
- Make it spicy. Add cayenne, chipotle powder, or hot paprika to the crumbs.
- Swap the marinade. Ranch, Caesar, or vinaigrette all work well.
- Add Parmesan. Stir grated Parmesan into the crumb mixture.
Serving Suggestions
- Serve with mashed potatoes, rice, mac and cheese, or roasted vegetables.
- Pair with a crisp garden salad or coleslaw.
- Add dipping sauces like honey mustard or ranch.
- Garnish with fresh parsley or lemon wedges.
How to Store
Refrigerate: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. The coating softens slightly but reheats well.
Freeze: Not recommended. Cornflake coatings tend to become soggy and lose crispness after freezing and thawing.
Reheat: Warm in a 350°F oven or air fryer to restore crispness.
Cornflake Crusted Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 cup Italian salad dressing
- 3 to 4 pounds chicken, a cut-up chicken or bone-in pieces
- Cooking oil spray, for the pan
- 1 ½ cups cornflake crumbs, from crushed cornflakes
- 1 tsp fine salt
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 4 tbsp melted butter
Instructions
- Put the salad dressing in a large nonreactive bowl or food storage bag. Add the chicken and turn to coat. Cover the bowl or seal the bag and refrigerate for 15 to 20 minutes.1 cup Italian salad dressing | 3 to 4 pounds chicken (a cut-up chicken or bone-in pieces)
- Heat the oven to 350 F. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with foil, then lightly spray it with cooking oil spray.Cooking oil spray (for the pan)
- Remove the chicken from the marinade and shake off any excess.
- Mix the cornflake crumbs with the salt, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning blend; coat chicken pieces with the crumb mixture, and arrange them on the baking sheet. Let the chicken rest for 10 minutes.1 1/2 cups cornflake crumbs (from crushed cornflakes) | 1 tsp fine salt | 1 tsp garlic powder | 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- Drizzle melted butter over each piece of chicken.4 tbsp melted butter
- Bake the chicken in the preheated oven for 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until it reaches 165°F on an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of a piece of chicken (not touching the bone).
Nutrition
Disclaimer:
Our nutritional information is based on a third-party application that analyzes the ingredients list to determine the values. The information is meant to be helpful, but should be considered an estimate. Values may differ depending on measurements, brands, serving variations, and database availability.
