The Best Oven Fried Chicken

By Bettye

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1 box plain Melba toast (about 5 ounces), processed to sand and pebble texture (see illustration 1 of "Coating the Chicken")
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 3/4 teaspoon table salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
• 4 chicken leg quarters, separated into drumsticks and thighs, skin removed (see illustration below), and patted dry with paper towels

Preparation

Step 1

INSTRUCTIONS
1. Adjust oven rack to upper-middle position and heat oven to 400 degrees. Line sheet pan with foil and set large flat wire rack over sheet pan.
2. Drizzle vegetable oil over Melba toast crumbs in a shallow dish or pie plate; toss well to coat. Mix eggs, mustard, thyme, salt, pepper, oregano, garlic powder, and optional cayenne with a fork in a second shallow dish or pie plate.
3. Working one piece at a time, coat chicken on both sides with egg mixture. Set chicken in Melba crumbs, sprinkle crumbs over chicken, and press to coat (see illustration 2 of Coating the Chicken). Turn chicken over and repeat on other side. Gently shake off excess and place on rack. Bake until chicken is deep nutty brown and juices run clear, about 40 minutes.