Crispy southern baked chicken - Eat Well Recipe
Daniel Foster
Published Apr 03, 2026
I like to make my own spice mix for this chicken but you could use a store-bought mix if preferred – just add a little milk powder as this helps the spices stick and caramelise and provides depth of flavour. Rice flour creates a wonderful crunchy coating on the chicken, but if you don't have any and aren't trying to avoid gluten, you can just use standard flour.
Ingredients
| 12 | Chicken drumsticks, or 8 bone-in chicken thighs (Main) |
| 2 Tbsp | Neutral oil |
| 4 Tbsp | Rice flour |
For the eight secret spices mix
| 2 Tbsp | Milk powder |
| 2 tsp | Paprika |
| 2 tsp | Mustard powder |
| 2 tsp | Dried oregano |
| 2 tsp | Garlic salt |
| 2 tsp | Celery salt |
| 1 tsp | Ground black pepper |
| ½ tsp | Fine white pepper |
| ¼ tsp | Cayenne pepper, or more to taste |
Directions
- To make eight secret spices mix, shake all ingredients together in a jar. You will have more than you need for this recipe, so keep the rest in the jar for next time. It will keep for several months.
- Preheat oven to 220C fanbake and line a shallow oven dish with baking paper for easy clean-up.
- Coat chicken with oil. Combine rice flour and 2 Tbsp of the spice mix in a shallow dish or clean plastic bag, add chicken and toss to coat.
- Arrange in a single layer in a prepared oven dish and bake until golden and cooked through (about 30 minutes).
