No need to fry when you use our homemade shake and bake recipe for pork chops or chicken breasts. The outsides will be crispy and the insides will be juicy.
Crispy, golden, baked chicken is a dinner time classic. But are you bored with the usual breadcrumb or panko mixtures? Why not try coating your chicken in a bold, flavored shake and bake seasoning instead for a fun twist?
Pork-flavored shake and bake coatings like the popular Kraft mixture are a quick shortcut to juicy crunchy chops. But can you use pork shake and bake seasoning on chicken too?
I was curious to find out if this savory seasoning could add flavorful flair to chicken. In this article, I’ll share my experience experimenting with pork shake and bake on chicken, including:
- How the seasoning flavor compares on chicken vs. pork
- Tips for preparing chicken with shake and bake
- How it impacted texture and flavor
- The best chicken cuts to use
- My verdict on using pork shake and bake on poultry
Let’s dive in and see if giving chicken a crunchy pork shake and bake crust delivers tastier results!
How Pork Shake and Bake Seasoning Flavors Chicken
First, it helps to understand how pork shake and bake coatings like Kraft are formulated. The mix contains:
- Breadcrumbs – Provide crunch and absorb meat juices
- Spices and herbs – Addition of paprika, garlic, onion, and pepper
- Salt – Enhances overall flavor
- Pork flavor – Provides a meaty, savory taste
This blend of spices and pork flavor makes shake and bake a perfect match for pork chops. But how would it pair with milder leaner chicken?
To find out, I picked up a box of Kraft pork shake and bake and followed the instructions to coat chicken breasts. After baking, I was pleased to find:
-
The seasoning added lots of flavor to the boneless, skinless chicken breasts. It complemented the mild chicken taste.
-
The crunchy, textured coating provided a nice contrast to the juicy interior.
-
The shake and bake delivered satisfying pork-like savoriness without being overpowering.
While shake and bake is tailored for pork, the spices paired remarkably well with chicken too. The pork flavoring enhanced the meaty notes without tasting off.
Preparing Juicy Chicken Breasts with Shake and Bake
Now that I knew pork shake and bake could work nicely on chicken, I wanted to perfect the preparation method. Here are some tips I learned:
-
Use boneless, skinless breasts – Avoid bone-in cuts which may overcook from longer baking. Skinless is ideal for maximum adherence of the coating.
-
Pat chicken dry – Remove excess moisture so the coating sticks better.
-
Double coat – Dip in water, then shake and bake for extra crunchy coverage.
-
** Arrange on a baking sheet** – No overlapping to ensure even cooking.
-
Bake at 400°F – The high heat helps the coating get perfectly crisp.
-
Cook to 165°F internal temperature – Ensures the chicken is fully cooked through.
Following these steps results in tender, juicy chicken inside with a crispy, flavor-packed exterior.
How the Pork Shake and Bake Impacted Chicken Texture and Flavor
Biting into my shake and bake chicken breasts, the contrasts of flavor and texture were outstanding:
-
The coating was ultra crunchy – Almost like deep fried, without the grease!
-
The chicken stayed juicy – Thanks to quick cooking time.
-
The pork-forward seasoning came through but let the chicken still shine.
-
The spices added lots of flavor that penetrated into the meat, unlike plain breadcrumbs.
The crispy crust and savory seasoning elevated the chicken from boring to delicious. The pork shake and bake delivered on both texture and flavor.
Best Chicken Cuts to Use with Pork Shake and Bake
While boneless, skinless breasts worked nicely, I also experimented with pork shake and bake on other chicken pieces with success:
-
Chicken tenders – Quickly cook up crispy and flavorful.
-
Chicken thighs – More forgiving if overbaked a bit.
-
Chicken drumsticks – Coating adheres nicely to the thinner area.
-
Chicken wings – Wings come out extra crunchy and taste amazing.
Really any boneless or bone-in chicken cut can shine with this easy shake and bake breading. It’s a fast way to make chicken anything crispy and delicious.
The Verdict: Does Pork Shake and Bake Work on Chicken?
After testing, I can confidently say that using pork-flavored shake and bake seasoning on chicken is a winner!
The savory pork taste pairs surprisingly well with chicken. It adds a meatier depth versus plain breadcrumbs without tasting overly weird.
And achieving crispy, golden chicken is as simple as shaking the bag. Much easier than laborious homemade breadings and way tastier than the store-bought plain variety.
For chicken that is extra crunchy and full of flavor, coat it in pork shake and bake before baking. From juicy breasts to perfectly crisped wings, the seasoning adheres beautifully and enhances the chicken taste.
So don’t reserve that box of shake and bake just for pork chops. Bring new life to boring chicken by giving it a super quick, fool-proof crispy crust makeover. Your taste buds will thank you!
A Simple, DIY Homemade Shake and Bake Recipe
You can always find Kraft’s classic boxed Shake ‘N Bake mix in the kitchen, but we like to do things our own way. Why? Well, because our homemade shake and bake recipe is just, well, better! Homemade is always better. If you want a super crispy shake-and-bake chicken or a tender, juicy shake-and-bake pork (BTW, if you haven’t tried shake-and-bake pork yet, you should!), our homemade herby breadcrumb mixture will blow you away! It’s so easy to make, and you can even make double, triple, or even quadruple batches and keep them on hand for quick and easy crispy chicken dinners! For more pork recipe ideas, check out our list of the Best Pork Recipes!
It’s Shake and Bake, and I Helped!
Yeah, the old school shake and bake commercial is pretty cheesy (awesomely cheesy, TBH), but our homemade shake and bake recipe is actually a really fun one to make with kids. Even the littlest helpers can get in on the action, and no, getting them involved doesn’t mean dealing with a huge mess. How is that possible? Well, this entire recipe pretty much happens in a big zip-top bag! Shake and bake directions can be summed up as “dump everything into a bag and shake, then bake”. But truly, this is so easy! Here’s how to make shake and bake:
- Pour the crispy shake-and-bake mix into a large zip-top bag and add the breadcrumbs, salt, sugar, paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, black pepper, cayenne, and basil. Drizzle a little oil over the top. Seal the bag, and if you want to include a child, now is a good time to do it. Gently rub the oil into the spiced breadcrumb mixture.
- Put a little water on each chicken or pork chop. This helps the spiced breadcrumb mixture adhere to the meat.
- Put a piece of pork or chicken at a time into the shake-and-bake bag. Then, shake the bag around until the meat is really covered in crumbs. Once more, this is a great job for kids because it’s fun and doesn’t make a mess.
- About 20 minutes in the oven should do it. The meat should be perfectly crisp on the outside and juicy, tender, and done on the inside.
Homemade Shake And Bake For Chicken Or Pork
FAQ
Is there a difference between chicken and pork shake and bake?
Can you bake chicken and pork together?
What can you use Shake N Bake on?
Do you cook pork and chicken at the same temperature?
Can you use chicken shake and bake on pork?
The short answer is yes, you can use chicken Shake and Bake on pork. The seasoning mix is essentially a blend of breadcrumbs and spices, which can be used on a variety of meats. However, it’s important to note that the cooking times and temperatures may differ between chicken and pork.
Is shake and bake good for pork?
Additionally, the flavor profile of the chicken Shake and Bake may not be the best match for pork. Chicken tends to have a milder flavor than pork, so you may want to add some additional spices or herbs to the mix to enhance the flavor of the pork. What Is Shake And Bake?
What is shake and bake chicken & pork?
Shake and bake chicken and pork refer to a method of cooking meat by coating it in a seasoned breadcrumb mixture before baking. While the preparation method is similar, there are some differences between shake and bake chicken and pork in terms of ingredients, cooking times, and results. What is shake and bake?
What is the difference between Shake and bake chicken & pork?
While shake and bake chicken and pork both use the same preparation method of coating in seasoned breadcrumbs and baking, the way they are cooked does vary slightly based on the differences between the two meats. Adjusting bake times, temperatures, and flavors will result in juicy, crunchy chicken or pork.