Potts and Pans: Dorito Chicken
British people don’t understand the concept of fried chicken. The only reason I feel that I can appropriately say this is because I spent the first 12 years of my life in the United Kingdom and grew up without the divine flavors of fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, and all other southern delicacies.
Now, I’m making up for the first part of my life when I was far from being introduced to these foods, and each time my husband asks where we want to eat, I reply with “AQ Chicken” or another southern style restaurant, anything where I can fill the need for white gravy and chicken-fried-anything.
I tried to make fried chicken at home, but my fryer didn’t agree with the idea. My kitchen ended up covered in a thin film of vegetable oil and the tray of potentially wonderful chicken ended up a burned, tough mess. Needless to say, I now leave it up to the professionals.
Instead, I decided to go back to my British roots and create “Dorito chicken,” the English alternative that my mother used to make in an attempt to feed my need for real “American food.” Now, I’m not saying that the flavors in “Dorito chicken” taste like a real home-style feast, but it is a rather delicious meal that is healthier than the fried alternative and incredibly simple to make.
Cheesy, crisp and juicy, this chicken recipe is a must-have recipe for a quick meal that has great flavor.
Serves 4
Ingredients:
4 chicken drumsticks
2 bags Nacho Cheese Doritos, individual size
1 tsp. garlic salt
1 tsp. black pepper
1 tbsp. dried parsley
½ cup all-purpose flour
1 egg
¼ cup Parmesan cheese
Preheat the oven to 375°F. Place the flour in a shallow dish and whisk the egg in a separate dish. Set aside. Take the Doritos, seasonings and cheese, and place in a large Ziploc bag or deep Tupperware. Smash the chips into small pieces using a rolling pin or your hands and mix with the other ingredients. When the three coatings are prepared, take one piece of chicken at a time and place in the flour, coating thoroughly. Then, transfer the flour-coated chicken into the whisked egg and coat. From the egg mixture, place the chicken in the Dorito mixture and coat until the entire drumstick is covered in the mixture. Repeat until all of the chicken is covered in the seasoning.
Place the chicken in a large baking dish, and bake for 45-60 minutes, or until chicken is golden brown and cooked throughout. Serve with vegetables, potatoes or any other side dish for a tasty yet simple sit down dinner.
Crisp, flavorful coating and juicy chicken makes this great dish for a summer cookout or easy weeknight dinner. It’s versatile, simple to make and absolutely delicious.
Although I may have been denied southern food for the first part of my life, Dorito chicken is a great alternative that I am proud to serve to my family today as a recipe that I grew up enjoying. I served this dish with mashed potatoes, green vegetables and garlic bread, but it can be enjoyed with just about anything.
Get creative with this meal by adding different seasonings, chips and flavors. Barbecue, sour cream and onion, or lightly salted are all flavors that I have experimented with, and that have worked just as well. A quick way to bring a great meal to the table, even in the middle of a busy end of the semester, Dorito chicken is one of my favorites, and I’m sure it will become one of yours.
