Baked Crispy Potato Chicken

Ingredients

• 3 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves, cut into chunks
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 3 bay leaves
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon paprika
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper (optional)
• 1 egg
• 2 tablespoons water
• 1 cup dry instant mashed potato flakes

Directions

Place chicken pieces, buttermilk, bay leaves, garlic, salt, and black pepper into a large resealable plastic bag and knead bag several times to mix buttermilk and seasonings with chicken. Squeeze air from the bag, seal, and refrigerate at least 2 hours (up to overnight) to marinate.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Place a wire cooking rack into a roasting pan.

Drain marinade from bag and discard bay leaves. Mix Parmesan cheese, flour, garlic powder, paprika, and cayenne pepper in a small bowl. Add Parmesan cheese mixture to chicken in the bag, close the bag, and shake to thoroughly coat chicken pieces with the mixture.

Whisk egg and water in a shallow bowl. Place potato flakes into a separate shallow bowl. Dip floured chicken pieces in egg mixture; roll pieces in potato flakes to thoroughly coat. Arrange the chicken pieces on wire rack.

Bake chicken for 15 minutes and turn pieces over on rack; continue baking until chicken is no longer pink inside and coating is browned and crisp, 15 to 20 more minutes.