With tender, juicy chicken, your favorite spices, and some Rice Krispie cereal, this crispy Fried Chicken is going to make the most satisfying crunch when you bite into it. Although it’s a quirky twist on the classic, this dinner recipe is going to snap, crackle, and pop its way into your heart (and stomach!).
Got some cereal in your pantry and feel like getting a little experimental? This Rice Krispie Fried Chicken sounds crazy, but I promise the only crazy around here is that it tastes insanely good.
In fact, this is actually a bit of a throwback recipe; so, it’s tried and true! In the 80s, Rice Krispies ran a joint campaign with Hellman’s mayonnaise to share a similar recipe for “Moist n’ Crispy Chicken.”
If you’ve ever cooked for a crowd, you know children are the hardest to please. The fact that this has such a fun, delicious crunch and can be dressed up or down with any seasonings of choice makes it an awesome family-friendly dinner recipe. Plus, it’s a great source of protein for kids, even if they’re picky eaters.
Of course, this fried chicken recipe gets its special crunch from the Rice Krispies cereal, which is made of crisped rice. Originally, the cereal is made by first forming a rice and sugar paste. This paste is then formed into the puffed shapes you see in the cereal, where it is then cooked, dried, and toasted.
The manufacturing process causes the crisped rice to expand during the cooking portion, which forms thin, hollowed-out “walls” in the puffs. Those walls are what give the cereal such a defining crunch when you bite into it!
Using breakfast cereal on your chicken may feel strange, but this delicious, golden-brown goodness is truly the definition of comfort food.
Of course, as fun and delicious as it is, this Rice Krispie Fried Chicken is not a complete meal on its own. Pair it with some fresh fruits and vegetables to get your kids to fill out their food groups. If that doesn’t work, you could also try my Cucumber Sushi Rolls alongside this recipe.
For an even healthier version, you can also bake or air fry your fried chicken instead of deep or shallow frying.
In this recipe, I use chicken breasts, but you can always use tenders if you prefer. Additionally, don’t feel like you have to follow my recipe to a T. If you soak your chicken in a buttermilk marinade, use a ton of spices, and/or prefer to bake instead of fry, you can modify this recipe to your liking.
How to Make the Best Rice Krispie Fried Chicken
Below, I’ve shared the base recipe for a kid-friendly Rice Krispie Fried Chicken. In other words, it’s pretty much just salt and pepper, which pairs excellently with ketchup. It’s great for younger children or a large party of little ones. (Great finger food, too!)
However, if you’re looking for a grown-up variety or want to introduce more flavor to this recipe, it’s really simple. All you have to do is stir in your favorite spices in either your egg wash or with your Rice Krispies. Here are some seasoning suggestions:
Garlic powder
Onion powder
Smoked paprika
Cayenne
Parsley
Oregano
Basil
Thyme
Rosemary
Red chili powder
Cumin
Mustard powder
Cajun seasoning
All spice seasoning
There are so many options! You can even find fun pre-made spice blends at your local grocery store to use in the chicken. The same goes for sauces as well. From Trader Joe’s to your favorite restaurant brand or go-to condiment, pretty much any dip will go with this Rice Krispie Fried Chicken.
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