Shake and bake is a quick and easy way to bread and cook chicken or pork chops in the oven. The store-bought shake and bake mixes come with a packet of breading and seasonings that you shake to coat the meat before baking. While the convenience of shake and bake is great, the flavor can sometimes be lacking. There are many ways to doctor it up and make it restaurant-quality delicious!
What is shake and bake?
Shake and bake refers to a product that allows you to easily bread meat to be cooked in the oven. It contains a packet of dry breading mix and a separate packet of seasoning. To use it, you simply place the meat in a bag, add the breading and seasoning packets, seal the bag, and shake it to evenly coat the meat. This breaded meat can then be baked in the oven until fully cooked.
The key benefits of using shake and bake are:
- Convenience – Everything you need is included in one box. No need to drag out separate ingredients.
- Mess-free – Containing everything in a bag minimizes the mess of dredging and breading.
- Quick prep – Cut meat, shake in bag, bake. That’s all there is to it.
- Crispy results – The finely milled breading crisps up nicely in the oven.
While shake and bake does save time and cut down on dirty dishes, the trade-off is often flavor. The generic seasoning mixes can sometimes leave you wanting more. But there are plenty of ways to make your shake and bake creations taste like they came from a restaurant kitchen.
How can you customize and improve shake and bake?
Here are some easy ways to doctor up your shake and bake to make it exceptional:
Use higher quality meat
Starting with fresh, high-quality chicken breasts, pork chops, or other cuts of meat will instantly improve the end result. Factory farmed meat or pre-frozen cuts will be less juicy and flavorful. Spend a couple extra dollars per pound on the good stuff.
Marinate the meat first
Soaking the meat in a marinade for a few hours before breading will infuse it with much more flavor. Try marinades with acidic ingredients like lemon juice, vinegar, or yogurt which will nicely tenderize the meat too. Herb-heavy marinades are delicious on chicken.
Use flavorful breading
Skip the plain white breadcrumbs that come with most shake and bake kits. For more flavor, use panko breadcrumbs, cornflake crumbs, or a mixture of crushed crackers, potato chips, pretzels, etc. Seasoned breadcrumbs are also easy to buy or make yourself.
Spice up the seasoning
The standard shake and bake seasoning is often just salt, pepper, and paprika. Kick it up a notch with cajun seasoning, taco seasoning, italian seasoning, or your own blend. Anything with chili powder, garlic, onion, cumin, or herbs will liven up the flavor.
Add cheese
Sprinkle some shredded parmesan, mozzarella, cheddar, or monterey jack over and under the breading. As it melts during baking, the cheese will make the coating extra crispy and give a delicious cheesy boost.
Use buttermilk
Soaking chicken pieces in buttermilk before breading will make the coating adhere better and also tenderize and add flavor to the meat. The small amount of acid in the buttermilk reacts with the proteins.
Double bread
Really want a thick, extra crunchy crust? After breading with the first layer, dip the meat back in buttermilk then into breadcrumbs a second time before baking. Be warned that the high heat of double breading can dry out delicate white meat like chicken.
Brush with oil or butter
Coating the breaded meat with a thin layer of olive oil, melted butter, or cooking spray before baking will help it get crispy and golden brown. The fat will fry the surface as it bakes.
Use a flavorful dipping sauce
Don’t forget a zesty dipping sauce on the side! Homemade ranch, bleu cheese, barbecue sauce, honey mustard, or chili lime sauce are all excellent complements to boosted shake and bake.
What ingredients can you add to shake and bake?
Spice blends, herbs, seasonings, cheese, spices, and more can all be added to shake and bake breading or seasoning mixes. Get creative! Here are some delicious mix-in options:
Spices:
- Chili powder
- Smoked paprika
- Cayenne pepper
- Cumin
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
Herbs:
- Dried oregano
- Dried basil
- Dried parsley
- Dried rosemary
- Dried thyme
- Dried sage
Seasoning blends:
- Taco seasoning
- Cajun seasoning
- Italian seasoning
- Ranch dressing mix
- Lemon pepper
Cheese:
- Parmesan
- Cheddar
- Monterey Jack
- Blue cheese
- Feta
Breading add-ins:
- Crushed corn flakes
- Crushed crackers
- Crushed potato chips
- Panko breadcrumbs
- Grated parmesan
Get creative and use what you have on hand! Almost any spice, herb, seasoning, cheese or crunchy breading ingredients can enhance boring old shake and bake.
What are the best meats to use with shake and bake?
While the classic use for shake and bake is chicken, you can easily bread and bake other meats too. Good options include:
- Chicken breasts – Boneless, skinless breasts work best. Pound them to flatten.
- Chicken thighs – More flavorful! Debone but keep skin on.
- Pork chops – 1/2 to 1 inch chops. Trim excess fat.
- Pork tenderloin – Slice into 1 inch medallions first.
- Fish fillets – Flaky white fish like tilapia, cod, haddock.
- Shrimp – Peel, devein and pat dry before breading.
Sturdy cuts of meat with some thickness to them will hold up best to breading and baking. Thin fish fillets or shrimp may require a lighter breading blend or shorter cooking time. Chicken and pork are always excellent choices for shake and bake and will especially benefit from the flavor boosting tips.
How can you bake shake and bake so it’s juicy and tender?
To get the best results when baking shake and bake recipes, follow these tips:
- Don’t crowd the pan. Meat needs space to properly cook and crisp.
- Use a baking rack. This allows air circulation for even cooking.
- Brush with oil first. The small amount of fat helps conduct heat.
- Flip halfway through. Cooking both sides evenly prevents drying out.
- Check for doneness before time is up. Cut to test if juices run clear.
- Allow to rest before cutting. This locks in juices when you slice into it.
- Avoid peeking. Every time you open the oven door, heat escapes.
The exact oven temperature and baking time will vary based on the size and thickness of the meat pieces. Here are general baking guidelines:
- Chicken breasts – 350°F for 15-25 minutes
- Chicken thighs – 375°F for 25-35 minutes
- Pork chops – 400°F for 15-20 minutes
- Pork tenderloin – 425°F for 15-20 minutes
- Fish fillets – 400°F for 8-12 minutes
- Shrimp – 425°F for 5-8 minutes
Use a meat thermometer to confirm poultry reaches 165°F and pork reaches 145°F internally before removing from oven. The breading should be crispy and golden brown when fully cooked through.
What are some shake and bake recipe ideas?
Now that you know how to take shake and bake to new heights, here are some recipe ideas to get your creativity flowing:
Cajun Chicken
- Marinate chicken in buttermilk + Cajun seasoning
- Combine breadcrumbs, paprika, garlic powder, cayenne, oregano, thyme
- Shake chicken in breadcrumb mixture
- Bake at 375°F until cooked through
Cheesy Ranch Pork Chops
- Brush chops with Dijon mustard
- Combine breadcrumbs, parmesan, ranch mix, garlic powder
- Coat chops in breadcrumb mixture
- Top with shredded cheddar cheese
- Bake at 400°F until 145°F internally
Chipotle Lime Fish
- Soak tilapia fillets in lime juice
- Mix panko crumbs, chili powder, cumin, chipotle powder
- Bread fish fillets and bake at 400°F for 10 minutes
- Serve with sour cream lime drizzle
Italian Chicken Cutlets
- Pound chicken breasts thin
- Blend breadcrumbs, parmesan, Italian seasoning, pepper
- Bread cutlets and bake at 350°F for 12-15 minutes
- Top with marinara sauce and mozzarella
Let your imagination run wild with all the possibilities for flavorful shake and bake meals! Homemade always beats the store-bought boxes.
Conclusion
While shake and bake provides a quick and convenient shortcut for oven-baked breaded meats, with a few simple tweaks you can transform it from bland and boring to restaurant-worthy. Allowing time to marinate the meat boosts flavor. Using fresh herbs, spices, cheese and improved breading takes the coating to the next level. Following proper baking guidelines ensures the meat stays tender and juicy inside its flavor-packed crust. With so many options for customization, shake and bake can be a simple weeknight dinner or impressive enough for company. Don’t settle for the monotonous store-bought mixes. With a little creativity, you can easily doctor up your shake and bake to make any meal mouthwateringly delicious.