Southern baked chicken seasoned with savory spices and roasted until golden and juicy is a healthy, high protein family dinner. This simple chicken recipe is a lighter alternative to fried that doesn't sacrifice flavor.
Preheat your oven to 425°F and line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment or foil for easy cleanup.
In a large bowl, marinate the chicken pieces in buttermilk for at least 20 minutes to enhance tenderness and flavor.
In a separate bowl, mix flour, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, dried thyme, salt, and black pepper to create the seasoning blend.
Lift each chicken piece from the buttermilk, letting excess drip off, and coat evenly with the seasoned flour mixture, pressing gently to adhere.
Arrange chicken on the baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil, and bake for 35–40 minutes, flipping midway, until the chicken reaches 165°F internally and the skin turns golden and crisp.