There’s nothing worse than giving yourself permission to indulge in a junk food craving and ending up disappointed. That has consistently been my experience with fried chicken. And yet, I still haven’t given up on the fantasy fried chicken I have in my mind. I keep going back to fried chicken expecting it to have changed, but it disappoints me every time. I’m in a toxic relationship with fried chicken.

As it turns out, the fried chicken of my dreams actually does exist! It just happens to not really be fried chicken at all. Turns out I’d been going to the hardware store for milk all along. This crispy “un-fried” herb chicken has all the things I always wanted in fried chicken, but never got. This breaded, oven-baked chicken is flavorful and crispy, without any of the greasy heaviness that comes along with traditional fried chicken. Not only is it a much healthier option, but it’s truly much tastier than anything you can get at a drive through window.

So, how does this crispy “un-fried” herb chicken manage to do all the things real fried chicken never could? Ditching the greasy frying process in favor of a simple, clean, oven-baked recipe is obviously the biggest transition. You may not think an oven can mimic the effects of a fast-food fryer, but this breaded chicken cooks to crispy (non-greasy) perfection right in your oven.

Breaded with egg whites and whole wheat flour and breadcrumbs, this recipe uses clean ingredients to achieve that crispy fried chicken crunch. Coated with a mixture of olive oil, garlic and onion powders, dried basil and oregano, this tender “un-fried” chicken has the perfect blend of savory herbs and spices.

This quick and easy chicken is perfect served as entree all on its own, whether for a busy weeknight or your next Sunday chicken dinner. It’s also great to use in sandwiches for a healthier twist on the classic fried chicken sandwich.

Whether you’ve always found fried chicken a little too greasy for your liking, or you’re just looking for a healthier substitute, this crispy “un-fried” herb chicken recipe definitely won’t disappoint.