Oma's German Oven Fried Chicken (Brathendl / Hähnchen) 

by: Gerhild Fulson  / Oma Gerhild shares German recipes rooted in family tradition.

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Finger-lickin' good oven fried chicken pieces, easy and economical, perfect for family night dinners, for company, and even Oktoberfest! It’s Brathendl, Oma-style!

Oven fried chicken, aka gebratenes hähnchen or brathendl, is a real treat for our family. Many years ago, the easy way was when my hubby brought home fast-food fried chicken pieces. 

Now, I know what you're probably thinking – this doesn't sound like a German-style chicken dinner. But remove that breading and include paprika in the rub ... German! 

Actually, brathendl is a favorite German meal, especially in southern Germany and then most especially at Oktoberfest. Just brush with melted butter and season with salt and paprika. DELISH!

But when I served it with potatoes and red cabbage, m-m-m-m-m, it sure tasted like traditional German cooking! Really! One of our kids' favorites. And, leftovers are great.

There were two problems with getting fast-food chicken. First, it was expensive. Second, since we live way in the country, it was almost cold by the time he got it home. In other words, what I really wanted was quick and easy dinner recipes.

Oma's Version

I experimented and came up with this easy version. Made in the oven, it was quick and didn't splatter! The below posted recipe is my solution. I wanted a recipe for roasted chicken that was easy and economical.

• Easy, I just take my favorite seasoning salt, sprinkle it on the chicken pieces and bake. If you don't have a seasoning salt, just use salt and pepper. Add paprika, for German-style
• Recently, I've started using Montreal Steak Spice. NICE!
• Economical, I use whatever is on sale: chicken drumsticks, chicken thighs, quarter chicken pieces — or I cut up a whole chicken.

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Easy clean-up

Quick clean up was also important. As much as I like quick and easy dinner recipes, if they take forever to clean up afterwards, I don't use them often.

• In the beginning, I put the chicken pieces on a cookie rack on a cookie sheet (with an edge). Good, but messy to clean. Not a winner.
• So, I tried lining a cookie sheet with foil. That worked better.
  
• However, I found that my stoneware cookie sheet with an edge also works great. I just put the chicken pieces directly on the stoneware - no rack. What's great about stoneware, there's very little splattering and easy clean up.

Whichever way you choose you'll get finger-lickin' good chicken!

Ready to enjoy this oven fried chicken?

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Simple German Oven Fried Chicken – Oma's Brathendl (Hähnchen)

Finger-lickin' good oven fried chicken pieces, aka gebratenes hähnchen or brathendl, easy and economical, perfect for family night dinners, for company, and even Oktoberfest! It’s brathendl, Oma-style!

Prep Time:

10 minutes

Bake Time:

1 hour

Total Time:

1 hour 10 minutes

Servings:

2 - 3 servings

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Ingredients:

• 1 (approx. 3 pound) chicken, cut into pieces
• 2 tablespoons melted butter or oil (optional)
• Seasoning Salt (or salt and pepper)
• paprika

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 400°F. 
2. Trim any fat from chicken with scissors.
3. Arrange chicken pieces, skin side down, in a single layer on stoneware cookie sheet, or on cookie rack on foil-lined cookie sheet.
4. Brush with butter (if using) and sprinkle seasoning salt and paprika all over. Turn pieces over, skin side up, and brush with butter (if using) and sprinkle seasoning salt and paprika all over. Do not cover chicken.
5. Put on middle rack in oven and bake for 45 to 60 minutes or until internal temp is at least 165°F.

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Unless otherwise noted recipe, images and content © Just like Oma | www.quick-german-recipes.com

09.13.2021 revision update

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Complete your set today - order now!

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Hi, I'm Oma Gerhild! As a food writer and cookbook author, I'm always looking to find ways to pass on my German heritage using local ingredients. Quick and easy. That's my goal. Wunderbar food. That's the result.