Homemade Shake n Bake

Simple instructions for homemade shake n bake copycat recipe that is great for pork and boneless or bone-in chicken.

A jar of bread crumb mixture in front of a sheet of baked pork chops.

Do you remember seeing those Shake n Bake commercials in the 1980s, with Alice from The Brady Bunch. She really was the perfect spokesperson for anything cooking related back then, because pretty much everyone watched The Brady Bunch.

Ahhh, the memories!

Shake n Bake was all about convenience, and really, what could be simpler. Place the seasoning mix in a bag, throw in a piece of chicken or a pork chop – shake it around so the meat is coated and place it on a baking sheet. Bake it in the oven and the meat comes out crispy. That’s it. Not only is it easy, but it is also a healthier way to cook than deep frying.

Baked breaded pork chops on a baking sheet.

I still love Shake n Bake and have found myself buying the box of seasoned bread crumbs from time to time. Considering that it is essentially bread crumbs and seasoning, the box is expensive.

Making your own homemade shake and bake is very simple and way cheaper. You likely have all the ingredients in your pantry right now!!

All of the ingredients added to a glass bowl so that each ingredient is separate from each other.

What Are The Ingredients For Homemade Shake And Bake

Here is what you will need:

  • breadcrumbs – I use unseasoned crumbs since this recipe will add all the seasoning you will need.
  • vegetable oil – the oil will bind all the seasoning to the breadcrumbs and help it all to coat the meat.
  • minced onion
  • paprika
  • salt
  • black pepper
  • cayenne pepper
  • garlic powder
  • dry parsley
  • basil
  • oregano
  • white sugar

Pro Tip: This recipe uses a more standard seasoning, but it is possible to switch up the spices to give a bit of a different flavour like Mexican, Cajun/Creole, Curry and much more.

Shake and bake all mixed together with a metal whisk in a glass bowl.

Use a metal whisk or a fork to stir all the ingredients together in the bowl. As you stir, you will notice that the oil will start to coat the bread crumbs and they will get slightly clumpy.

Keep stirring until there is an even consistency throughout the breading.

Pork chop and breading mixture added to a clear plastic bag.

What Kind Of Bags To Use?

Making homemade shake n bake means that you will need to pick up some clear plastic food safe bags suitable for shaking the meat in the seasoned breading. I buy a pack of bread bags that are great for storing fresh baked bread. Zipper lock freezer bags will also work fin as well.

Holding a clear plastic shaking bag filled with breading and a pork chop.

How To Coat The Meat In Breading

Take some of the breading and dump it into a bag. The amount needed will vary depending on the amount of meat you need to coat. I use about 1 1/2 cups for 8 pork chops.

Add one piece of meat at a time (pork chop, chicken breast/drumstick etc.). Twist the one end of the bag to seal it and then shake the bag to ensure that the meat is coated on all sides with the seasoned breading.

Pro Tip: I find that trying to make sure there is plenty of air in the bag when twisting the opening, will allow the breading to shake around more and makes the coating easier.

Clear plastic bag open showing a pork chop coated in the seasoned breading.

Once the meat is coated in the breading, take it out of the bag and place it on a baking sheet. Continue coating the rest of the pieces of meat. Make sure that the meat is evenly spaced apart on the baking sheet.

Pro Tip: I like to line the baking sheet with a silicone mat or parchment paper so that the breading will not stick to the metal sheet during baking.

Pork chops on a baking sheet just taken out of the oven.

How Long To Bake Meat With Shake And Bake?

Once the meat has been coated in the seasoned breading and placed on a baking sheet, they are ready to go into the oven. Here are the cooking temperature and times for pork and chicken.

  • Pork Chops – Place the coated pork chops in a 425F oven and bake for 15-20 minutes. The cooking time might vary depending on the thickness of the chops, or if they have a bone in them. The best way to ensure doneness is to use a digital thermometer. Once the internal temperature of the pork chops reach 145F, they are done and can be removed from the oven.
  • Boneless Chicken Breast – Preheat the oven to 400F and bake the coated chicken breasts for about 20 minutes, or until they reach an internal temperature of 165F, when checked with a digital thermometer.
  • Bone-in Chicken – Place the coated chicken pieces in a 400F and bake for about 45 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through. Depending on the size of the chicken pieces, the time for cooking will vary. For example, a whole chicken leg quarter (drumstick and thigh together) will take longer than if the drumsticks and thighs are separated. They are finished cooking when the internal temperature of the chicken is 165F. While chicken breast is best when it is 165F, I find that drumsticks and thighs are better when they cook a little longer and reach 180F. At this temperature the meat pretty much just falls off the bone!

A jar of shake and bake seasoning next to a bag and a baking sheet.

How To Store Shake And Bake

This recipe for homemade shake n bake is the equivalent of 3 or 4 boxes of the real stuff. So, you will want to store it. I use a mason jar and keep the lid on fairly tight. I find that this helps to keep the mixture fresh for a couple months anyway. Place it in the freezer and it will last even longer.

Side Dishes Ideas!

If you are looking for a side dish to go with shake and bake pork or chicken then check out these recipes!

Homemade Shake n Bake - Great for chicken and pork

Homemade Shake and Bake pork chops and extra breading mixture in a jar.
4.78 out of 5
115 reviews
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Simple instructions for homemade Shake n Bake copycat recipe that is great for pork and chicken.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 17 minutes
Total Time: 32 minutes
Servings: 8

Ingredients

  • 3 cups bread crumbs
  • 1/4 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 tbsp salt
  • 1 tbsp dried onion flakes
  • 3 tsp paprika
  • 2 tsp sugar
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp black pepper
  • 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
  • 1/2 tsp dry parsley
  • 1/2 tsp dry basil
  • 1/2 tsp dry oregano

Instructions

  • Mix all ingredients in a large bowl until evenly mixed and the bread crumbs are no longer 'clumpy' from the oil.
  • Dump into a mason jar or plastic container and store in the pantry for 1-2 months.

Notes

Shake n Bake Pork Chops
Preheat oven to 425F. Dump some of the shake n bake mix in a large ziploc bag. Rinse pork chops in cold running water. Let excess water drain off. Place pork chops 1 at a time in the bag with the shake n bake. Seal and shake the bag so that the pork chop is totally coated in the breading. Remove the pork chop from the bag, shaking off excess breading. Place on a cookie sheet lined with aluminum foil. Do this with the remaining pork chops. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until internal temperature is 145F.
Shake n Bake Chicken
Preheat oven to 400F. Dump some of the shake n bake mix in a large ziploc bag. Rinse chicken in cold running water. Let excess water drain off. Place chicken, one piece at a time, in the bag with the shake n bake. Seal and shake the bag so that the chicken is totally coated in the breading. Remove the chicken from the bag, shaking off excess breading. Place on a cookie sheet lined with aluminum foil. Do this with the remaining pork chops.
  • Bone-in chicken - Bake for 45 minutes, or until internal temperature is 165F
  • Boneless chicken - Bake for 20 minutes, or until internal temperature is 165F

Nutrition

Per serving:

Calories: 230kcalCarbohydrates: 31gProtein: 5gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 6gSodium: 1169mgFiber: 2gSugar: 3g

Nutrition Disclaimer

Categories

A jar of bread crumb mixture in front of a sheet of baked pork chops.

Did you try this recipe?

Leave a comment and let me know how it turned out. Or, take a picture to share on Instagram and tag me @theblackpeppercorn.

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Recipe Rating




191 comments

  • 5 stars
    This is a hit in our house! It’s become part of the regular rotation. I don’t add the pepper (I never put pepper in anything). We’ve also tried it with whole wheat panko crumbs and 1/2 the oil to make it healthier, and it’s delicious, so we now make it that way always.

    • Reply
    • Thanks Kimberly! So glad you enjoy the recipe. I make it all the time as well.

  • 5 stars
    Better than boxed! I have been using this recipe for years now. Will never go back! I make it and seal it in a glass canning jar. Tried to attach pic but for some reason it won’t let me.

    • Reply
  • I followed the recipe but only swapped out Panko Italian seasoned breadcrumbs since it was all we had in the pantry. Oh my heavens were these delicious!! They turned out juicy in the center and the breading was crispy and super flavorful!! My husband who dislikes pork chops altogether asked for another. I almost fainted. Trust me, this is the best recipe ever. Can’t wait to try it with chicken!!

    • Reply
    • I often make this with Italian bread crumbs as well. So glad you enjoyed it!

  • 5 stars
    This mix was prefect. The addition of oil to the dry ingredients helped a ton; I didn’t add extra oil- it just went straight into the air fryer. I did make a couple changes: coated with egg + yoghurt mix since using skinless chicken breast. Also swapped out paprika, and used chili powder for extra kick. But other than that I feel your mix was spot on for flavour: heat, slight sweet, good crisp. Thank you!

    • Reply
  • 5 stars
    This recipe is delicious. My whole family enjoyed it. Chicken was juicy on the inside & crispy on the outside. Will definitely make this again.

    • Reply
    • 5 stars
      Awesome, awesome, awesome. Thank you so much! I’ve made this every few weeks for about six months. It’s practically free and it really is delicious. 🐱

      • Reply
  • 5 stars
    My kids love this. Started using it at the start of pandemic. When store bought shake n bake was sold out. Haven’t used store bought since. Thank you for sharing 😊

    • Reply
  • 5 stars
    My kids love this. Started using it at the start of pandemic. When store bought shake n bake was sold out. Haven’t used store bought since. Thank you for sharing 😊

    • Reply
  • 5 stars
    Love, Love this recipe. Thank you!

    • Reply
  • 5 stars
    Very good! Thanks so much 🙂

    • Reply
  • My family tore the chicken up i made with it , good recipe !

    • Reply
  • 5 stars
    Been using this for years – this is my go-to. Absolutely the best!

    • Reply
  • 5 stars
    My husband told me, “I don’t know what you did, but whatever it is, please do it again.” I made enough to have leftovers but there are no leftovers. Way better than any store bought, pre-made one. Will definitely make again and again.

    • Reply
  • This is BY FAR, the best shake and bake recipe I have ever used (and I have tried quite a few) – sooo good! The only tweek I made is that I used Smoked Paprika instead of regular paprika, and I use Panko Crumbs … what a family hit and thank you so much for sharing this recipe! It is pinned and will be used for years to come!!!

    • Reply
  • 5 stars
    Perfect! This is amazing on pork chops or butterflied pork. The spice combo is perfect and it keeps well in the pantry.

    • Reply
  • 5 stars
    Perfect! Thank you for posting. Turned out divine.

    • Reply
  • im laughing i didnt even realize that i posted already that is how much I like it lol

    • Reply
  • 5 stars
    This was amazing! It tastes so good!. I used it on chicken and pork and i used it twice this week already! I didn’t have the cayenne powder so i used chili seasoning instead, it wasn’t too spicy it was perfect.
    I stared with a half recipe to see if I liked it, well now I am going to double the full recipe. i wont buy the real brand ever again thank you

    • Reply
  • 5 stars
    I was so amazed at how wonderful this tasted! I did replace the Cayenne pepper this time with Chili Powder because i didnt have any ( i looked up the equivalent amount) My pork chops tasted great! I love that it is so easy to make the mixture. I am using it for the second time. I still have plenty left for more pork chop dinners! thank you so much for posting this recipe/

    • Reply
    • This was so easy to make and tasted just like the real thing. I just realized I ran out of shake and bake right before cooking dinner. So I’m glad I found this recipe. I only put in half the sodium because I put a thin layer of olive oil mayo on the pork before coating it with the DYI shake and bake. It turned out great in my airfryer!! Will definitely be making this again.

      • Reply
      • So glad you liked this recipe! This is our go to for shake and bake mix as well.

  • 5 stars
    Family loved it!
    Even made a gluten free version for a sensitive kiddo (minus the cayenne), turned out great.
    Thanks so much for this!!

    • Reply
    • 5 stars
      Perfect! This is amazing on pork chops or butterflied pork. The spice combo is perfect and it keeps well in the pantry.

      • Reply
  • 5 stars
    My husband and I loved this recipe!
    I think the only adaptation I made was to leave out the sugar. I have what I call an allergy so I do without when I can.
    I can never cook pork chops so they are moist without shake n bake. As one who has to be wheat free, I knew I had to make my own with gluten free breadcrumbs. Since I have always had trouble with shake n bake sticking, I found some instructions that add to the complexity but at least we get to taste your great recipe ON the chop!

    • Reply

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