Southern Baked Chicken

Instructions

1. In a large bowl, combine all of the brine ingredients and stir until the salt has dissolved.
2. Place the chicken thighs in the brine, cover, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or overnight.
3. Remove the chicken thighs from the brine, rinse them off, and pat them dry with a paper towel.
4. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F
5. Combine all of the breading ingredients in a large bowl and mix until all of the ingredients have been blended. (I simply washed out the first bowl that held the brine and used that to save dishes.)
6. In another bowl, beat the eggs and add in the milk. Whisk to combine.
7. Take each chicken thigh and dip it in the egg and milk mixture, turning if necessary to ensure an even dip.
8. Take the thighs and press them into the breading, and use your hands to push the breading onto the top half of the thighs and press down. Let the chicken sit in the breading for a few minutes and then remove to a rack. Repeat with each thigh.
9. Transfer the chicken to a baking sheet that has been sprayed with nonstick spray. Then, spray the chicken generously with the cooking spray. This will help it crisp up in the oven. Go ahead and give it another spray. It's got enough when there are no dry-looking patches of breading left.
10. Bake the chicken for about 40 minutes, or until the breading has reached the desired golden-brown color.