Spicy Oven-Fried Chicken with Cheese Grits and Chorizo Reduction

Marinated spicy chicken is oven-fried while creamy cheese grits and a chorizo-vegetable reduction are cooked simultaneously for a layered, American-Southern-Mexican fusion dish.

• Preparation Time: 20 mins
• Cooking Time: 30 mins
• Total Time: 50 mins
• Calories: 713 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup buttermilk
• ½ cup all-purpose flour
• 4 tablespoons butter
• ½ cup heavy cream
• ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
• 2 ½ cups water
• 1 red bell pepper, diced
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon onion powder
• 2 ½ cups milk
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• ½ teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 cup bread crumbs
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 cup vegetable broth
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes
• cooking spray
• 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and diced
• 1 sweet onion, diced
• 1 cup grits
• ½ (8 ounce) package shredded Mexican cheese blend
• 1 tablespoon Mexican-style hot sauce (such as Cholula®)
• ½ teaspoon thyme leaves
• 1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch strips
• 1 pound ground chorizo
• ¼ cup Mexican-style hot sauce (such as Cholula®)
• ½ teaspoon chipotle chili powder
• 1 teaspoon crumbled Cotija cheese, or to taste

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Pour buttermilk and hot sauce into a large bowl or zip-top bag; mix well. Add chicken and marinate for 4 hours to overnight.

Step 2

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Place a wire rack on top of a baking sheet and spray with cooking spray.

Step 3

Combine bread crumbs, flour, paprika, salt, garlic powder, black pepper, onion powder, oregano, thyme, and chili powder in a bowl. Remove chicken from marinade and dredge in crumb mixture. Place coated chicken onto the prepared wire rack.

Step 4

Bake in the preheated oven until no longer pink in the centers and juices run clear, about 30 minutes.

Step 5

Meanwhile, add milk, water, salt, and pepper to a large saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to low and add grits. Cook, covered, for 20 minutes, stirring every few minutes to prevent clumping. Remove from heat and add Mexican cheese and butter; stir until well incorporated and creamy.

Step 6

While chicken and grits are cooking, cook chorizo, onion, bell pepper, and jalapeno in a large skillet over medium-high heat until meat is browned and vegetables are tender, 5 to 7 minutes. Drain grease from the skillet. Stir in garlic and continue to cook over medium-high heat until fragrant, about 30 seconds.

Step 7

Stir cherry tomatoes, vegetable broth, Worcestershire sauce, and hot sauce into the skillet, reduce heat to low, and let simmer until reduced, stirring as needed, about 15 minutes. Add heavy cream; let simmer and continue to reduce until sauce coats a spoon, about 5 minutes more.

Step 8

Place grits into a bowl, top with chorizo reduction sauce, and top with spicy fried chicken. Garnish with Cotija cheese.