How To Bread Chicken Without Eggs 4 Easy Ways

Chicken has been a classic side dish in meal plans across the world for centuries. It’s tasty, a great source of protein and couldn’t be easier to make. 

Did you know that chicken is also packed full of healthy nutrients, including vitamin B, vitamin D, calcium, iron, zinc, and trace amounts of vitamin A and vitamin C? Who needs the sun and orange juice when you’ve got chicken? (Just kidding, we still highly recommend those things). 

Chicken is not only super tasty and nutritious, it’s also highly versatile and can be prepared in a variety of ways. 

While practically all forms of eating chicken are good, one of your favorite ways has to be breaded- I mean, who doesn’t love the taste of golden brown, crispy batter over a tender and juicy piece of meat?

If you’re currently thinking, “yum, but breading is too complicated,” think again. 

Creating a crispy exterior for your chicken is actually super simple and typically only consists of flour, breadcrumbs and eggs. 

Although this is the norm, there are actually numerous alternatives to eggs in breaded chicken, which is exactly what we’re going to be focusing on in the following article. 

With a population leaning exceedingly more toward the vegan lifestyle, finding recipes that omit ingredients such as eggs is crucial. 

When it comes to batter, this can be achieved by replacing the eggs with other liquid binders such as egg replacer. 

If you’re not a vegan and simply don’t have any eggs on hand, gelatin, butter and milk can also be used as a substitute for eggs when breading. 

So whether it’s for dietary purposes or you simply forgot to add eggs to the grocery list this week, here is how to bread your chicken to perfection 4 fabulous ways without eggs. 

Now that’s egg-cellent! (Hehe). 

How To Bread Chicken With Butter 

One of the most popular and effective ways of achieving that breaded texture on your chicken without eggs is using butter. 

When melted, butter acts as the same liquid binder as eggs, but with a little extra yumminess. 

Of course, using butter isn’t the most healthy option, so if you’re concerned about the fat content, opt for a low-fat alternative. 

For more information on how to achieve this dish, check out the following table: 

Pro Tips 

• If you stored your chicken in the freezer after purchasing it, make sure you thaw it out before preparing this dish.

• If you don’t have a mallet on hand, a rolling pin also works. 

• To skip this step, purchase cutlets of chicken as opposed to breast. 

• Using butter typically works better with a lighter batter and won’t be as fully coated as some other methods. 

• Typically chicken is breaded with either a batter or breadcrumbs, so choose whichever you prefer!

• Double dipping the chicken in butter isn’t necessary, but it will help the breadcrumbs to stick better. 

• Squeeze a little lemon juice on the breasts while they are cooking for extra flavor! 

• Serve with a salad and potatoes or your favorite side dishes! 

• Chicken breast is done when the exterior is golden brown and crispy. The chicken should also be warm all the way through. 

• If you’re worried the chicken isn’t fully cooked, place a thermometer in the thickest part of the meat. Chicken should have a temperature of at least 175 degrees Fahrenheit to be safe for eating. 

RELATED: A Perfect Guide To Know The Shelf Life Of Chicken Broth

How To Bread Chicken With Heavy Cream 

If you prefer a more creamy substitute, heavy cream is another great alternative to eggs when breading chicken. 

Heavy cream works in the same way as the butter by allowing your flour to stick to the chicken. 

This recipe also uses a fried method to achieve that crispy, golden exterior and is a must-try. 

Pro Tips 

• If you stored your chicken in the freezer after purchasing it, make sure you thaw it out before preparing this dish.

• If you are looking for another dairy option, you can also use buttermilk or half and half instead of the heavy cream. 

• If you don’t have any oil, you can also use lard. 

• This method just uses flour to create the breaded coating. If you would like to add breadcrumbs or a batter, this is also totally possible. 

• Serve with a salad and potatoes or your favorite side dishes! 

• Chicken breast is done when the exterior is golden brown and crispy. The chicken should also be warm all the way through. 

• If you’re worried the chicken isn’t fully cooked, place a thermometer in the thickest part of the meat. Chicken should have a temperature of at least 175 degrees Fahrenheit to be safe for eating. 

How To Bread Chicken With Gelatin 

If you’re lactose intolerant, using gelatin is a great option. 

While it doesn’t stick with the same effectiveness as the butter and heavy cream, it is a great non-dairy alternative. 

It’s also important to keep in mind that gelatin requires some prep work to use, so make sure you’ve set aside enough time. 

Here’s what you need to do: 

Pro Tips 

• Because gelatin doesn’t stick as well, it’s better to go with flour.

• However, if you do want to use batter or breadcrumbs, with some persistence, it can definitely work as well!

• Chicken breast is done when the exterior is golden brown and crispy. The chicken should also be warm all the way through. 

• If you’re worried the chicken isn’t fully cooked, place a thermometer in the thickest part of the meat. Chicken should have a temperature of at least 175 degrees Fahrenheit to be safe for eating. 

RELATED: 13 Best Alternatives For Your Favorite Chicken Broth To Use

How To Bread Chicken With Egg Replacement 

For a vegan option, or, if you happen to be allergic to real eggs, egg replacer can also be highly effective. 

If you’re not familiar with what egg replacer is, essentially, it is a mix of a variety of ingredients, including potato starch and tapioca starch flour. 

It’s easy to use and even has a taste similar to eggs! 

Here’s how to use it in breading:

Pro Tips 

• Chicken breast is done when the exterior is golden brown and crispy. The chicken should also be warm all the way through. 

• If you’re worried the chicken isn’t fully cooked, place a thermometer in the thickest part of the meat. Chicken should have a temperature of at least 175 degrees Fahrenheit to be safe for eating. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Can You Replace Water With Eggs When Breading Chicken?

Water alone won’t work to bind the batter or breadcrumbs to the chicken but making a water-flour slurry is more effective. 

Simply coat your chicken in this slurry before breading it and you’re good to go. 

Can You Bake Breaded Chicken? 

Yes, baked breaded chicken is also super tasty and, like frying, will give you a lovely crispy exterior. 

For this method, place your chicken on foil on a baking sheet in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit (uncovered) for 20-25 minutes. 

How Do You Stick Flour To Chicken Without Eggs? 

The best method to thaw your beef is overnight in the fridge. 

You may be tempted to microwave your meat to speed up the process, but this is inadvisable as it may cause some parts of the beef to cook more than others. 

In addition, you should never leave your meat out longer than 2 hours at room temperature, as it will begin to develop harmful bacteria after this.

How To Bread Chicken With Butter

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Difficulty: Easy

Chicken breasts are made into thinner strips, coated in butter and breadcrumbs and then fried in a frying pan until fully cooked and golden brown. 

Print

Materials

• Chicken breasts
• Breadcrumbs or batter
• Olive oil
• Butter
• Flour
• Salt
• Pepper

Tools

• Mallet
• Plastic wrap
• Plate/bowl
• Frying pan
• Tongs
• Wire rack

Instructions

• Retrieve your thawed chicken breasts 
• Beat the chicken into thinner strips (¼ inch thick) by placing the breasts between two sheets of plastic wrap and bashing them with a mallet 
• Melt a stick of butter 
• Place your breadcrumbs (or batter) on a plate or in a bowl 
• Coat the chicken breasts in butter 
• Then dip the chicken in flour and then butter again 
• Next, place the chicken in breadcrumbs so that it is fully covered 
• Place a little olive oil in a pan and fry each chicken breast until fully cooked through and golden brown (about 15 minutes- ensure to flip the breasts over so that each side is cooked evenly)
• Remove the chicken and let it cool on a wire rack for a couple minutes

How To Bread Chicken With Heavy Cream

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Difficulty: Easy

Chicken is cut up, coated in heavy cream and flour and fried in a frying pan until fully cooked and golden brown. 

Print

Materials

• Chicken breasts
• Flour
• Vegetable oil
• Heavy cream
• Salt
• Pepper

Tools

• Large Ziploc bag
• Knife
• Frying pan
• Tongs
• Wire rack

Instructions

• Retrieve your thawed chicken breast
• Cut it into smaller pieces 
• Place the flour in a Ziploc bag (along with any desired spices)
• Place the heavy cream in a bowl 
• First, dip the chicken pieces in the heavy cream and then in the flour  
• Place a splash of vegetable oil in a frying pan 
• When the oil sizzles, begin adding in your chicken pieces 
• Fry each chicken piece until fully cooked through and golden brown and crispy (about 5-7 minutes on each side)
• Remove the chicken and let it cool on a wire rack for a couple minutes

How To Bread Chicken With Gelatin

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Active Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

Difficulty: Easy

First, the gelatin is prepared by placing it in water, heating it up and allowing it to dissolve. The chicken is then cut up, coated in the gelatin and flour and fried in a frying pan until fully cooked and golden brown. 

Print

Materials

• Chicken breasts
• Flour
• Vegetable oil
• Gelatin
• Salt
• Pepper

Tools

• Pot
• Large Ziploc bag
• Knife
• Frying pan
• Tongs
• Wire rack

Instructions

• Place your gelatin in a pot of water
• Allow the gelatin to sit in the water for 5 minutes
• After the 5 minutes are up, heat the water 
• Allow the gelatin to dissolve and stir it into the water 
• Allow the gelatin to cool completely 
• Retrieve your thawed chicken breast
• Cut it into smaller pieces 
• Place the flour in a Ziploc bag (along with any desired spices)
• Place the gelatin in a bowl 
• First, dip the chicken pieces in the gelatin and then in the flour  
• Place a splash of vegetable oil in a frying pan 
• When the oil sizzles, begin adding in your chicken pieces 
• Fry each chicken piece until fully cooked through and golden brown and crispy (about 5-7 minutes on each side)
• Remove the chicken and let it cool on a wire rack for a couple minutes

How To Bread Chicken With Egg Replacement

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

Difficulty: Easy

First, the gelatin is prepared by placing it in water, heating it up and allowing it to dissolve. The chicken is then cut up, coated in the gelatin and flour and fried in a frying pan until fully cooked and golden brown.

Print

Materials

• Chicken breasts
• Flour
• Vegetable oil
• Egg replacement
• Water
• Salt
• Pepper

Tools

• Pot
• Large Ziploc bag
• Knife
• Frying pan
• Tongs
• Wire rack

Instructions

• Mix together the egg replacement with water (look at packaging for specific measurements) 
• Retrieve your thawed chicken breast
• Cut it into smaller pieces 
• Place the flour in a Ziploc bag (along with any desired spices)
• Place the egg replacement mixture in a bowl 
• First dip the chicken pieces in the egg replacement and then in the flour  
• Place a splash of vegetable oil in a frying pan 
• When the oil sizzles, begin adding in your chicken pieces 
• Fry each chicken piece until fully cooked through and golden brown and crispy (about 5-7 minutes on each side)
• Remove the chicken and let it cool on a wire rack for a couple minutes

• Author
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Jess Smith

Hi, my name is Jess Smith, and I love cooking in my spare time. Around three years ago, I decided to give up my day job as a teacher to pursue my passion for food. While I have enjoyed sharing tips and tricks on Social Media, I have decided to expand my horizons through this blog.

Through this blog I hope to help others learn the basics and more intricate details of cooking. I know from personal experience how frustrating it can be to cook a meal, only to realize you are missing one ingredient from your list. This is why I love to write articles chatting readers through some great substitutes that can be used in an emergency.

I hope you will find this blog useful, and that it will help you to develop your culinary skills, to help you cook up a storm!

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