Hoosier Chicken with Potato Chip Crust

• Recipe by Daniel Orr

This recipe for crispy chicken spiked with Chinese five-spice powder gets its title from the nickname for Indiana natives. It's perfect for picnics because it's good both hot and at room temperature. For a more refined dish, thinly slice the chicken and serve it over a green salad.

Ingredients

1. 1/2 cup mayonnaise
2. 2 teaspoons pure chile powder
3. 1 teaspoon five-spice powder
4. 1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
5. 1 teaspoon coarsely ground pepper
6. Kosher salt
7. 2 1/2 pounds thin chicken cutlets
8. One 5 1/2-ounce bag plain, salted potato chips, finely crushed
9. 3 tablespoons unsalted butter

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 225°. In a medium bowl, mix the mayonnaise with the chile powder, five-spice powder, lemon zest, pepper and a generous pinch of salt. Add the chicken and turn to coat.
2. Spread the potato chips on a sheet of wax paper. Coat the chicken with the crumbs, pressing to help them adhere.
3. Melt 1 tablespoon of the butter in a large skillet. When the foam subsides, add one-third of the chicken cutlets and cook over moderately high heat, turning once, until browned and cooked through, about 5 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a baking sheet and keep warm in the oven while you cook the remaining 2 batches of chicken.