Chicken Parmesan – This easy baked chicken parmesan consists of juicy chicken breasts in a rich homemade marinara sauce and melted cheese
What is Chicken Parmesan?
It is a breaded chicken cutlet dish smothered in marinara sauce and melted cheese. It’s a staple in Italian-American cuisine and a surefire crowd-pleaser.
Chicken Parmesan – Tips
Bread That Sticks – The key to crispy, flavorful chicken is a good breading station. Set up three shallow bowls: one for flour, one for beaten egg, and one for your panko breadcrumb mixture (more on that later). Dredge your chicken in each bowl, ensuring complete coverage.
Tender Chicken – Nobody likes dry chicken! Pounding your chicken cutlets thin (about ½ inch) before breading helps ensure even cooking and prevents dryness. You can use a meat mallet or the back of a heavy saucepan for this.
Don’t Crowd the Pan – When searing the chicken, don’t overcrowd the pan. This lowers the oil temperature and can lead to soggy breading. Cook your chicken in batches if necessary.
How to Serve Chicken Parmesan:
- Garnish with fresh chopped parsley or basil for a pop of color and freshness.
- Pair with a simple side salad, roasted vegetables, or garlic bread for a complete and satisfying meal.
Chicken Parmesan – FAQs
Is this dish authentic Italian?
While incredibly popular in the US, Chicken Parm isn’t a traditional Italian dish. It likely originated in the Italian diaspora during the early 20th century.
What’s the difference between Parmesan and Piccata?
Both involve breaded chicken, but chicken piccata uses a lemon butter sauce instead of marinara.
Chicken Parmesan
Chicken Parmesan - This easy baked chicken parmesan consists of juicy chicken breasts in a rich homemade marinara sauce and melted cheese
Ingredients
- 2 eggs
- 4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
- salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup olive oil, for frying
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, or more if needed
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
- 1/2 cup prepared tomato sauce
- 1 cup panko bread crumbs, or more as needed
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup fresh mozzarella, cut into small cubes
- 1/2 cup grated provolone cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450°F.
- Between two sheets of heavy plastic place chicken breasts.
- Season chicken thoroughly with pepper & salt.
- In a bowl, beat eggs and set aside.
- Mix 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese & breadcrumbs in a separate bowl, set aside.
- Place flour in a strainer; sprinkle over both sides of chicken breasts.
- Dip your flour-coated chicken breast in beaten eggs, then into the breadcrumb mixture (pressing on both sides). And for about 15 minutes set aside. Repeat the same for the remaining breasts.
- In a large skillet heat 1 cup olive oil on medium-high heat until it begins to shimmer. Cook chicken for 2 minutes until golden, on each side.
- Top each breast with 1/3 cup of marinara sauce or tomato sauce and place on a baking dish. With equal amounts of provolone cheese, mozzarella cheese, and fresh basil layer each chicken breast.
- Drizzle with 1 tablespoon olive oil and sprinkle 1 to 2 tablespoons of Parmesan cheese on the top.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes until chicken breasts are no longer pink in the center and cheese is browned and bubbly.
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Nutrition Information
Serving Size
4Amount Per Serving Calories 562Total Fat 23gSaturated Fat 7gCholesterol 201mgSodium 1307mgCarbohydrates 41gSugar 5gProtein 49g
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