My family craves Italian food. It’s always a hit when I serve it, no matter the season. And this Chicken Parmesan recipe is one of our go-to meals. Crispy chicken gets covered in pasta sauce and topped with loads of mozzarella and parmesan cheese to make a delicious meal you’ll want to add to your collection of best recipes.
Chicken Parmesan is an Italian dish ordered by many people in restaurants around the world. But, did you know, it is affordable and so simple to make at home. By using a jar of your favorite marinara or pasta sauce, it makes it even easier. No need to go to a fancy restaurant to get this delicious classic when you can make it yourself and it will WOW your family!
This easy recipe is the classic version of Chicken Parmesan, juicy chicken coated with a crispy Parmesan crust and topped with savory pasta sauce and melted mozzarella cheese. Serve it with a side of pasta and a leafy Italian salad and it is sure to get rave reviews. Who knew that this 30-minute meal would be so easy to make?
What are the steps?
- Bread the chicken– Give the chicken a crispy coating of seasoned bread crumbs and parmesan cheese.
- Brown the chicken– Fry the coated chicken in canola oil until lightly golden brown and crispy on both sides.
- Top with Sauce– Add pasta or marinara sauce to the top of the chicken before melting the cheese in the oven.
- Top with cheese and bake– Add mozzarella and remaining parmesan cheese to the top of each piece of chicken. Sprinkle with Italian seasonings and bake for 10 minutes to melt the cheese.
- Serve with pasta– While the chicken is baking in the oven, boil the pasta and add the remaining pasta sauce. When the cheese has melted, serve the Chicken Parmesan with pasta and a leafy salad for a complete meal. So crispy and delicious!
Chicken Parmesan Recipe
What’s needed?
- 3 chicken breasts, butterflied and pounded thin
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 eggs, well beaten
- 1 cup seasoned bread crumbs
- 2 tablespoons plus 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup canola oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 32-ounce jar pasta sauce
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasonings
- 3 cups uncooked pasta of your choice
How to make Chicken Parmesan?
- Butterfly the chicken breasts by cutting in half across each breast. If desired, use a meat pallet or a rolling pin to pound each piece of chicken between plastic wrap until uniform in thickness.
- Set up a breading station by adding 1 cup flour to a plate or shallow bowl. In the second bowl, add the eggs and beat well. Add one cup seasoned bread crumbs to a third plate, along with 2 tablespoons of grated parmesan cheese. Stir to combine
- Place the canola oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Coat each piece of chicken with flour, then dip in egg, then coat with bread crumb mixture. Place coated chicken pieces in the skillet and lightly fry for 6 minutes per side. Do not overcrowd the pan.
- Remove chicken to a wire rack placed over a large baking sheet. Continue until all chicken pieces are cooked on both sides. Sprinkle with salt.
- Top each piece of chicken with 1/4 cup of pasta or marinara sauce. Combine remaining 1/2 cup of parmesan cheese with 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese in a small bowl. Cover the chicken and sauce with cheese, sprinkle on the Italian seasonings. Place the chicken in the oven at 350 degrees for 10 minutes to melt the cheese and finish cooking the chicken.
- While chicken is baking, boil the pasta. Add remaining pasta sauce to the pasta. Remove chicken from the oven and serve with pasta. This recipe makes 6 servings.
Note: The breaded chicken pieces stay crispy and crunchy when kept separate from the pasta and sauce. But this dish can also be made by placing the pasta and sauce in a large baking dish, then placing the crispy Chicken Parmesan over the pasta before baking. However, the crispy crust on the chicken doesn’t stay as crunchy when doing this. It will soften as it sits on the pasta and sauce. This is why I bake the chicken separately in the oven, trying to retain that crispy coating on the chicken. Both ways of making this dish are delicious, it just comes down to preference.
Look for more tasty Italian recipes, including:
- Italian Sausage and Chicken Soup with Spinach
- Margherita Pizza Cups
- Easy Stuffed Pasta Shells
- Pasta e Fagioli
Chicken Parmesan
Ingredients
- 3 chicken breasts butterflied and pounded thin
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 eggs well beaten
- 1 cup seasoned bread crumbs
- 2 tablespoons plus 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup canola oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 32- ounce jar pasta sauce
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasonings
- 3 cups uncooked pasta of your choice
Instructions
- Butterfly the chicken breasts by cutting in half across each breast. If desired, use a meat pallet or a rolling pin to pound each piece of chicken between plastic wrap until uniform in thickness.
- Set up a breading station by adding 1 cup flour to a plate or shallow bowl. In the second bowl, add the eggs and beat well. Add one cup seasoned bread crumbs to a third plate, along with 2 tablespoons of grated parmesan cheese. Stir to combine
- Place the canola oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Coat each piece of chicken with flour, then dip in egg, then coat with bread crumb mixture. Place coated chicken pieces in the skillet and lightly fry for 6 minutes per side. Do not overcrowd the pan.
- Remove chicken to a wire rack placed over a large baking sheet. Continue until all chicken pieces are cooked on both sides. Sprinkle with salt.
- Top each piece of chicken with 1/4 cup of pasta or marinara sauce. Combine remaining 1/2 cup of parmesan cheese with 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese in a small bowl. Cover the chicken and sauce with cheese, sprinkle on the Italian seasonings. Place the chicken in the oven at 350 degrees for 10 minutes to melt the cheese and finish cooking the chicken.
- While chicken is baking, boil the pasta. Add remaining pasta sauce to the pasta. Remove chicken from the oven and serve with pasta. This recipe makes 6 servings.
Tracy Meredith
Looks delicious I can see why it’s a family favorite!
Raveaboutfood
Thank you, Tracy! I hope you give it a try.