Description
Classic Chicken Parmesan featuring tender, pounded chicken breasts coated in a crispy bread crumb mixture, pan-fried to golden perfection, then baked under a rich layer of marinara sauce, melted mozzarella, and parmesan cheeses. Finished with fresh basil and ideal served over spaghetti for a comforting Italian-American meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken Preparation
- 4 chicken breasts (halves, boneless and skinless)
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 large eggs (beaten)
Breading Mixture
- ¾ cup panko breadcrumbs
- ¾ cup regular breadcrumbs
- ½ cup parmesan cheese (grated)
- ½ teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- ½ teaspoon pepper (or to taste)
Cooking
- ¼ cup vegetable oil (or olive oil for frying)
Topping
- 1 cup marinara sauce
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese (shredded)
- ½ cup parmesan cheese (grated)
- 2 leaves basil (chopped)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 425℉ to prepare for baking the assembled chicken parmesan.
- Pound Chicken: Place the chicken breasts one at a time between two pieces of parchment paper and gently pound them with the flat side of a meat mallet until they reach about ½ inch thickness to ensure even cooking.
- Prepare Breading Stations: Set up three shallow plates — one with flour, one with beaten eggs, and one with a mixture of panko breadcrumbs, regular breadcrumbs, grated parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper.
- Bread the Chicken: Dredge each chicken breast first in flour, coating completely, then dip into the egg wash, and finally coat thoroughly in the breadcrumb mixture. Place the breaded chicken on a baking sheet and repeat with all pieces.
- Fry Chicken: Heat vegetable or olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat, ensuring oil temperature is between 375℉ and 400℉. Fry chicken breasts in batches, 2 pieces at a time, for about 4 minutes per side until golden brown and crispy. Remove and drain excess oil.
- Assemble for Baking: Place the fried chicken breasts on a clean baking sheet. Spoon about ¼ cup marinara sauce over each piece, then sprinkle ¼ cup shredded mozzarella and ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese on top.
- Bake: Transfer the baking sheet to the preheated oven and bake for approximately 20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and slightly golden.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from the oven, sprinkle chopped basil over the hot chicken parmesan. Serve immediately over cooked spaghetti or your choice of pasta.
Notes
- Golden, crispy chicken smothered in marinara and buried under a gooey blanket of mozzarella and parmesan is the hallmark of this beloved dish.
- This recipe yields a classic, crowd-pleasing chicken parmesan that’s perfect for weeknights or special dinners.
- For best flavor, use fresh grated parmesan and quality marinara sauce.
- Adjust seasoning and cheese quantities to your preference for saltiness and cheesiness.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 346 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 777 mg
- Fat: 17 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 23 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 102 mg
