The BEST Chicken Parmesan – baked, not fried! This easy Chicken Parmesan recipe features crispy baked chicken breast topped with rich marinara sauce and gooey mozzarella cheese. One of our family’s favorite dinner recipes, and ready in just 30 minutes!
What’s not to LOVE about Chicken Parmesan? It’s an Italian restaurant classic… packed with simple, yet delicious flavors. Like Parmesan crusted chicken and savory sweet marinara sauce and, last but not least, gooey melted mozzarella cheese.
It’s one of my daughter’s all time favorite meals, and the dish I suggested to her boyfriend when he wanted to make Valentine’s Day dinner for her. Of course, it was at that exact moment I realized that even though I had made it countless times for my family, I had never really written the recipe down.
So here it is! Thinly cut chicken breast, breaded and baked to crispy perfection, topped with your favorite marinara sauce, melted mozzarella, and a garnish of fresh basil.
I love how easy this recipe is and the fact that it’s baked instead of fried. It uses way less oil than traditional Chicken Parm AND it makes way less of a mess!
what you’ll need for this recipe
Chicken – 2 large chicken breasts, butterflied (cut in half lengthwise.) You can also purchase thin cut chicken breasts OR use chicken tenders. Depending on the thickness of your breasts, you may choose to pound the chicken out to 1/2 inch thickness.
Breading – The breading for this recipe is a combination of panko bread crumbs, grated Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and salt. You’ll also use all purpose flour and beaten eggs as part of the breading process.
Sauce – 1 cup marinara sauce, homemade or jarred. Feel free to use more or less to taste.
Cheese – Shredded mozzarella cheese, about 1 cup. I prefer using a block of cheese and grating it myself for the best melting.
Garnishes – Additional Parmesan cheese and fresh basil or any fresh herbs you enjoy.
how to bread chicken for chicken parm
To bread chicken, you’ll need to set up a 3 part breading station. Using 3 shallow bowls, add 1/4 cup all purpose flour to the first one, 2 beaten eggs to the next one, and 1 cup panko bread crumbs + 1/2 cup grated Parmesan + 1/2 Tablespoon Italian seasoning + 1 teaspoon garlic powder + 1 teaspoon salt to the last one. Dip the thin cut chicken breasts into the flour, then into the beaten eggs, and finally into the panko crumb mixture, pressing the crumbs into the chicken to coat thoroughly.
storing & reheating
Leftover chicken parmesan can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
To reheat in the oven: Place the chicken in an oven-safe container and cover with foil. Reheat at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until cheese is melted and chicken is heated through.
To reheat in the air fryer: Preheat the air fryer to 350°. Place the chicken in air fryer basket and heat for 5-8 minutes or until heated through.
To reheat on the stovetop: Place the chicken in a small skillet, cover with a lid, and heat over medium heat until cheese is melted and chicken is heated through.
Recipe Variations
- Use chicken tenders in place of chicken breasts
- Substitute regular or Italian seasoned bread crumbs for panko crumbs
- Add fresh minced parsley or oregano to the breading
- Add additional seasonings to the breading (e.g. onion powder, black pepper, rosemary, or thyme)
- Use fresh mozzarella, thinly sliced, instead of shredded
- Use a combination of mozzarella and Parmesan on top of the chicken
- Garnish with fresh oregano or parsley
More Delicious Chicken Recipes
You can never have enough delicious chicken recipes! These are some more of our favorite go-to recipes whenever we have chicken on hand:
Crispy Baked Chicken Parmesan
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds chicken breasts (2 large breasts)
- 1/4 cup all purpose flour
- 2 large eggs beaten
- 1 cup panko bread crumbs
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 Tablespoon dried Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 1 cup marinara sauce
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese shredded
- 2 Tablespoons fresh basil for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400° F.
- Prepare a large rimmed baking sheet by brushing it evenly with 2 Tablespoons olive oil. Set aside.
- Cut each chicken breast in half lengthwise to create 4 thin cut breasts.
- Prepare a breading station using 3 large shallow bowls. To the first bowl, add 1/4 cup all purpose flour. To the second bowl, add 2 beaten eggs. To the third bowl, add 1 cup panko bread crumbs, 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, 1/2 Tablespoon Italian seasoning, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, and 1 teaspoon salt (mixed well.)
- Dip each chicken cutlet into the flour, then into the beaten eggs, then into the bread crumb mixture, pressing the crumbs firmly into the chicken to coat.
- Place breaded chicken breasts onto prepared baking sheet.
- Bake for 15 minutes, then remove from oven and top each breast with 1/2 cup marinara sauce and 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese. (Optionally, flip the breasts before adding the sauce and cheese.)
- Return to the oven for 5-7 minutes, until cheese is melted and internal temperature of the chicken is 165° F.
- Optional: For additional browning, place under the broiler for 1-2 minutes.
- Remove from oven and garnish with fresh basil and Parmesan cheese. Serve over pasta with additional sauce or as desired.
Notes
Recipe Variations
-
- Use chicken tenders in place of chicken breasts
-
- Substitute regular or Italian seasoned bread crumbs for panko crumbs
-
- Add fresh minced parsley or oregano to the breading
-
- Add additional seasonings to the breading (e.g. onion powder, black pepper, rosemary, or thyme)
-
- Use fresh mozzarella, thinly sliced, instead of shredded
-
- Use a combination of mozzarella and Parmesan on top of the chicken
-
- Garnish with fresh oregano or parsley
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