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This Easy chicken Parmigiana Recipe (or chicken Parmesan) is the solution to your weeknight dinner dilemma. Thin chicken breasts are coated in seasoned Panko breadcrumbs, fried and topped with melted cheese, marinara sauce. Serve alongside your favorite pasta.

A closeup showing delicious marinara sauce poured over crispy breaded chicken topped with grated Parmesan

Now, in case you don’t know this is not an authentic Italian dish (I know, shock-horror). Is also known as chicken Parmesan, chicken Parm, is in fact an American invention. Eggplant Parmigiana or eggplant Parm however is a traditional dish, which what probably inspired the chicken version.

An overhead of chicken Parmigiana on an oval plate

That’s not to say that they don’t eat this dish in Italy (they call it Pollo alla Parmigiana), they most certainly do. Parmigiana simply meaning that it is made in the style of Parma, a city in Northern Italy.

Since this is a non-traditional dish, I chose to use panko breadcrumbs for the breading. The extra crispiness you get from the panko is shockingly good. So we take the time to make the crispiest chicken cutlet possible, but then we ladle  sauce over it only to make it soggy? I have a solution, it’s a barrier of melted cheese.

Crispy breaded chicken topped with tomato sauce and cheese on a pewter plate

What is better than gooey melted cheese on crispy chicken? The cheese prevents the marinara sauce from soaking into the breading. I know, I thought it was a pretty good idea as well (smug face).

If you have a batch of this Easy Homemade Marinara Sauce (picture below) and pasta in your fridge, you can get dinner on the table in 20 minutes. The chicken breasts must be thin for this recipe. The best way to achieve this is carefully slice a chicken breast horizontally  (lengthwise) so you get 2 thin pieces out of 1 breast.

Marinara sauce being poured into a pan

If you can find already cut, thin chicken breasts like they have in my store, which is a God send, then even better.

 What do you serve with chicken Parmigiana?

Pasta of course, but any of your favorite vegetable is also a delicious option.

Gnocchi is also a great choice. My favorite is Crispy Gnocchi with Peas, Asparagus and Lemon.

If you’ve made this Easy Chicken Parmigiana Recipe, leave a comment and let me know your thoughts. I love to hear from my readers.

Yield: 4

Easy Chicken Parmigiana Recipe

2 breaded and fried chicken breasts topped with marinara sauce and cheese with fresh basil

Thin chicken breasts are coated in seasoned breadcrumbs, fried and topped with melted cheese, marinara sauce and serve alongside your favorite pasta.

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 6 minutes
Total Time 16 minutes

Ingredients

  • 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, * see note
  • 1 cup (150 grams) all-purpose flour
  • 2 eggs, beaten with a teaspoon water to thin out
  • 2 cups (100 grams) panko breadcrumbs
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1 1/2 tablespoon Parmesan cheese, grated
  • Peanut oil
  • 4 slices Provolone or mozzarella cheese
  • Marinara sauce, warm
  • Parmesan cheese, for garnish
  • Fresh basil, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 250°F/130°C. Place a cooling rack inside a baking sheet and place in the oven.
  2. Slice the chicken breasts lengthwise through the center to make 4 thin breasts.
  3. To 3 shallow bowls add the flour, egg and panko Add a ½ teaspoon salt to the flour and breadcrumbs, mix. Add the dried basil and the Parmesan cheese to the panko, mix.
  4. Coat a chicken breast in flour, then coat in egg and finally in panko, set aside. Repeat with the other chicken breasts.
  5. To a large skillet add the oil until it comes 1/3 of the way up the pan. Heat over medium-high heat until to start to see the oil ripple. Throw in a breadcrumb, if it sizzles, it is ready.
  6. Place 1 or 2 pieces of chicken (depending on how large your pan is) into the oil, don’t crowd. Fry for 2-3 per side until golden brown. Transfer to the rack in the oven.  Repeat with the rest of the chicken breasts. 
  7. Top each chicken breast with a slice of cheese. Bake for 5 minutes until the cheese is melted.
    When the cheese is melted, remove the chicken from the oven. Top with warm marinara sauce, grated Parmesan and fresh basil. Serve alongside your favorite pasta.

Notes

*  If you can find already cut thin chicken breasts,  use those

Nutrition Information

Yield

4

Serving Size

1
Amount Per Serving Calories 584Total Fat 22gSaturated Fat 9gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 10gCholesterol 223mgSodium 1252mgCarbohydrates 38gFiber 2gSugar 3gProtein 56g

This nutrition calculation is provided by Nutronix that is only a guideline and not intended for any particular diet.

© Janette
Cuisine: Italian / Category: Dinner Ideas