This super delicious Crispy Chicken Parmesan is topped with melted mozzarella cheese, crispy on the outside and juicy inside. Like the restaurant original, the cutlets are quickly pan-fried before being baked with marinara sauce and bubbling cheese.
Do you like chicken recipes? Try my Baked Chicken Breast.
Crispy Chicken Parmesan is the ultimate comfort food, marrying the delightful crunch of perfectly breaded chicken with the luscious richness of marinara sauce and a generous smothering of melted cheese. This Italian-American classic is a go-to favorite when you're yearning for a heartwarming and satisfying meal that combines all the best elements of comfort cuisine.
In this recipe, we'll guide you through the essential steps to create this mouthwatering masterpiece in your own kitchen. Get ready to indulge in the delightful flavors and textures that make Crispy Chicken Parmesan a beloved and timeless dish.
Anniversary? What about a dinner party? What about a date night? You can't go wrong with this chicken recipe!
Looking for more chicken recipes? Check my Grilled Buffalo Chicken, Instant Pot Chicken Fajitas, or these super easy Instant Pot Chicken Tenders.
Jump to:
- ❓What's Chicken Parmesan?
- 🌟 Why You'll Love This Recipe
- 🥣 How to Serve
- 💭 Recipe Pro Tips
- What is the difference between chicken parmesan and chicken parmigiana
- What to Serve with Chicken Parmesan
- Can you bake the chicken?
- Make-Ahead Instructions
- FAQs
- 🍝 More Pasta Recipes
- 📖 Recipe
- Crispy Chicken Parmesan
- 💬 Comments
❓What's Chicken Parmesan?
Chicken Parmesan, often referred to as "chicken parm" or "chicken parmigiana," is a popular Italian-American dish known for its delicious combination of crispy breaded chicken, flavorful marinara sauce, and melted cheese, usually served with pasta. It's a hearty and comforting meal that's beloved by many.
The dish's appeal lies in its harmonious blend of textures and flavors, from the satisfying crunch of the breaded chicken to the creamy, cheesy embrace of the melted mozzarella. Whether you're craving a soul-satisfying meal for a special occasion or a comforting weeknight dinner, Crispy Chicken Parmesan has you covered. In this culinary journey, we'll guide you through the step-by-step process of creating this Italian masterpiece right in your own kitchen. So, roll up your sleeves, and let's embark on a culinary adventure that promises a delightful marriage of flavors and textures.
🌟 Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Perfectly Crispy Chicken: The chicken in this dish is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. The breading is seasoned with herbs and Parmesan cheese, giving it a flavorful and crunchy texture that's simply irresistible.
- Rich Tomato Sauce: The marinara sauce is a key component of this dish, and it's the epitome of rich, tangy, and savory tomato goodness. It coats the crispy chicken beautifully, bringing the entire dish together.
- Cheese Galore: Cheese lovers rejoice! This recipe is packed with both mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. When baked, the cheese becomes gooey, bubbly, and golden brown, adding a delightful layer of creamy goodness to every bite.
- Versatile Pasta Choices: You can serve it with your favorite pasta. Whether it's spaghetti, fettuccine, or penne, the pasta of your choice pairs wonderfully with the other elements of the dish.
- A Comforting, Hearty Meal: Crispy Chicken Parmesan is a quintessential comfort food. It's the kind of meal that warms your soul and satisfies your cravings, making it perfect for a cozy night in or a family gathering.
🧾 Ingredients Needed
This is just an overview of the ingredients needed to make this recipe. The full list of the ingredients and the instructions are listed below in the recipe card.
- Chicken Breasts: Boneless and skinless chicken breasts are the primary protein in this dish. They are typically pounded or butterflied to an even thickness and then breaded and fried until crispy.
- Marinara Sauce: Marinara sauce is a tomato-based sauce that's usually made with tomatoes, garlic, onions, and various herbs and spices. It provides the signature tangy and savory flavor to the dish.
- Mozzarella Cheese: Mozzarella cheese is used for its meltability. It becomes gooey and stringy when melted, adding a creamy and cheesy layer to the dish.
- Parmesan Cheese: Parmesan cheese, often grated, contributes a bold and salty flavor. It goes into the breading and forms a crispy, browned crust.
- Pasta (for serving): Various types of pasta, such as spaghetti, fettuccine, or penne, are served alongside the chicken. The pasta is typically cooked to al dente and provides a base for the chicken and sauce.
- Breadcrumb Mixture: The breadcrumb mixture is made by combining breadcrumbs (often Italian-style) with herbs, spices, and Parmesan cheese. It is used to coat the chicken and create a crispy outer layer.
- Eggs: Before adding the breadcrumb mixture, coat the chicken with beaten eggs seasoned with garlic, parsley, and spices. The eggs act as a binding agent, helping the breading stick to the chicken during frying.
- Panko Breadcrumbs: Panko is a lighter breadcrumb made in the Japanese style that stays crispier longer after cooking. Look for panko in the grocery store's Asian cuisine section.
See the recipe card below for precise ingredients and measurements.
👩🏻🍳 How to Make
*Be sure to check the recipe card down below for the full ingredients list & instructions!*
- Make the marinara sauce.
- Coat the chicken cutlets in the seasoned egg mixture.
- Dredge them in the panko and Parmesan mixture.
- Fry the breaded chicken until golden brown and cooked through.
- Top each cutlet with marinara sauce and mozzarella.
- Bake until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Garnish with fresh basil or parsley.
- Serve hot with pasta and enjoy your Crispy Chicken Parmesan!
- Marinating tip. In a dish, whisk together eggs, garlic, parsley, salt, pepper, and onion powder. Coat the chicken with the mixture. For at least 15 minutes or overnight, cover and marinate.
🥣 How to Serve
Serving Chicken Parmesan is a delightful experience, and the presentation can make your dish even more appealing. Here's how to serve this classic Italian-American dish:
- Garnish: Sprinkle some freshly chopped herbs, such as basil or parsley, over the top of the dish. This adds a pop of color, freshness, and flavor to the presentation.
- Additional Cheese: For an extra touch, offer grated Parmesan cheese on the side. This allows your guests to add more cheese to their liking.
- Accompaniments: While Chicken Parmesan with pasta is a complete meal on its own, you can serve it with a side salad, garlic bread, or steamed vegetables to complement the flavors and add a bit of freshness.
💭 Recipe Pro Tips
- Properly Season and Tenderize the Chicken: Before breading the chicken, generously season it with salt and pepper. Seasoning the chicken is essential to infuse flavor. You can also marinate it in your favorite seasoning for extra taste.
- Control the Frying Temperature: When frying the breaded chicken, use a kitchen thermometer to monitor the oil temperature. The ideal frying temperature for crispy chicken is around 350°F (180°C).
- Avoid Overcrowding the Pan: To keep the oil hot and the crust crunchy, do not pack the pan too full.
- Use Thin Cutlets: For maximum crispness, you want thin slices. Just cut your chicken breasts into two thin cutlets apiece by slicing them lengthwise. Pound your chicken breasts between plastic wrap until the required thickness is reached if they are still too thick.
- Double-Coat for Extra Crunch: For extra crunch, double-coat the chicken by dipping it back into the egg and breadcrumbs.
- Go Fresh with Your Cheese: Never use pre-shredded parmesan; always use freshly grated. For this dish, fresh parmesan is crucial since it melts more readily, has more flavor, and produces a crispy golden coating.
Why Is It Called Chicken Parm If It's Made With Mozzarella?
What the heck is going on? Isn't it supposed to be Chicken Mozzarelliana? The name is most likely derived from a location rather than the cheese itself. Although no one is certain, it is possible that this dish originated in Parma. So, while the word parmigiano means 'parmesan cheese' in Italian, the word parmigiana most likely means "from Parma." So the dish title could simply be "Chicken from Parma." People must have become confused about the a and the o over time.
❄️ Storage and Freezer Instructions
- To store:
- Refrigeration: If you plan to eat the leftovers within a few days, you can store them in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days. First, allow the dish to cool to room temperature.
- Airtight Container: Transfer the Chicken Parmesan to an airtight container. Make sure the container is large enough to hold the remaining portions without overcrowding.
- Label and Date: It's a good practice to label the container with the date you stored it. This helps you keep track of freshness.
- Separate the sauce: The chicken will remain crispier if you store the sauce separately. If at all possible, I would suggest reheating the chicken in the oven to help restore its crispiness.
- To freeze: Place the containers or bags in the freezer. Try to lay them flat initially to save space. Once the contents are frozen, you can rearrange them as needed.
- To reheat: To thaw, transfer the frozen Chicken Parmesan to the refrigerator and let it thaw overnight. Reheat in the oven or microwave as needed.
Keep in mind that while freezing can preserve the dish, the breading may become slightly softer upon thawing and reheating. However, the flavors should remain intact, making it a convenient option for future meals.
- Freezer duration: Keep leftovers in the refrigerator for three to four days in an airtight container. You can freeze your leftovers to keep them fresher for longer. For up to three months, chicken parmesan can be kept fresh in the freezer.
What is the difference between chicken parmesan and chicken parmigiana
Chicken parmesan and chicken parmigiana are the same dish - the names are used interchangeably. There are numerous modifications to Chicken Parmesan depending on the restaurant, such as adding extra toppings or switching from mozzarella to cheddar (not our favorite), but they are all essentially the same.
Chicken Parmigiana (Pollo alla Parmigiana in Italian) is also known as Parm, Parma, or Parmi in Australia.
Before chicken parmesan, there existed eggplant parmesan, which consisted of breaded and fried eggplant slices covered with sauce and parmesan cheese.
What to Serve with Chicken Parmesan
For a substantial meal, offer classic Chicken Parmesan with spaghetti. It's a traditional Italian dish, and the pasta is what makes it special. It's also wonderful to serve with some bread, whether it's a plain baguette or some homemade garlic bread.
If you don't feel like you need the pasta, you could alternatively steam or roast some broccoli to go with it.
Broccoli tastes great combined in with the chicken in the marinara...and I suppose it's a better alternative (in comparison to more carbs), but are we really concerned about that here?
- Garlic bread and salad: I enjoy transforming chicken Parmesan into a satisfying, homey meal. I generally serve it with a side of warm, homemade garlic bread to absorb all the extra cheese and sauce, followed by a crispy kale salad for some crunch and freshness.
Can you bake the chicken?
Yes! If you hate frying with oil, baking is your best option. The key to crispy baked chicken parmesan is to cook it at 450F (230C). Just keep in mind that panko will be crunchy but not as golden in color as finely ground bread crumbs.
Make-Ahead Instructions
- Prep the chicken in advance: Prepare the chicken, bread it, and fry it in the skillet to make this chicken in advance. Place plastic wrap over the skillet and place it in the refrigerator. When it's time to serve, place it in the oven with the cheese and sauce to reheat and crisp it up.
FAQs
Yes, you can use chicken thighs. They are juicier and richer than breasts, making them a great alternative if you prefer more moisture in the dish.
Use just enough sauce to lightly coat the chicken after it has been cooked to a golden crisp. The coating may become mushy if there is too much sauce.
The best part of the chicken to use for chicken parmesan is the breasts. For maximum crispness, you want thin slices. Although they will resemble chicken fingers, you can alternatively use chicken tenderloins.
I adore the flavor and texture that fresh mozzarella cheese adds to this dish, but feel free to use low-moisture shredded mozzarella cheese or self-shredded bars! If you decide to use low-moisture mozzarella cheese, I strongly advise purchasing the bars and shredding them yourself. The majority of pre-shredded cheese packs contain anti-caking chemicals that detract from the cheese's flavor and texture.
Japanese bread crumbs, known as panko bread crumbs, are created by processing specially baked, crustless bread into flakes before drying them. This results in larger, flaky, oblong-shaped bread crumbs that are lighter and crispier. Because they don't pack together when coating the food, the breading stays extremely crispy for a longer period of time.
The traditional option is mozzarella, but provolone is a creamier, sharper substitute. Steer clear of cheddar; it alters the flavor balance too much and doesn't melt exactly the same.
🍝 More Pasta Recipes
If you tried this Crispy Chicken Parmesan or any other recipe on my website, please feel free to leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it goes in the 📝 comments below. I love to hear your feedback!
📖 Recipe
Crispy Chicken Parmesan
INGREDIENTS
- 2 large chicken breasts halved horizontally to make 4 fillets
- 2 large eggs
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley chopped
- 1 ¼ cup panko bread crumbs
- 1 cup vegetable oil for frying, divided
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese grated
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
for the sauce
- ½ cup onion chopped
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 ½ cup tomato puree
- 2 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
for the topping
- 8 ounces mozzarella cheese sliced
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley chopped
INSTRUCTIONS
- Preheat the oven to 450°F (230°C).
- Make the sauce: Heat the olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until soft, then stir in the garlic for 30 seconds. Add the tomato puree, sugar, salt and pepper, and let it simmer gently while you prepare the chicken.
- Prepare the chicken: Pat the fillets dry with paper towels. Place each one between two sheets of plastic wrap and pound it to an even ½-inch thickness.
- Coat in the egg mixture: In a shallow dish, whisk the eggs with the garlic, parsley, onion powder, salt and pepper. Add the chicken and turn to coat. If you have time, let it sit for 15 minutes (or cover and refrigerate overnight).
- Bread the chicken: Mix the panko and Parmesan in a second shallow dish. Lift each fillet out of the egg mixture, let the excess drip off, then press it into the panko mixture to coat both sides.
- Fry the chicken: Heat ½ cup of the oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat. When it shimmers, add 2 fillets and fry for 2 to 3 minutes, until golden. Flip, lower the heat to medium and cook for 3 more minutes, until golden. Move to a wire rack set over a sheet pan. Wipe out the skillet, add the remaining ½ cup of oil and fry the other 2 fillets.
- Top and bake: Spoon the sauce over the cutlets and lay the mozzarella slices on top. Bake for 5 to 8 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the chicken reaches 165°F (74°C). For browned cheese, broil for the last minute or two.
- Garnish with the fresh parsley and serve hot, with pasta if you like.
HOLLEY says
This is the best chicken parm recipe, hands down! i will be making this over and over again!
Andrea says
Perfectly crispy on the outside and tender on the insdie this is my kind of chicken parmesan. It's a perfect meal on a busy weeknight.
Sara Welch says
Enjoyed this for dinner last night and it did not disappoint! Quick, easy and delicious; definitely, a new family favorite meal!
Jeff says
I love parmesan chicken. It's one of my favourite comfort foods.
Shadi Hasanzade says
Absolutely delicious! This is one of our favorite weeknight dinners!
dina and bruce miller says
THIS WAS OUR FAVORITE NEW RECIPE! YUM FOR ALL THE DELICIOUSNESS FOR A WEEKNIGHT MEAL!