Description
Need a quick dinner that feels like a restaurant meal at home? This Best Chicken Parmesan is your go-to. Crispy pan-fried chicken, rich marinara, and melty cheese come together in a 30-minute bake—ideal for an easy dinner, weeknight food ideas, or when you’re hunting for a comforting yet simple recipe. Perfect as a main for pasta nights, dinner parties, or even meal prep. If you’re into easy recipes, classic Italian food ideas, or quick weeknight dinners, this one hits the spot.
Ingredients
1 lb chicken breasts, boneless and skinless
0.5 cup all-purpose flour
2 large eggs, beaten
0.75 cup Italian breadcrumbs
0.5 cup grated Parmesan cheese
0.25 cup olive oil
1.25 cups marinara sauce
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil or parsley (optional)
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C).
2. Pound chicken breasts to even thickness using a meat mallet.
3. Prepare three bowls: one with flour, one with beaten eggs, and one with a mix of breadcrumbs and Parmesan.
4. Dredge chicken in flour, dip in egg wash, and coat in breadcrumb-Parmesan mixture.
5. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat and pan-fry chicken 4 minutes per side until golden.
6. Place chicken in an oven-safe baking dish.
7. Spoon marinara over each cutlet and top with mozzarella cheese.
8. Bake for 12–15 minutes until cheese is bubbly and lightly browned.
9. Garnish with basil or parsley and serve hot.
Notes
Use freshly shredded mozzarella for best melt and texture—pre-shredded doesn’t melt the same.
Don’t skip the wire rack if you’re prepping ahead; it keeps the crust crispy before baking.
You can prep and fry chicken in advance—just bake with sauce and cheese when ready to serve.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Pan-Fried, Oven-Baked
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cutlet
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 820mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 23g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 42g
- Cholesterol: 125mg