Description
Hearty chicken parmesan elevates classic Italian comfort food with crispy breaded chicken, melted mozzarella, and rich marinara sauce. Home cooks can savor this restaurant-quality dish without complex techniques or expensive ingredients.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 2 cups marinara sauce
- 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Coating Ingredients:
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 large eggs
Seasoning and Cooking Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
- Fresh basil for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the oven by heating to 375F (190C), ensuring an even temperature for consistent cooking.
- Tenderize the chicken breasts using a meat mallet, creating uniform thickness for even cooking and crispy coating.
- Organize three separate shallow dishes: one with flour, another with whisked eggs, and the third with a blend of breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese.
- Coat each chicken piece thoroughly by first dusting with flour, then dipping in egg, and finally rolling in the seasoned breadcrumb mixture.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat, creating a golden-brown crust by frying chicken for 3-4 minutes on each side.
- Arrange the crispy chicken in a baking dish, generously covering each piece with marinara sauce and a layer of mozzarella cheese.
- Bake for 20 minutes, monitoring until the cheese melts completely and the chicken reaches a safe internal temperature of 165F (74C).
- Enhance the presentation by scattering fresh basil leaves over the dish just before serving.
Notes
- Tenderize chicken evenly to ensure consistent cooking and prevent dry spots during frying and baking.
- Use a meat thermometer to check internal temperature precisely, avoiding undercooked or overcooked chicken.
- Pat chicken dry before breading to help coating adhere better and create a crispier exterior.
- For gluten-free version, substitute all-purpose flour with almond flour or gluten-free breadcrumbs and check seasoning compatibility.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 24 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 545 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 820 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 45 g
- Cholesterol: 150 mg