Chicken Parmesan: the best-ever recipe for the beloved Italian-American dish

Chicken parmesan is one of those timeless dinners that is always a big hit. Made with tender, moist chicken breasts coated in crispy breadcrumbs and topped with rich marinara sauce and fresh mozzarella, it's no wonder folks love this delicious Italian-American dish.

Fortunately, it's fast and easy to make homemade chicken parmesan – it only takes about 30 minutes from start to finish. Serve your chicken parmesan with a green salad and some garlic knots or garlic bread so you can mop up all that mouthwatering marinara sauce.

What is the best cheese for making Parmesan Chicken?

As the name of the dish suggests, you can’t have chicken parmesan without parmesan cheese! Choose grated parmesan over shaved if you’re buying it prepared. If you’re grating it yourself, use the medium side of a box grater.

This recipe is also topped with grated mozzarella cheese. For this, it’s best to buy fresh mozzarella in water or in a package and grate it yourself. Use the largest side of a box grater for the mozzarella. In a pinch, pre-grated mozzarella will also work, but the flavor won’t be as strong. Reduced-fat or part-skim mozzarella will also work to keep this dish nice and light. You can also experiment with other kinds of cheese, such as pecorino romano, crumbled feta, or provolone.

How long do you bake Chicken Parmesan?

If you want to bake your chicken parmesan properly, you should pay attention to temperature and timing. Make sure the chicken is done when it’s golden brown on the outside and registered 165°F on an instant-read thermometer.

• At 350°F, the chicken will take closer to 35-40 minutes.
• At 400°F, you’ll need 30-35 minutes.
• If you cook your parmesan chicken to 425°F, check the oven after 20-25 minutes.
• Cooking the parmesan chicken to 450°F means you need to wait for about 20 minutes.

Tips

It's easy to make gluten-free chicken parmesan. Use gluten-free flour, gluten-free breadcrumbs, and gluten-free panko.

Either homemade or store-bought marinara sauce works for his recipe.

Instead of cooking the chicken on your stovetop, use an air fryer. Preheat your air fryer to 380F, then fry the chicken for 6 to 8 minutes, flipping once halfway through cooking.

What to serve with Baked Chicken Parmesan

Classically, you can serve chicken parmesan over a bed of spaghetti noodles with plenty of tomato sauce. Of course, any other kind of pasta will work just as well, such as fettuccine, rigatoni, bucatini or macaroni.

For a low-carb spin, you can use spiralized vegetable noodles, or just a simple bed of lettuce.

How to Store Chicken Parmesan

Keep your chicken parmesan in an airtight container in the fridge and enjoy it within three to four days. To reheat leftover chicken parmesan, warm it for 15 to 20 minutes in the oven at 350F or heat it in the air fryer for 3 to 5 minutes.

How to Make Chicken Parmesan

Preheat your oven to 425°F. Line a baking tray with parchment paper.

Step 1

Step 1

Preheat your oven to 425°F. Line a baking tray with parchment paper.

If you want to make marinara sauce on your own, start by this step.

Step 2

Step 2

If you want to make marinara sauce on your own, start by this step.

Cut the chicken breasts in half horizontally.

Step 3

Step 3

Cut the chicken breasts in half horizontally.

Place the flour in one bowl. In a second bowl, add the eggs and whisk them.

Step 4

Step 4

Place the flour in one bowl. In a second bowl, add the eggs and whisk them.

In a third bowl, combine breadcrumbs, 1/2 cup parmesan, panko, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.

Step 5

Step 5

In a third bowl, combine breadcrumbs, 1/2 cup parmesan, panko, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.

Dredge the chicken through the flour.

Step 6

Step 6

Dredge the chicken through the flour.

Dip the chicken in the egg, then dredge through the breadcrumb mixture.

Step 7

Step 7

Dip the chicken in the egg, then dredge through the breadcrumb mixture.

Gently but firmly press the chicken into the breadcrumbs so they stick.

Step 8

Step 8

Gently but firmly press the chicken into the breadcrumbs so they stick.

Heat the oil in a large pan over medium-high heat and place the chicken there.

Step 9

Step 9

Heat the oil in a large pan over medium-high heat and place the chicken there.

Cook the chicken for 3 to 4 minutes per side or until golden brown. The chicken is done cooking when it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.

Step 10

Step 10

Cook the chicken for 3 to 4 minutes per side or until golden brown. The chicken is done cooking when it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.

Put the chicken on the baking tray.

Step 11

Step 11

Put the chicken on the baking tray.

Spread 1/3 cup of marinara sauce on each piece of chicken.

Step 12

Step 12

Spread 1/3 cup of marinara sauce on each piece of chicken.

Garnish with mozzarella.

Step 13

Step 13

Garnish with mozzarella.

Sprinkle the remaining parmesan cheese.

Step 14

Step 14

Sprinkle the remaining parmesan cheese.

Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown, then remove the tray from the oven.

Step 15

Step 15

Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown, then remove the tray from the oven.

Garnish with basil.

Step 16

Step 16

Garnish with basil.

Serve and enjoy!