Description
This classic Chicken Parmesan features juicy, breaded chicken breasts topped with rich marinara sauce, melted mozzarella, and parmesan cheese, baked to perfection. It’s a comforting Italian-American favorite that’s perfect for a family dinner, served over spaghetti or your favorite pasta.
Ingredients
Chicken
- 3 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut in half horizontally to make 6 breast halves
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup panko bread crumbs
- 1 cup Italian style bread crumbs or panko
- ½ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese, divided
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 3 tablespoons oil
Sauce and Cheese
- 24 ounces marinara sauce (store-bought or homemade)
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Garnish
- Fresh basil leaves, for serving
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit to prepare for baking the chicken parmesan.
- Butterfly Chicken Breasts: Place one hand on top of each chicken breast and carefully slice horizontally through the center to create two thin, even breast halves from each piece.
- Season Chicken: Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels, then season both sides generously with salt and pepper.
- Prepare Coating Mixtures: In a shallow bowl, beat the eggs thoroughly. In another shallow bowl, combine the panko bread crumbs, Italian style bread crumbs, half of the grated parmesan cheese, and garlic powder, mixing well.
- Coat Chicken: Dip each chicken half first into the beaten eggs, allowing excess to drip off, then press into the breadcrumb mixture, ensuring both sides are fully coated.
- Sear Chicken: Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the breaded chicken and cook approximately 2 minutes per side until golden brown, but not fully cooked through.
- Assemble in Baking Dish: Spread a thin layer of marinara sauce over the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking pan. Arrange the seared chicken breasts on top of the sauce.
- Add Toppings: Spoon additional marinara sauce over each piece of chicken, then sprinkle the shredded mozzarella and the remaining parmesan cheese evenly on top.
- Bake: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 10 to 15 minutes, until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from oven, garnish with fresh chopped basil leaves, and serve warm, ideally over hot cooked spaghetti noodles with extra marinara sauce if desired.
Notes
- Butterflying the chicken breasts ensures even cooking and a tender texture.
- Using both panko and Italian-style bread crumbs adds crispiness and flavor.
- Searing the chicken before baking helps achieve a golden crust and prevents the breading from becoming soggy.
- Make sure not to overcook the chicken during searing, as it will finish cooking in the oven.
- Fresh basil adds a fragrant, herbaceous note, but can be substituted with parsley if desired.
- Serve immediately for the best texture and flavor.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
