Best Crispy Chicken Parmesan Recipe (Easy Italian Dinner)
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Chicken Parmesan Recipe is one of those dinners that never goes out of style. Crispy breaded chicken topped with marinara sauce and melted cheese creates a meal that’s hearty, comforting, and packed with flavor. It’s a classic Italian-American recipe that’s surprisingly simple to make at home.
Easy Chicken Parmesan Recipe with Mozzarella and Marinara
This Chicken Parmesan Recipe starts with tender chicken breasts coated in a crispy Parmesan breadcrumb crust. The chicken is lightly pan-fried, topped with marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese, then baked until hot and bubbly. Serve it over spaghetti or your favorite pasta for an easy weeknight dinner.
Why you’ll love Crispy Chicken Parmesan
- Crispy exterior with juicy chicken inside
- Uses simple pantry ingredients
- Ready in about 40 minutes
- Family-friendly meal everyone enjoys
- Perfect served over pasta, zucchini noodles, or salad
- Great for meal prep and leftovers
Ingredients
The full Chicken Parmesan recipe with amounts is at the bottom of this post.
- chicken breasts
- Salt and pepper, to taste
all-purpose flour - eggs, beaten
- breadcrumbs
- Parmesan cheese
- marinara sauce
- mozzarella cheese
- olive oil
- Fresh basil leaves, chopped, for garnish (optional)
- Cooked spaghetti or pasta for serving (optional)
How to Make Breaded Chicken Parmesan
Time needed: 35 minutes
Print this Chicken Parmesan recipe here.
- Prepare the Chicken
Preheat your oven to 400°F. Slice each chicken breast in half horizontally to create thinner cutlets. Season both sides with salt and pepper.
- Bread the Chicken
Set up three shallow bowls:
Flour in the first bowl
Beaten eggs in the second bowl
Breadcrumbs mixed with Parmesan cheese in the third bowl
Dredge each chicken piece in flour, then egg, then the breadcrumb mixture. Press gently to help the coating stick. - Pan Fry
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
Cook the chicken for 3 to 4 minutes per side until golden brown. You don’t need to cook it completely through since it will finish baking in the oven. - Add Sauce and Cheese
Place the chicken in a baking dish.
Spoon marinara sauce over each piece and top with mozzarella cheese. - Bake
Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Serve
Garnish with fresh basil and serve over spaghetti or your favorite pasta.
Tips for the Best Chicken Parm
- Pound chicken to an even thickness for consistent cooking.
- When cooking your chicken parmesan recipe, cook extra chicken and leave off the sauce for another meal.
- Freshly grated Parmesan gives the breading better flavor.
- Use whole milk mozzarella for a richer cheese topping.
- Don’t overcrowd the skillet when frying.
- Let the chicken rest for a few minutes before serving.
Crispy Chicken Parmesan Variations
Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan Recipe. Cook breaded chicken in the air fryer at 400°F for 10 to 12 minutes. Add sauce and cheese, then cook for 2 to 3 minutes longer until melted.
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Chicken Parmesan Sandwiches. Serve the chicken on toasted hoagie rolls with extra marinara and mozzarella.
Low-Carb Chicken Parmesan. Use crushed pork rinds or almond flour instead of breadcrumbs.
You’ll also enjoy these recipes:
Here are a few more easy recipes that you’ll enjoy.
- Ravioli Piccata
- Naan Bread Recipe
- Easy Caesar Salad
- Million Dollar Spaghetti
- Garlic Bread Recipes
- Italian Pasta Salad
- Bechamel Sauce
- Pesto Caprese Pasta Salad
- Lemon Blueberry Cake (for dessert)
Homemade Chicken Parmesan Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Bread and cook the chicken up to a day ahead. Add sauce and cheese just before baking.
Yes. Freeze your Chicken Parmesan Recipe after breading and frying or after baking. Store in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
Spaghetti is the classic choice, but linguine, fettuccine, angel hair, or penne all work well.
Pat the chicken dry before breading and allow the coated chicken to rest for 10 minutes before frying.
What to Serve with Chicken Parmesan
Chicken Parmesan Recipe Storage
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat in a 350°F oven until warmed through.
Conclusion
This Chicken Parmesan recipe delivers everything you want in a comfort-food dinner: crispy, breaded chicken, rich marinara sauce, and plenty of melted cheese. It’s both easy and impressive, so treat yourself during the week and feel confident making it for guests. Pair it with pasta and a simple salad for a restaurant-style dinner right at home.
Crispy Chicken Parmesan
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Ingredients
- 2 medium chicken breasts skinless and boneless
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 large eggs beaten
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ cup marinara sauce
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese shredded
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Fresh basil leaves chopped, for garnish (optional)
- Spaghetti or pasta of your choice cooked, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the Chicken: Preheat your oven to 200°C (400°F). Place chicken breasts between two sheets of plastic wrap and pound them to an even thickness, about ½-inch (1.3 cm) thick. Season both sides with salt and pepper.2 medium chicken breasts, Salt and pepper to taste
- Coat the Chicken: Place the flour in a shallow dish, the beaten eggs in another, and the breadcrumbs and Parmesan in a third. Dredge each chicken breast in the flour, shaking off the excess, then dip in the egg, and finally coat with the breadcrumb mixture, pressing down to ensure it sticks.1 cup all-purpose flour, 2 large eggs, 1 cup breadcrumbs, ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Cook the Chicken: In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the chicken breasts and cook for 3-4 minutes on each side, until golden brown and crispy. Transfer the cooked chicken to a baking dish.2 tablespoons olive oil
- Bake with Sauce and Cheese: Spoon marinara sauce over each chicken breast, then sprinkle with shredded mozzarella. Bake in the preheated oven for 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly, and the chicken is cooked through.½ cup marinara sauce, 1 cup mozzarella cheese
- Serve: Garnish with fresh basil if desired and serve hot. For a complete meal, serve over spaghetti or your favorite pasta.Fresh basil leaves, Spaghetti or pasta of your choice
My family loved this!