Description
Baked chicken parmesan brings restaurant-quality comfort to your dinner table without the extra grease. Crispy breaded chicken topped with marinara and melted cheese makes this quick meal a total crowd-pleaser you can whip up in half an hour.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 2 chicken breasts
Dry Coating:
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- ½ cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese
Seasonings and Liquids:
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 cup marinara sauce
- 1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons minced parsley
Instructions
- Heat your oven to 400°F. Brush a baking sheet with 1 tbsp olive oil and line it with foil for easy cleanup.
- Slice 2 chicken breasts lengthwise to create 4 thin pieces. Place them in a sealed plastic bag and gently pound to ½-inch thickness using a meat mallet.
- Dry the chicken completely with paper towels. Sprinkle ½ tsp salt and ¼ tsp black pepper over both sides.
- Create two shallow dishes. In one, whisk 1 egg. In the other, combine 1 cup panko breadcrumbs, ½ cup Parmesan, 1 tsp oregano, ½ tsp garlic powder, remaining salt and pepper.
- Dunk each chicken piece into the egg, then press firmly into the breadcrumb mixture. Ensure complete, even coating. Transfer to the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake on the second rack for exactly 15 minutes until internal temperature reaches 165°F.
- Carefully flip each chicken piece. Spoon ¼ cup marinara sauce over each piece.
- Sprinkle ⅓ cup mozzarella cheese on top of each chicken piece.
- Switch oven to broil. Return pan to oven for 2-3 minutes until cheese melts and turns golden brown.
- Remove from oven. Let rest 3 minutes before serving. Garnish with 1 tbsp minced parsley if desired.
Notes
- Pound chicken breasts evenly to ensure uniform cooking and crispy breading that covers the entire surface.
- Use fresh breadcrumbs for maximum crunch, and press them firmly onto the chicken to create a perfect coating that won’t fall off during baking.
- Choose a high-quality marinara sauce with rich tomato flavor, as it will significantly impact the overall taste of your chicken parmesan.
- For a gluten-free version, swap panko breadcrumbs with crushed gluten-free crackers or almond flour to maintain a similar crispy texture.
- Prep Time: 13 minutes
- Cook Time: 17 minutes
- Category: Baked
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2
- Calories: 740 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 1350 mg
- Fat: 42 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 26 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 64 g
- Cholesterol: 190 mg