Description
A classic Chicken Parmesan recipe featuring breaded and pan-fried chicken cutlets topped with marinara sauce and melted mozzarella cheese. This easy and flavorful Italian-American dish comes together quickly, creating a delicious family-friendly meal perfect served with spaghetti or your favorite pasta.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1.5 lbs)
Breading Mixture
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- â…“ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt
- Freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
Breading Components
- 1 egg
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
Cooking
- ¼ cup cooking oil
Toppings
- ½ cup marinara sauce
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare Chicken: Use a sharp knife to carefully filet the chicken breasts lengthwise into two thin cutlets, making 4 cutlets total. Alternatively, use pre-cut chicken cutlets for convenience.
- Season Chicken: Lightly season both sides of each chicken cutlet with a pinch of salt, freshly cracked black pepper, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder to infuse flavor.
- Bread Chicken: In a wide shallow bowl, combine breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and freshly cracked black pepper. In another bowl, whisk the egg until smooth. In a third bowl, place the flour. Dredge each cutlet first in flour, shaking off excess, then dip fully in the egg mixture, allowing excess to drip off, and finally coat thoroughly in the breadcrumb mixture on both sides.
- Cook Chicken: Heat cooking oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering and hot. Add the breaded chicken cutlets and cook the first side for about 5 minutes or until golden brown.
- Top and Finish: Flip the chicken to the second side and reduce heat to medium. Quickly spoon 2 tablespoons of marinara sauce onto each cutlet and sprinkle with ¼ cup shredded mozzarella cheese. Cover the skillet with a lid to trap heat, allowing the cheese to fully melt and chicken to cook through, approximately 5-7 minutes.
- Serve: Remove the chicken from the skillet and optionally garnish with freshly chopped parsley. Serve immediately with spaghetti or your choice of pasta and extra marinara sauce on the side.
Notes
- Ensure the oil is hot before adding the chicken to get a crispy, golden crust.
- Use thin chicken cutlets for even cooking and better breading crispness.
- If you prefer, use pre-cut chicken cutlets to save prep time.
- Covering the skillet when melting cheese helps it to melt evenly and keeps the chicken moist.
- Leftover breaded chicken can be reheated in an oven or air fryer for best texture.
