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The Ultimate Crispy Chicken Parmesan Recipe: Restaurant-Quality at Home

Close-up of a perfectly baked piece of chicken parmesan recipe, topped with melted mozzarella and marinara sauce.
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You can make restaurant-style Chicken Parmesan tonight. This recipe focuses on achieving a perfectly crispy crust on juicy chicken cutlets, smothered in rich marinara and melted mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. It is an easy weeknight Italian dinner that tastes fantastic.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 6 oz each)
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 cup plain breadcrumbs
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese (for breading)
  • 1/2 cup Panko breadcrumbs (for extra crispiness)
  • 1/4 cup olive oil, for frying
  • 2 cups quality marinara sauce
  • 8 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese (for topping)
  • Fresh basil, chopped, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Lightly grease a baking dish large enough to hold the chicken.
  2. Prepare the chicken: Place each chicken breast between two sheets of plastic wrap. Pound the chicken to an even 1/2-inch thickness using a meat mallet. This helps the chicken cook evenly and stay juicy.
  3. Set up your dredging station using three shallow dishes. In the first dish, place the flour. In the second dish, whisk the eggs. In the third dish, combine the breadcrumbs, 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, Panko breadcrumbs, salt, and pepper.
  4. Dredge each cutlet: Coat the chicken first in the flour, shaking off any excess. Dip it completely into the egg mixture. Finally, press the chicken firmly into the breadcrumb mixture, ensuring both sides are fully coated. Press the coating on to help it adhere.
  5. Pan-fry for crispness: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Carefully place two cutlets in the hot oil. Fry for 2 to 3 minutes per side until golden brown. The chicken does not need to be cooked through at this stage; you are building the crust. Remove the chicken and place it on a wire rack set over a paper towel to drain excess oil. Repeat with the remaining cutlets.
  6. Assemble the bake: Spread a thin layer of marinara sauce in the bottom of your prepared baking dish. Place the crispy chicken cutlets over the sauce. Spoon a small amount of marinara over the top of each cutlet, then top generously with the sliced mozzarella and the remaining 1/4 cup of grated Parmesan cheese.
  7. Bake: Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through (internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F) and the cheese is melted and bubbly. For extra browning on the cheese, switch the oven to broil for the last 1-2 minutes, watching closely to prevent burning.
  8. Rest and serve: Let the cheesy chicken rest for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh chopped basil. Serve this family favorite dinner immediately over pasta or with a side salad.

Notes

  • For the crispiest results when baking, ensure your breadcrumb coating is pressed firmly onto the chicken before frying.
  • If you prefer a baked-only method to skip frying, lightly spray the breaded cutlets with cooking spray and bake at 400 degrees F for 15 minutes before adding sauce and cheese, then bake for another 10-12 minutes.
  • Use high-quality marinara sauce; since it is a main flavor component, a good sauce makes a big difference in this quick chicken recipes dish.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://yummagnet.com/chicken-parmesan-recipe-ultimate-crispy-juicy/