Baked Chicken Parmesan: An Easy Recipe for Crispy, Cheesy Perfection

Indulge in the ultimate comfort food with this incredibly easy and delicious baked chicken parmesan recipe. Forget the deep fryer – we’re bringing you a healthier, less messy version of this Italian-American classic that doesn’t compromise on flavor or texture. This dish promises golden, crispy chicken breasts smothered in rich tomato sauce and bubbling, gooey mozzarella, making it the star of any weeknight dinner or special occasion. It’s a meal so satisfying, it feels like a culinary dream come true, yet comes together with minimal active effort, allowing you more time to savor the moments around your dinner table.

This recipe is designed for ease and maximum flavor impact. From tenderizing the chicken to achieving that coveted golden-brown crust and perfectly melted cheese, every step is straightforward. Whether you’re a seasoned chef or a beginner in the kitchen, you’ll find this easy baked chicken parmesan a joy to prepare and even more delightful to eat. It’s the ideal dish for those evenings when you crave something truly special without spending hours slaving over a hot stove.

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Why You’ll Love This Easy Chicken Parmesan Recipe

There are countless reasons why this baked chicken parmesan will quickly become a favorite in your household. Firstly, it’s incredibly quick to prepare, making it perfect for busy weeknights. With only a few minutes of hands-on work, you can have a gourmet-quality meal ready to impress. Secondly, by choosing to bake instead of fry, we significantly reduce the fat content and eliminate the mess associated with deep-frying, offering a healthier alternative without sacrificing the satisfying crunch. The result is a lighter yet equally satisfying chicken parmesan that everyone can enjoy.

Furthermore, the flavor profile of this dish is simply unparalleled. The combination of succulent, tender chicken, perfectly seasoned crispy panko breading, rich tomato sauce, and fresh, melted mozzarella creates an explosion of taste and texture. It’s truly comfort food at its finest – warm, hearty, and incredibly satisfying. This recipe also provides a wonderful opportunity to involve the whole family in the cooking process, turning meal prep into a fun and engaging activity. Get ready to add this fantastic, easy baked chicken parmesan to your regular dinner rotation!

Essential Ingredients for Perfect Chicken Parmesan

Crafting the perfect chicken parmesan begins with selecting high-quality ingredients. This recipe relies on a thoughtful combination of fresh produce and pantry staples to deliver a dish that’s both flavorful and texturally delightful. Each component plays a crucial role in achieving the signature crispy crust and gooey, cheesy interior that makes chicken parmesan so beloved.

• Chicken Breasts: We recommend boneless, skinless chicken breasts. Their lean meat provides a fantastic canvas for the breading and sauce. Pounding them to an even thickness ensures they cook uniformly and remain incredibly tender.
• Panko Bread Crumbs: The secret to that exceptional crispiness! Panko bread crumbs are lighter and flakier than traditional bread crumbs, creating a wonderfully airy and crunchy texture that holds up well during baking.
• Parmesan Cheese: Freshly grated Parmesan cheese is a game-changer. Its sharp, salty, and nutty flavor permeates the breading, adding depth and authenticity. While pre-grated options are available, grating your own will yield superior flavor and melt.
• Fresh Mozzarella Cheese: For that irresistible, chewy, gooey melt, fresh mozzarella is essential. Its creamy texture and mild flavor perfectly complement the rich tomato sauce and crispy chicken. If using pre-sliced fresh mozzarella, a quick pat with paper towels to remove excess moisture will help it melt and brown more beautifully.
• All-Purpose Flour: Used for the initial dusting, the flour helps the egg adhere better to the chicken, forming a solid base for the breading.
• Large Eggs: Beaten eggs act as the binding agent, creating a sticky surface for the panko and Parmesan mixture to cling to, ensuring a thick and even coating.
• Tomato Sauce: A good quality tomato sauce or marinara is key. You can use your favorite store-bought brand or even a homemade sauce. The sauce provides moisture and a tangy counterpoint to the rich chicken and cheese.
• Olive Oil: A drizzle of olive oil in the breadcrumb mixture and over the breaded chicken promotes browning and adds a subtle richness, enhancing the overall crispiness.
• Kosher Salt & Freshly Cracked Black Pepper: Simple seasonings that enhance the natural flavors of the chicken and the breading. Don’t underestimate their power in bringing all the elements together.

The combination of crispy panko and chewy, gooey fresh mozzarella is truly a match made in culinary heaven. With these quality ingredients, you’re well on your way to creating a chicken parmesan that will be raved about.

Use the JUMP TO RECIPE button at the top of the post, or scroll to the bottom of the post to see the full recipe card with ingredient measurements and instructions.

Step-by-Step Guide to Baking Perfect Chicken Parmesan

Creating this easy baked chicken parmesan is a straightforward process, broken down into simple, manageable steps. From preparing the chicken to achieving that golden, bubbly cheese, we’ll guide you through each stage to ensure perfect results every time. Follow along to unlock the secrets to a crispy, tender, and utterly delicious chicken parmesan.

Preparing the Chicken for Optimal Tenderness and Even Cooking

The first crucial step is to prepare your chicken breasts. Start by placing each chicken breast between two pieces of plastic wrap. This technique protects your countertop and helps prevent tearing the chicken while pounding. Using a meat mallet or a heavy rolling pin, gently pound the chicken until it reaches an even thickness, typically about 1/2 to 3/4 inch. This not only tenderizes the chicken but also ensures that each piece cooks evenly and quickly, preventing dry spots. Once tenderized, season both sides generously with kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper. Then, give each side a light dusting of all-purpose flour. The flour helps create a dry surface, allowing the egg wash to adhere better, which in turn ensures your breading sticks perfectly.

The Perfect Breading Technique for Maximum Crispiness

Next, set up your breading station. In one shallow bowl, whisk your large eggs until they are an even consistency. In a separate shallow bowl or pan, combine your panko bread crumbs, grated Parmesan cheese, and a drizzle of olive oil. Use your hands to thoroughly mix these ingredients together, ensuring the olive oil is evenly distributed. This step is vital as the olive oil in the breading mixture contributes to an extra golden and crispy crust when baked.

Now, it’s time to bread the chicken. Take each flour-dusted chicken breast and dip it into the beaten eggs, ensuring both sides are fully coated. Let any excess egg drip off, then transfer the chicken to the panko-Parmesan mixture. Press firmly on both sides of the chicken to ensure a thick and even coating of breadcrumbs. This generous coating is what will give your chicken parmesan that satisfying crunch.

Baking to Crispy Perfection and Cheesy Meltdown

Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup and to prevent sticking. Arrange the breaded chicken breasts on the parchment-lined sheet, making sure they are not overcrowded. Drizzle a little extra olive oil over each piece of chicken. Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for approximately 35-40 minutes, or until the chicken is beautifully browned, crisp, and cooked through. To ensure food safety, the internal temperature of the thickest part of the chicken should reach 165°F (74°C) as measured by an instant-read thermometer. The exact cooking time may vary depending on the size and thickness of your chicken breasts, so always use a thermometer for accuracy.

Once the chicken is cooked and crispy, remove it from the oven. Evenly spread your favorite tomato sauce over each chicken breast, then top generously with slices of fresh mozzarella cheese. For optimal melting and browning, place the baking sheet back in the oven, this time on a rack positioned 5-6 inches from the top heating element. Turn the oven to broil and cook for just 2-4 minutes, keeping a very close eye on it. You want the cheese to be melted, bubbly, and lightly golden brown, but be careful not to burn it or, more importantly, scorch the parchment paper.

Once the cheese is perfectly melted and bubbly, carefully remove the baking sheet from the oven. Let the chicken parmesan rest for 4-5 minutes before serving. This allows the juices to redistribute and the cheese to set slightly, making it easier to serve. Pair this delightful dish with your favorite sides for a truly memorable meal. We love serving ours with a crisp Classic Caesar Salad and a side of pasta or garlic bread to complete a perfect Italian night!

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📖 Recipe

Yield: 4 Servings

Easy Baked Chicken Parmesan

Prep Time:
10 minutes

Cook Time:
40 minutes

Total Time:
50 minutes

This quick-to-make, baked Easy Chicken Parmesan is the thing that dinner dreams are made of and it comes together in just a few minutes, offering a healthier twist on a classic comfort food.

Ingredients

• 4-6 Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts, depending on size
• Kosher Salt, to taste
• Freshly Cracked Black Pepper, to taste
• 1/4 cup All-Purpose Flour (or cornstarch for gluten-free)
• 3 large Eggs, whisked
• 1 cup Panko Bread Crumbs (or gluten-free panko)
• 1 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
• 2 teaspoons Olive Oil, plus more for drizzling
• 1, 8-ounce can (or 1 cup) Quality Tomato Sauce or Marinara
• 1 log (8 ounces) Fresh Mozzarella Cheese, thinly sliced and patted dry

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).

Place chicken breasts individually between two pieces of plastic wrap. Using a meat mallet or heavy rolling pin, pound them to an even thickness of about 1/2 to 3/4 inch. Season both sides with kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper, then dust lightly with all-purpose flour (or cornstarch for GF).

Set up your breading station: In a shallow bowl, whisk the 3 large eggs until an even consistency. In another shallow bowl, combine panko bread crumbs, grated Parmesan cheese, and 2 teaspoons of olive oil. Mix thoroughly with your hands to distribute the oil evenly.

Dip each chicken breast first into the beaten eggs, ensuring both sides are coated, letting any excess drip off.

Then, transfer the chicken from the eggs to the bread crumb mixture, pressing firmly on both sides to ensure a thick and even coating.

Place the breaded chicken breasts on a parchment-lined baking sheet, ensuring they are not touching. Drizzle a small amount of extra olive oil over each piece.

Bake in the preheated oven for 35-40 minutes, or until the chicken is golden brown, crispy, and cooked through (internal temperature reaches 165°F / 74°C). Cooking time may vary with chicken size.

Remove the chicken from the oven. Evenly spread the tomato sauce over each chicken breast, then top generously with 2-3 slices of the patted-dry fresh mozzarella cheese, adjusting based on chicken size.

Return the baking sheet to the oven, placing it on a rack 5-6 inches from the top heating element. Turn the oven to broil and cook for 2-4 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and lightly golden brown. WATCH CAREFULLY to prevent burning.

Remove from the oven and let stand for 4-5 minutes before serving immediately. Enjoy your crispy, cheesy baked chicken parmesan!

Notes

Notes & Tips

Keep a constant eye on your chicken parmesan when broiling the cheese, as parchment paper can catch fire very quickly under direct heat. You want melted, golden cheese, not a kitchen emergency.

For fresh mozzarella, slice it and pat it dry with paper towels to remove excess liquid. This prevents a watery dish and ensures better melting and browning.

For leftovers, only add sauce and cheese to the portions you plan to eat immediately. Reheat un-sauced chicken in a 425˚F oven for 10-15 minutes, then add sauce and cheese, and broil until melted.

Substitutions

For a gluten-free option, use cornstarch in place of flour and opt for THESE GREAT GLUTEN-FREE BREADCRUMBS.

While panko bread crumbs offer superior crispiness, Italian-style bread crumbs can also be used if preferred or on hand.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

• GLOCHYRA – Breading Tray Set of 3 – Stainless Steel Breading Pan for Marinating Meat, Prepping Bread Crumbs Coating tray for Chicken, Fish, Panko, Schnitzel – Comes with Locking kitchen Tong
• Norpro Meat Pounder
• Nordic Ware Natural Aluminum Commercial Baker’s Half Sheet (3 Pack)

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

4

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving:
Calories: 780Total Fat: 26gSaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 13gCholesterol: 340mgSodium: 1264mgCarbohydrates: 51gFiber: 3gSugar: 4gProtein: 82g

This is an estimated caloric value, actual numbers may differ based on the ingredients used.

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