Chicken Parmesan 🍗🧀🍝
(A classic Italian-American dish with crispy, breaded chicken breasts smothered in marinara sauce and melted mozzarella cheese—served over pasta or on its own for a comforting meal!)
Ingredients:
🔹 For the Chicken:
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 large eggs, beaten
1 ½ cups bread crumbs (preferably Italian-style)
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried basil
Salt and black pepper, to taste
Olive oil (for frying)
🔹 For the Topping:
2 cups marinara sauce (store-bought or homemade)
1 ½ cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
½ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
Fresh basil (for garnish)
🔹 For Serving:
Cooked spaghetti or your preferred pasta
Extra marinara sauce (optional)
Instructions:
1. Prepare the Chicken:
Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F).
Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper.
Set up three shallow dishes for the breading process:
In the first dish, place the flour.
In the second dish, beat the eggs.
In the third dish, combine the bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, and basil.
Dredge each chicken breast in flour, then dip in the beaten eggs, and finally coat thoroughly with the bread crumb mixture.
2. Fry the Chicken:
In a large skillet, heat about 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat.
Add the breaded chicken breasts to the skillet and cook for 4-5 minutes per side, until golden brown and crispy.
Once cooked, transfer the chicken to a baking dish.
3. Add the Topping:
Spoon marinara sauce evenly over each piece of chicken.
Sprinkle mozzarella and Parmesan cheese over the chicken, ensuring it’s well-covered.
4. Bake:
Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly, and the chicken is cooked through (internal temperature should be 74°C or 165°F).
5. Serve:
Serve the chicken Parmesan over a bed of spaghetti or your preferred pasta.
Garnish with fresh basil leaves for a burst of color and flavor.
Tips for the Best Chicken Parmesan:
✅ For extra crunch, double bread the chicken by dipping it back in the egg and breadcrumbs after the first coating.
✅ Bake the chicken on a rack placed in a baking sheet to keep the breading crispy, if you prefer not to fry.
✅ Serve with extra marinara sauce on the side for dipping or spooning over the pasta.