Baked Chicken Parmesan
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Posted: 05/17/24
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Quick and easy Baked Chicken Parmesan is the perfect weeknight dinner recipe. Serve this breaded chicken over a bed of spaghetti noodles, zoodles or pair it with a side of steamed vegetables. The chicken is so juicy and tender!
Baked chicken parmesan is a favorite dinner at our house – the kids love it, Jason and I love it, and I love how easy it is to make. This a great weeknight dinner because it’s simple and easy to prepare – add some pasta, a salad, or veggies on the side for a complete meal!
I love chicken Parmesan so much – I have versions you can make in a crockpot and air fryer, too! So now I have this oven-baked recipe, and the collection is complete. Make the best chicken parmesan right in the comfort of your own home!
Why You’ll Love this Baked Chicken Parmesan Recipe
- Unlike restaurant versions, my homemade chicken Parm is oven-baked instead of fried so it’s definitely lighter and healthier.
- The chicken is coated in a crispy panko coating that has great flavor and locks in all the juices so the meat is tender and delicious.
- You don’t need any fancy equipment – just a sheet pan, a couple of bowls, and an oven!
Ingredients for Baked Chicken Parmesan
- Olive oil – Use olive oil or a non stick cooking spray to grease the aluminum foil that the chicken parm will cook on.
- Chicken breasts – Make sure the chicken cutlets are similar sizes, boneless and skinless.
- Large eggs – Whisk up a few eggs to use as an egg wash. This will help the breadcrumb mixture to bind to the chicken.
- Italian panko bread crumbs – If you can only find plain panko, you can season it with a couple of teaspoons of Italian seasonings.
- Grated Parmesan cheese – For the best flavor, buy a wedge of cheese and grate the cheese yourself.
- Spices – Dried oregano, garlic powder, salt, and pepper flavor this dish perfectly.
- Non-stick cooking spray – Instead of drizzling oil over the top of the chicken, spray it with some non stick cooking spray.
- Marinara sauce – Use your favorite jarred sauce to make it easy! But you can also make homemade marinara sauce.
- Shredded mozzarella – Low moisture mozzarella works best. I wouldn’t use fresh mozzarella for this recipe.
- Minced parsley – This is optional for garnish but it adds a nice pop of color when you serve it!
How to Make Baked Chicken Parmesan
Prep: For the best tender and juicy chicken, pound each piece, so that they are the same thickness. This will ensure that the meat cooks evenly. It also tenderizes the meat, so that it isn’t tough.
Breading Bowls: Set up the breading stations. Mix the panko with the seasonings and Parmesan cheese in one shallow bowl. Then beat the eggs in a second shallow bowl.
Breading: Coat each piece in the egg and then coat it evenly in the panko mixture. Place the breaded pieces of easy chicken parmesan on a prepared sheet pan and spray the tops of them with cooking spray.
Bake: Place the baking sheet in the oven and bake the breaded chicken for 20 to 25 minutes or until it is cooked through. Check the temperature with a meat thermometer – it should be 165°F in the thickest part of the chicken.
Add the Sauce and Cheese! Turn the crispy chicken parmesanover and spoon some sauce over the top of each piece. Sprinkle the cheese over the sauce and bake until the cheese is melted and bubbling hot.
Garnish: For serving, sprinkle minced parsley over the top and a little more grated Parmesan cheese!
How to Store Baked Chicken Parmesan
FRIDGE: Transfer chicken parm to an airtight container and allow it to cool before placing a lid. Store in the fridge 3-4 days. Keep in mind that the longer you store, the more soggy the breading will be.
FREEZER: Wrap each piece of baked chicken parmesan in foil or plastic wrap and place into a freezer bag. You can also store them in an airtight container. Freeze for 2-3 months.
How to Reheat Baked chicken parmesan
Allow frozen chicken to thaw before reheating. Then reheat in the oven on a baking sheet for about 15-20 minutes until the chicken reaches a safe internal temp. You can also reheat leftovers in the air fryer!
Feel free to reheat in the microwave, but the breading will not crisp up.
What to Serve with Homemade Chicken Parmesan
There are lots of ways to serve chicken Parmesan! Here are some amazing side dishes if you are looking for ideas:
Pasta: Spaghetti, linguine, fettuccine, penne… any pasta you like will pair well with this dish!
Veggies: Make it a lighter dinner with a veggie on the side. Air fryer asparagus or broccoli are great choices and easy to make. Or try some zucchini noodles! Roasted cauliflower or roasted potatoes are also delicious. For a real comfort food dinner, serve it with mashed potatoes!
Salad: Toss together a simple green salad with some veggies and your favorite dressing for an easy, light side.
Breadsticks: Make a batch of my easy breadsticks or try my copycat Olive Garden breadsticks!
Other ideas: You can also serve it with cooked rice or a pasta side dish like Parmesan orzo or garlic butter noodles.
What is the easiest way to flatten chicken breast?
It is easiest to use a meat mallet to flatten chicken breast in order to thin them out for recipes like chicken parmesan. To prevent splatter, cover your chicken in plastic wrap or put each piece in a large bag while you flatten it with a meat mallet.
Can I bake chicken parmesan?
Yes! While baking it doesn’t necessarily make it healthy chicken parmesan, it does reduce the fat content a bit since the chicken isn’t being fried in oil. If you do not like to fry your own food or just prefer a more simple recipe, then chicken recipes like this baked chicken parm will be a favorite for you!
Pro Tips for the Best Baked Chicken Parmesan
- Check the internal temperature of the chicken with a meat thermometer to ensure it is full cooked.
- It is important to make sure that the thickness of your chicken is even all the way across! This will ensure that each piece finishes cooking at the same time.
- Go slowly when completing each step of the breading process. This will help to ensure that the breading sticks to the chicken properly.
I can’t wait for you to add this crispy chicken Parmesan to your weekly meal plan. It’s so easy and so delicious it might end up in your permanent dinner rotation! It’s definitely on my list – I hope you love it!
More Italian-Style Recipes
- Shrimp Pasta is better than any restaurant version and ready in 30 minutes! Shrimp with tomatoes, basil, and Parmesan cheese is a delicious dinner.
- Use your Instant Pot to make amazing Spaghetti and Meatballs. This classic pasta dish is always a family favorite.
- Italian Meatloaf is a hearty, comforting dinner. Tender meatloaf stuffed with cheese and topped with sauce will be a hit when you make it!
- Skip the pizza and make a Homemade Calzone instead! The dough is stuffed with favorite pizza toppings and baked – slice it for a fun twist on pizza night.
- Spaghetti alla Carbonara is a quick and easy pasta dish with a light sauce, cheese, and bacon!
- Baked Rigatoni is a hearty, comforting pasta dinner your family will love!
Did you make this? If you snap a photo, please be sure tag me on Instagram at @julieseatsandtreats or #julieseatsandtreats so I can see your yummy treat!
Baked Chicken Parmesan
Tender, juicy chicken breasts with a delicious breading topped with marinara sauce and melted Mozzarella cheese.
Video
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 4 chicken breasts
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup Italian panko bread crumbs
- ¼ cup parmesan cheese fresh grated
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- Non-stick cooking spray
- 1 cup marinara sauce
- 1 ½ cup shredded mozzarella
- 2 Tablespoons minced parsley optional for garnish
- Spaghetti to serve with optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Adjust rack in oven so it is in the second from top position.
- Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Brush with olive oil. Set aside.
- Place the chicken breasts, one at a time, into a gallon sized zip top bag, seal it, then pound it to an even thickness using a meat pounder or a rolling pin. You can also place the chicken breasts between two layers of cling wrap instead of a zip top bag if you prefer.
- Remove chicken breasts from the bag and pat the chicken breasts dry with a paper towel.
- In one shallow dish, mix together panko bread crumbs, grated parmesan cheese, salt, pepper, garlic powder, oregano, and black pepper.
- In another shallow dish, whisk the egg.
- Dip one chicken breast into the egg, then into the bread crumb mixture. Make sure the chicken breast is fully coated in the crumb mixture, and gently press with your hand to help the crumbs stick to the chicken, flip and repeat with the other side. Place chicken breast on the prepared baking sheet, repeat with remaining pieces of chicken. Spray the top of the chicken with non-stick spray.
- Place the baking sheet in the oven on the second from the top rack. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until cooked through to an internal temperature of 165 degrees F. The cooking time will depend on the size of chicken breast and thickness.
- Flip chicken, pour 1/4 cup of marinara sauce over each piece of chicken, then top with grated Mozzarella cheese. Place back in the oven. Turn on the broiler. Broil for 2-4 minutes, until the cheese is melted, bubbly and golden brown and edges of chicken are browning.
- Remove from the oven, garnish with chopped parsley if desired.
- Serve on top of prepared spaghetti if desired.
Tips
RIDGE: Transfer chicken parm to an airtight container and allow it to cool before placing a lid. Store in the fridge 3-4 days. Keep in mind that the longer you store, the more soggy the breading will be.
FREEZER: Wrap each piece of baked chicken parmesan in foil or plastic wrap and place into a freezer bag. You can also store them in an airtight container. Freeze for 2-3 months.
Allow frozen chicken to thaw before reheating. Then reheat in the oven on a baking sheet for about 15-20 minutes until the chicken reaches a safe internal temp. You can also reheat leftovers in the air fryer!
Feel free to reheat in the microwave, but the breading will not crisp up.
Nutrition Information
Calories: 872kcal (44%), Carbohydrates: 48g (16%), Protein: 80g (160%), Fat: 38g (58%), Saturated Fat: 15g (94%), Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 308mg (103%), Sodium: 2179mg (95%), Potassium: 1261mg (36%), Fiber: 4g (17%), Sugar: 7g (8%), Vitamin A: 1064IU (21%), Vitamin C: 7mg (8%), Calcium: 595mg (60%), Iron: 5mg (28%)
aimee says
you are missing a very important piece of the instructions out…. At what temperature do you cook the chicken at? No where in this whole thing has a temperature to cook.. I had to look at other receipts to find this out
Sarah Hill says
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Adjust rack in oven so it is in the second from top position. This is step 1!
Jo Archer says
Forgot to post the rating.
Jo Archer says
Thank you for the option of “number of servings” in this recipe. I love not having to halve all the ingredients to make it for two!
Julie Evink says
Of course! I’m so glad you found that feature to use 🙂