Raise your hand if you LOVE chicken parmesan! I just love the crispy outer layer with the juicy chicken inside and all the gooey cheese…yum! Typically the chicken is deep fried for this type of meal but I made it a little healthier… well not really if you count all the cheese but who’s counting calories here?! 😉 I pan fry the chicken first the finish it off in the oven and trust me when I say, this is definitely going to be a crowd pleaser in your home!
HOW DO I MAKE IT?
You’ll start by marinating the chicken. I like to fillet the chicken so that it cooks quicker and you get more pieces. In a bowl, you’ll add the chicken with the eggs and spices. Mix it all together and set aside in the fridge to marinate. Next, you’ll add the breadcrumbs and cheese to a bowl and set up your working station. You’ll take a piece of chicken and dip it into the breadcrumb/cheese bowl. You’ll flip it to ensure a good coating on both sides then transfer to a plate. You’ll continue this step until all the pieces have been breaded. At this point, you can go ahead and preheat the oven.
In a skillet, you’ll heat some oil then add the chicken pieces to it. You don’t want to overcrowd the pan so it’s best to work in batches. Cook the chicken on both sides until a meat thermometer reads 165 degrees. Remove the chicken and continue until all pieces are cooked through. In a baking dish, you’ll spread some of your favourite pasta sauce then layer the chicken pieces. Top the chicken with more sauce and sprinkle some cheese. You’ll bake this in the oven until the cheese is melted, about 5 minutes. We like to serve this with spaghettini, so good!
TIPS TO MAKE IT:
1. Fillet the chicken to get more pieces and to cook quicker.
2. Use both panko and regular bread crumbs to ensure a crispy coating.
3. If you have the time, place the breaded chicken in the refrigerator for 20 minutes before cooking. This will help the breading stick really well to the chicken.
4. Use your favourite store bought pasta sauce to make this a quick weeknight meal.
Ingredients
3 chicken breast, filleted
3/4 cup Italian flavored breadcrumbs
1/2 cup panko bread crumbs
1/2 cup parmesan cheese
2 eggs
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp Italian seasoning
1/4 cup oil for frying
Pasta or marinara sauce
Mozzarella & parmesan cheese for topping
Instructions
Preheat oven to 425°
In a bowl add chicken, eggs, garlic powder & Italian seasoning. Set aside for 20 min
In a separate bowl, mix bread crumbs with parmesan cheese
Dip chicken into breadcrumbs and place on a dish.
Continue until all chicken is coated. If you have the time, place breaded chicken in the fridge for 20 minutes before cooking.
In a skillet, heat oil to medium heat
Pan fry the chicken until crispy and dark golden flipping halfway and a meat thermometer reads 165°
On a baking dish, spread pasta sauce then place chicken on top
Spoon pasta sauce then cheese on the chicken
Bake for 4-5 minutes or until cheese is bubbly and melted