Crispy Breaded Chicken Parmesan (Printable)

Golden breaded chicken cutlets with marinara and melted cheese over pasta

# What You'll Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
02 - Salt and black pepper to taste

→ Breading

03 - 1 cup all-purpose flour
04 - 2 large eggs
05 - 2 tablespoons milk
06 - 1 1/2 cups Italian-style breadcrumbs
07 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

→ Tomato Sauce

08 - 2 cups marinara sauce
09 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
10 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
11 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
12 - 1 teaspoon dried basil

→ Cheese Topping

13 - 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
14 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

→ Pasta

15 - 12 oz spaghetti or linguine

→ Garnish

16 - Fresh basil leaves
17 - Extra grated Parmesan cheese

# How to Make It:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly oil a baking dish.
02 - Place chicken breasts between two sheets of plastic wrap and pound to 1/2-inch thickness. Season both sides with salt and pepper.
03 - Prepare three shallow bowls: one with flour, one with beaten eggs and milk, and one with breadcrumbs mixed with 1/2 cup grated Parmesan.
04 - Dredge each chicken breast in flour, dip in egg wash, then coat evenly in breadcrumb mixture. Press gently to adhere.
05 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Fry breaded chicken for 2-3 minutes per side until golden brown. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate.
06 - Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Sauté garlic for 1 minute, add marinara sauce, oregano, and basil. Simmer for 5 minutes.
07 - Spread 1/2 cup tomato sauce over the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Arrange chicken cutlets in a single layer. Top each cutlet with remaining sauce, mozzarella, and extra Parmesan.
08 - Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until cheese is bubbly and chicken is cooked through to internal temperature of 165°F.
09 - Cook pasta in salted boiling water according to package instructions. Drain and keep warm.
10 - Serve the Chicken Parmesan over pasta, garnished with fresh basil and extra Parmesan if desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The combination of crispy breadcrumb crust and tangy marinara creates that perfect texture contrast that makes comfort food so satisfying
  • This recipe yields restaurant quality results without any fancy techniques or hard to find ingredients
02 -
  • Let the breaded chicken rest on a wire rack for five minutes after frying so the coating sets and doesn't get soggy when you add sauce
  • Don't overload your baking dish, or the chicken will steam instead of bake and you'll lose that crispy texture
03 -
  • Let your pounded chicken rest for ten minutes before breading so the coating adheres better and doesn't slide off during cooking
  • Pat the chicken completely dry before the flour dredge, as moisture prevents the breading from forming a proper crust
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