Description
Crispy Chicken Parmesan is a comforting Italian-American dish featuring golden breaded chicken cutlets topped with marinara sauce and melted mozzarella cheese. It’s a crowd-pleaser perfect for weeknight dinners or special occasions.
Ingredients
2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (halved horizontally to make 4 thin cutlets)
Salt and pepper, to taste
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 large eggs
1 cup breadcrumbs (Italian-seasoned or plain + 1 tsp Italian seasoning)
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1 1/2 cups marinara sauce (store-bought or homemade)
Olive oil or vegetable oil, for frying
Fresh basil or parsley, for garnish
Cooked pasta or garlic bread, for serving
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Season chicken cutlets with salt and pepper.
- Set up breading station: one bowl with flour, one with beaten eggs, one with breadcrumbs mixed with Parmesan.
- Dredge each cutlet in flour, dip in egg, then coat in breadcrumb-Parmesan mixture.
- Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Fry chicken 3–4 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through.
- Transfer fried cutlets to a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess oil.
- Spread a thin layer of marinara sauce in a baking dish. Place chicken cutlets on top, spoon more marinara over each, and top with shredded mozzarella.
- Bake for 10–15 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Garnish with fresh basil or parsley and serve hot with pasta, salad, or garlic bread.
Notes
Use panko breadcrumbs for extra crunch.
To make it gluten-free, use gluten-free flour and breadcrumbs.
Add red pepper flakes to the sauce or breadcrumbs for a spicy kick.
Try provolone instead of mozzarella for a twist.
For a lighter version, bake the breaded chicken instead of frying.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Reheat in the oven at 350°F for 10–15 minutes for best texture.
Freeze breaded (but unfried) cutlets if prepping ahead.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baked, Fried
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cutlet with sauce and cheese
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 780mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 39g
- Cholesterol: 145mg
