Chicken Parmesan Recipe

Chicken breasts: The main protein in the dish, providing a tender and juicy base.

Breadcrumbs: Used for coating the chicken, giving it a crispy texture.

Parmesan cheese: Adds a rich, nutty flavor to the breadcrumb coating.

Marinara sauce: A tomato-based sauce that adds moisture and flavor.

Mozzarella cheese: Melts beautifully on top of the chicken, creating a gooey, cheesy layer.

Flour: Helps the egg adhere to the chicken, ensuring the breadcrumbs stick.

Eggs: Acts as a binding agent for the breadcrumbs.

Salt: Enhances the overall flavor of the dish.

Black pepper: Adds a hint of spice and depth to the seasoning.

Olive oil: Used for frying the chicken, adding a subtle richness.

When dredging the chicken breasts in flour, make sure to shake off any excess before dipping them into the beaten eggs. This helps the breadcrumbs adhere better, creating a crispier coating. Additionally, when frying the chicken, avoid overcrowding the pan to ensure even browning and prevent steaming.

• chicken breasts - Substitute with turkey breasts: Turkey breasts have a similar texture and flavor profile to chicken, making them a good alternative.

• breadcrumbs - Substitute with panko breadcrumbs: Panko breadcrumbs provide a lighter, crispier coating compared to regular breadcrumbs.

• grated parmesan cheese - Substitute with grated pecorino romano: Pecorino Romano has a similar salty and tangy flavor, though it is slightly sharper.

• marinara sauce - Substitute with tomato basil sauce: Tomato basil sauce offers a similar tomato base with a hint of basil for added flavor.

• shredded mozzarella cheese - Substitute with provolone cheese: Provolone melts well and has a mild flavor that complements the dish.

• flour - Substitute with cornstarch: Cornstarch can be used to coat the chicken, providing a crispy texture when fried.

• beaten eggs - Substitute with buttermilk: Buttermilk can help the breadcrumbs adhere to the chicken and adds a slight tangy flavor.

• salt - Substitute with soy sauce: Soy sauce can add a salty and umami flavor, though use sparingly to avoid overpowering the dish.

• black pepper - Substitute with white pepper: White pepper provides a similar heat and flavor without the black specks.

• olive oil - Substitute with canola oil: Canola oil has a high smoke point and neutral flavor, making it suitable for frying.

• Allow the chicken parmesan to cool completely before storing. This prevents condensation, which can make the breading soggy.
• For short-term storage, place the chicken parmesan in an airtight container. Refrigerate for up to 3-4 days.
• To freeze, wrap each piece of chicken parmesan individually in plastic wrap or aluminum foil. This helps to maintain the texture and flavor.
• Place the wrapped pieces in a freezer-safe bag or container. Label with the date for easy tracking.
• When ready to reheat, thaw the chicken parmesan in the refrigerator overnight. This ensures even reheating.
• For reheating, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Place the chicken parmesan on a baking sheet and cover with foil to prevent drying out.
• Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until heated through. Remove the foil for the last 5 minutes to crisp up the breading.
• Alternatively, you can reheat in a microwave. Place the chicken parmesan on a microwave-safe plate and cover with a microwave-safe lid or another plate. Heat on medium power in 1-minute intervals until hot.

• Oven Method:

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. Place the leftover chicken parmesan in an oven-safe dish.
  3. Cover the dish with aluminum foil to prevent the chicken from drying out.
  4. Heat for about 15-20 minutes, or until the chicken is warmed through and the cheese is bubbly.

• Microwave Method:

  1. Place the chicken parmesan on a microwave-safe plate.
  2. Cover it with a microwave-safe lid or a damp paper towel to retain moisture.
  3. Heat on medium power for 2-3 minutes, checking halfway through to ensure even heating.
  4. If needed, continue heating in 30-second intervals until the chicken is hot.

• Stovetop Method:

  1. Heat a skillet over medium-low heat and add a small amount of olive oil.
  2. Place the chicken parmesan in the skillet and cover with a lid.
  3. Heat for about 5-7 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the chicken is warmed through and the cheese is melted.

• Air Fryer Method:

  1. Preheat your air fryer to 350°F (175°C).
  2. Place the chicken parmesan in the air fryer basket.
  3. Heat for 5-7 minutes, or until the chicken is hot and the cheese is bubbly and slightly crispy.

• Oven: Used to bake the chicken parmesan to melt the cheese and ensure the chicken is cooked through.

• Frying pan: Used to cook the chicken breasts until they are golden brown on both sides.

• Baking dish: Holds the chicken breasts topped with marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese for baking.

• Mixing bowl: Used to mix the breadcrumbs and grated parmesan cheese together.

• Shallow bowls: Used for dredging the chicken in flour, dipping in beaten eggs, and coating with the breadcrumb mixture.

• Tongs: Handy for flipping the chicken breasts while cooking in the frying pan.

• Measuring cups: Used to measure out the breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese, marinara sauce, and flour.

• Measuring spoons: Used to measure the olive oil and any additional seasonings.

• Grater: Used to grate the parmesan cheese if starting from a block.

• Knife: Used to trim and prepare the chicken breasts.

• Cutting board: Provides a surface to prepare the chicken breasts.

• Spatula: Useful for transferring the chicken breasts from the frying pan to the baking dish.

• Basting brush: Optional, but can be used to evenly spread marinara sauce over the chicken breasts.

• Oven mitts: Essential for safely handling hot dishes from the oven.

• Serving platter: Used to present the finished chicken parmesan for serving.

Prepare ingredients ahead: Measure and set out all ingredients before starting to cook.

Use pre-made sauce: Opt for store-bought marinara sauce to save time.

Flatten chicken breasts: Pound chicken breasts to an even thickness for quicker cooking.

Use a food processor: Quickly mix breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese using a food processor.

Preheat oven early: Start preheating the oven while you prepare the chicken.

Cook in batches: Fry multiple chicken breasts at once if your pan is large enough.

Shred cheese in advance: Shred mozzarella cheese ahead of time and store in the fridge.