Easy Baked Chicken Parmesan

Published 8/10/2022 • Updated 3/17/2024 Does it really get much better than chicken parmesan? After making this super-simple at-home baked chicken parmesan recipe, you will feel like an Italian chef! Our chicken parmesan recipe is an elevated variation of our parmesan-crusted chicken. It’s made with few ingredients and so much flavor.

What is baked chicken parmesan?

Baked chicken parmesan (aka chicken parmigiana) is breaded chicken cutlets that are pan-fried and then baked with marinara sauce and cheese. Chicken parmesan is typically served with pasta. PS: check out our vegetarian eggplant parmesan recipe!

Main Ingredients for Baked Chicken Parmesan

Chicken breasts: chicken breasts are the star of the show when it comes to chicken parm. You’ll be slicing your breasts in half, tenderizing, and dredging them in parmesan and bread crumbs.

< 10 Ingredients: no fancy ingredients, just things you already have in your kitchen!High-Protein: Per serving, this chicken parm has 48g protein.Dinner in less than an hour: there’s nothing better than being able to whip up a filling meal in less than 60 minutes.

Italian Bread Crumbs: I love Italian breadcrumbs because they add so much flavor and texture. Feel free to use plain breadcrumbs with the addition of some Italian seasoning. Parmesan Cheese: the best kind of parmesan cheese for chicken parmesan is grated parmesan. We tested this with shredded and finely shredded and we found that the fineness of grated parmesan works best on the chicken breasts. Egg: an egg is used as an egg wash before dredging the chicken in the breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese. Olive Oil: a little olive oil is used to crisp up the chicken cutlets before baking. You can also use butter if that’s your jam. Marinara Sauce: marinara sauce is nice because it’s easy. It’ adds a whole lot of flavor without a lot of effort. Shredded Mozzarella Cheese: every chicken parmesan deserves to be topped with even more cheese. We love mozzarella because it’s melty and mild in flavor.

Easy Swaps

Chicken breasts: don’t have chicken breasts on hand? Try this recipe with boneless, skinless chicken thighs instead.Italian bread crumbs: if you’re hoping to make this oven baked chicken parmesan gluten-free, swap the Italian breadcrumbs for gluten-free.Parmesan: we suggest using grated parmesan cheese, but you can also use shredded.Marinara: instead of marinara sauce you can try tomato sauce or even pizza sauce.

How to Make Baked Chicken Parmesan (step by step)

How to dredge chicken

To dredge means to lightly coat in a dry ingredient such as flour, breadcrumbs. The reason you want to dredge in the first place is to help your meat or fish get nice and crispy on the outside. Thermoworks Thermapen In this oven baked chicken parmesan recipe we use an egg + dredge combination.

Do I have to pan fry?

We tried to skip pan-frying and bake only and believe us when we say this, don’t skip pan frying! Pan-frying is going to give you that golden-brown crust that chicken parmesan is all about!

Oven Only Directions (no pan frying)

While we 1000% recommend pan-frying so that you can get that nice crust, you can absolutely skp that step if necessary. If you follow these directions, you won’t get crispy, golden chicken parmesan cutlets, but they will still be delicious. We do recommend using a metal rack so don’t skip that part!

What Goes with Chicken Parmesan

We prefer to eat our baked chicken parmesan on top of spaghetti noodles with more marinara sauce. Here are some other serving ideas: Arugula Salad: This is a simple and delicious arugula salad recipe. It is made with arugula, dried fruit, veggies, and fruit. It is the perfect side dish to any meal! Ricotta Gnocchi: This Homemade Ricotta Gnocchi is as simple as it is delicious. All you need is 5 simple ingredients for this amazing gnocchi recipe. Enjoy! Oven-Roasted Asparagus: Oven-roasted asparagus is the best way to eat asparagus! It’s a healthy side dish recipe that’s cooked to perfection. Vegan Parmesan Cheese: This 5-Ingredient Vegan Parmesan Cheese is a delicious vegan alternative to traditional grated parmesan. Make a batch and sprinkle onto any savory dish your heart desires.

Can I make Chicken Parm in the Air Fryer?

Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan is so easy. Instead of baking your chicken breasts, preheat your air fryer to 450ºF and cook them with marinara and cheese for around 5 minutes or until the cheese is fully melted.

Storage

Got leftover chicken parm? Let it cool completely and then transfer it into an airtight container. Store in the fridge for up to 3-5 days. Air Fryer Chicken Parm

Can You Freeze Chicken Parmesan?

Chicken parmesan is a great meal to freeze for later. We actually recommend only freezing the parmesan crusted chicken and serving it with the marinara and cheese once it’s thawed and reheated. To freeze the parmesan crusted chicken, let the cutlets cool completely. Then, wrap a few of them together in tin foil and remove as much air as possible. Freeze for up to 3 months.