Chicken Parmesan Recipe

This Chicken Parmesan recipe is crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and topped with marinara sauce and gooey melted cheese! It’s easier than you think!

Can’t get enough Chicken Parmesan? Check out this Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan, Chicken Parmesan Pasta recipe, and Healthier Skillet Chicken Parmesan!

This easy Chicken Parmesan is an Italian-American classic that seems like a fancy dinner but is actually surprisingly simple!

Flattened chicken breasts are coated in a parmesan cheese and breadcrumb mixture, fried in oil on the stovetop, and baked in the oven.

This recipe is the perfect delicious weeknight dinner or date night meal for those days when you want a comforting, feel-good dish. 

Why you’ll love this recipe:

• It’s comforting: The crunchy chicken, melty cheese, and warm pasta sauce create a comforting meal everyone will love!
• It’s easy: This recipe is easy-peasy with simple ingredients and steps, creating an effortlessly flavorful meal.
• It’s better than the restaurant version: This homemade version has that made-from-scratch taste you can’t get from a restaurant!

Ingredients you need to make Chicken Parmigiana:

• Boneless skinless chicken breasts: These are pounded nice and thin to make them cook more evenly!
• All-purpose flour: Flour helps the egg mixture to stick.
• Spices: I use Italian seasoning, salt, paprika, and black pepper.
• Buttermilk and eggs: These help bind the breading ingredients to the chicken!
• Parmesan cheese and seasoned dry bread crumbs: These stick to the outside of the chicken to form the crust. Use finely shredded parmesan cheese or grate your own!
• Canola oil: This is used to fry the chicken and get that golden brown crust. You can use any kind of neutral cooking oil. 
• Tomato sauce: Spooned over the top of the chicken. You can use homemade marinara sauce or your favorite store-bought pasta sauce!
• Shredded mozzarella cheese: This is sprinkled on top of the chicken while it’s hot, so it gets all melty and gooey! You can use shredded cheese or sliced mozzarella.

How to make classic Chicken Parmesan:

This Chicken Parmesan recipe is a breeze to whip up! Scroll down to the recipe card for the full list of recipe instructions. 

• Use a smooth meat mallet, a heavy rolling pin, or a flat-bottomed cup to pound the chicken.
• Set up your breading station – 1) Buttermilk, 2) Flour and spices, 3) Eggs, 4) Breadcrumbs and cheese

• Dip the chicken into the buttermilk, then the flour.
• Dip the chicken in the egg mixture. Then, press the chicken into the coating mixture to ensure it sticks well.

• Heat a pan over medium-high heat and add the oil. When the oil is hot, add the breaded chicken and cook on each side until browned.

• Top each chicken breast with tomato sauce and cheese, then bake in the oven until the cheese is bubbly and the chicken is cooked through.

Variations and Substitutions:

• Gluten-free: You can make this Chicken Parmesan recipe gluten-free with gluten-free all-purpose flour and gluten-free bread crumbs
• Buttermilk: No buttermilk? No problem! Swap this out for whichever milk you have in your fridge without changing the rest of the recipe. You can also make your own buttermilk.
• Sauce: You can customize this recipe to fit your tastes by choosing a jarred marinara sauce. Like it spicy? Find one with a little more heat!
• Breadcrumbs: If you don’t have Panko bread crumbs, you can use regular dried bread crumbs. We just like to use Panko because it makes extra crispy chicken!

How to store leftovers:

Pop leftovers in an airtight container for 3-4 days. I recommend reheating the chicken in the oven or air fryer to prevent it from getting soggy.

The best way to do this is to place the chicken in a baking dish and reheat at 350ºF until the chicken is warm. 

How do I know if my chicken is cooked?

Chicken should be cooked to an internal temperature of at least 165 degrees F in the thickest part. The exact cooking time of any recipe will vary depending on how thick your chicken is.

Can I bake this Chicken Parmesan if I don’t want to fry it?

Definitely!

Frying the chicken quickly in a little bit of oil is the best way to get a truly golden and crispy crust, but if you prefer, you can bake it in the oven.

Brush the pan with oil and add the coated chicken, then bake for 20 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through (you may want to turn once to brown both sides).

Remove the chicken from the oven, top with sauce and cheese, and bake until the cheese is melted.

Serving suggestions:

Serve your crispy Chicken Parmesan over top of buttered noodles for a classic meal or zucchini noodles for a low-carb version.

You can’t go wrong with some garlic bread or no-knead artisan bread to soak up the sauce, either. 

I also love serving a light salad, this Easy Broccoli Salad or these Air Fryer Green Beans for some greens!

Other chicken breast recipes you’ll love:

• White Chicken Skillet Lasagna — another date night meal!
• Juicy Air Fryer Chicken Breasts — a classic you can never go wrong with.
• Crockpot Chicken Taco Soup