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If you’re looking for a dish that’s guaranteed to impress, look no further than The Best Chicken Parmesan Recipe. This classic Italian-American favorite is a true crowd-pleaser, combining juicy, breaded chicken with a rich tomato sauce, melty mozzarella, and a sprinkling of Parmesan cheese. The result is a comforting, flavorful meal that’s perfect for any occasion. Whether you’re hosting a dinner party or just craving a hearty weeknight dinner, this Chicken Parmesan recipe delivers unbeatable taste and texture. Get ready to make the best Chicken Parmesan you’ve ever had!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
This Chicken Parmesan recipe is not only delicious but also versatile. It’s perfect for a weeknight dinner, yet impressive enough for entertaining guests. The combination of crispy chicken, tangy tomato sauce, and aromatic basil creates a dish that’s both satisfying and sophisticated. Plus, the use of simple ingredients means you can whip it up without much hassle, making it ideal for busy cooks.
Whether served with a side of pasta, a fresh salad, or even on its own, Chicken Parmesan is a meal that everyone will love. Try it out tonight, and it just might become a new favorite in your household!
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Chicken Breast: Start with one chicken breast, sliced in half lengthwise to create two thinner pieces. This not only helps the chicken cook more evenly but also makes for a more tender bite.
- Seasoning: A simple combination of salt and pepper is all you need to enhance the natural flavor of the chicken.
- Flour: Dredging the chicken in flour before breading helps the coating stick better, ensuring a crispy finish.
- Egg: Beaten egg acts as the glue that holds the breadcrumbs onto the chicken.
- Panko Breadcrumbs: These Japanese-style breadcrumbs are key to achieving that perfect, golden-brown crunch.
- Fresh Parsley and Parmesan Cheese: Mixed into the breadcrumbs, these add a burst of fresh flavor and a touch of richness.
- Vegetable oil (for the chicken) and olive oil (for the sauce): Vegetable oil helps the chicken cook to a beautiful golden color, while olive oil adds its own subtle flavor to the sauce
- Garlic and Cherry Tomatoes: These form the base of the simple, yet flavorful, tomato sauce.
- Honey: A small amount of honey balances the acidity of the tomatoes, giving the sauce a delightful sweetness.
- Fresh Basil: The final touch, fresh basil leaves, infuse the sauce with an aromatic, herbaceous flavor.
- Mozzarella Cheese: Four slices of mozzarella add a creamy, melty layer on top of the sauce.Extra Parmesan Cheese: Grated Parmesan adds a final touch of richness on top.
How to Make The Best Chicken Parmesan
Prepare the Chicken:
- Slice the chicken breast in half lengthwise to create a larger, thinner piece.
- Season both sides of the chicken with salt and pepper.
- Lightly dredge the chicken in flour, ensuring an even coat. Shake off any excess.
Bread the Chicken:
- After dredging in flour, dip the chicken into a beaten egg mixture, ensuring it’s fully coated. Next, press the chicken into a mixture of panko breadcrumbs, chopped parsley, and grated Parmesan cheese. The combination of panko and Parmesan gives the chicken a crispy, cheesy crust that’s absolutely irresistible.
Cook the Chicken:
- Heat vegetable oil in a large pan over medium heat. Once hot, add the breaded chicken piece. Cook each side for about 3-4 minutes, or until the chicken is golden brown and cooked through. The key here is not to overcrowd the pan, which can make the chicken soggy rather than crispy.
Make the Tomato Sauce:
- Using the same pan, add olive oil, and sauté the sliced garlic until fragrant—this should take about a minute. Add halved cherry tomatoes and cook until they soften, which usually takes around 5-7 minutes. Once they’re soft, push the tomato skins aside in the pan and crush the tomatoes with a fork. This creates a chunky, rustic sauce. Season with salt, pepper, honey, and fresh basil leaves, then stir to combine.
Assemble the Chicken Parmesan:
- Place the cooked chicken breasts on a baking sheet. Spoon the tomato sauce evenly over each piece of chicken. Top the sauce with slices of mozzarella cheese, then sprinkle additional grated Parmesan cheese on top.
Melt the Cheese:
- Preheat your oven’s broiler. Place the chicken under the broiler for 2-3 minutes, or until the mozzarella is melted and bubbly, and the Parmesan is slightly golden. Keep a close eye on it to prevent burning.
Serve:
- Remove the Chicken Parmesan from the oven and serve immediately. Garnish with fresh basil or parsley if desired.
Pro Tips for the Perfect Chicken Parmesan
- Use Panko Breadcrumbs: Panko breadcrumbs are lighter and crispier than regular breadcrumbs, which helps create that perfect golden crust.
- Don’t Skip the Flour: Dredging the chicken in flour before dipping it in the egg is essential for getting the breadcrumbs to adhere properly. This step ensures a crispy, even coating.
- Cook in Batches: If you’re making more than one chicken breast, cook them in batches. Overcrowding the pan can lower the oil’s temperature, leading to less crispy chicken.
- Rest the Chicken on a Wire Rack: After frying, place the chicken on a wire rack rather than directly on a plate. This helps keep the breading crispy by allowing excess oil to drain away and air to circulate around the chicken.
- Fresh Basil is Key: Adding fresh basil to the sauce at the end of cooking brings a vibrant, aromatic flavor that dried basil just can’t match.
Storage and Reheating
If you have leftovers (though it’s so delicious, you might not!), here’s how to store and reheat your Chicken Parmesan:
- Refrigeration: Store the cooked Chicken Parmesan in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Freezing: You can also freeze the chicken for up to 3 months. For best results, freeze the chicken and sauce separately, then reheat and combine before serving.
- Reheating: To reheat, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Place the chicken on a baking sheet and cover loosely with aluminum foil to prevent it from drying out. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until heated through. If reheating from frozen, allow the chicken to thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.
What to serve with Chicken Parmesan
The Best Chicken Parmesan Recipe
This Chicken Parmesan recipe features crispy, breaded chicken topped with a rich tomato sauce, creamy mozzarella, and Parmesan cheese. It’s a comforting and flavorful dish that’s easy to make and perfect for any occasion. Whether you’re cooking for a family dinner or entertaining guests, this recipe is sure to impress!
Ingredients
- 1 chicken breast sliced in half lengthwise
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tbsp Flour
- 1 egg beaten
- 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley chopped
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil to fry the chicken
- 2 tbsp olive oil for sauce
- 4 cloves garlic sliced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
- 1 tsp honey
- 2 tbsp fresh basil leaves
- 5 slices mozzarella cheese
- 2 tbsp Parmesan cheese for topping
Instructions
- Slice the chicken breast in half lengthwise to create a larger, thinner piece.
- Season both sides of the chicken with salt and pepper.
- Lightly dredge the chicken in flour, ensuring an even coat. Shake off any excess.
- In a shallow bowl, beat the egg until well combined.
- In a separate shallow bowl, combine panko breadcrumbs, chopped parsley, and grated Parmesan cheese.
- After dredging the chicken in flour, dip it into the beaten egg mixture, coating both sides.
- Immediately press the chicken into the breadcrumb mixture, ensuring the breadcrumbs adhere evenly on both sides.
- Heat olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Once hot, add the breaded chicken.
- Cook the chicken for about 3-4 minutes on each side, or until golden brown and cooked through. Remove from the pan and set aside.
- In the same pan, add vegetable oil, and sauté the sliced garlic until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Add the halved cherry tomatoes to the pan. Cook until they soften, about 5-7 minutes.
- Once softened, push the skins aside in the pan, then crush the tomatoes with a fork to create a chunky sauce.
- Season with salt, pepper, honey, and chopped basil leaves. Stir to combine.
- Place the cooked chicken breasts on a baking sheet. Spoon the tomato sauce evenly over each piece of chicken.
- Top the sauce with slices of mozzarella cheese, then sprinkle additional grated Parmesan cheese on top.
- Preheat your oven’s broiler. Place the chicken under the broiler for 2-3 minutes, or until the mozzarella is melted and bubbly, and the Parmesan is slightly golden. Keep a close eye on it to prevent burning.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
