Baked Chicken Parmesan Recipe

Baked Chicken Parmesan is one of those go-to meals that’s simple, comforting, and perfect for a weeknight dinner. It is easy to prepare with just a few ingredients and the taste is even better than when you order this meal at your favorite Italian restaurant.

Breaded chicken breasts topped with marinara sauce and melted cheese, baked to perfection for a flavorful and crispy meal. Once the chicken comes out of the oven you can eat it as a stand alone main dish, or serve it over pasta for a classic comfort food meal.

Best of all, this recipe is a small batch recipe which means that you won’t have to worry about storing or reheating leftovers for days. However, you can easily adjust the ingredients to make more if you are planning to have friends or family over.

The Chicken

For this recipe, you’ll need one large chicken breast, or two thin chicken breasts if you prefer. Either one works, but the main thing is making sure the chicken is thin enough to cook evenly.

If you’re using large chicken breasts slice them in half lengthwise to create two thin pieces like you would do if you were making my Rosemary Chicken Breast Recipe. This will help them cook faster and more evenly.

After slicing the chicken, pound them to even out their thickness. Just place the chicken between two pieces of plastic wrap or parchment paper and gently pound it with a meat mallet or rolling pin.

Even thickness ensures the chicken will cook at the same rate, so you won’t end up with some parts overcooked and others undercooked.

Coating the Chicken

Once your chicken is ready, the next step is to coat it. The coating for this Baked Chicken Parmesan recipe is made of Panko breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, and some basic seasonings like salt, pepper, garlic powder, and oregano.

Panko breadcrumbs are the preferred choice because they give the chicken a nice crispy texture, even though it’s baked instead of fried. Add in a little Parmesan cheese to add a little extra flavor and help the chicken brown nicely in the oven.

However, before you add the breading start by whisking an egg in a shallow bowl, which will help the breadcrumb mixture stick to the chicken. In another shallow bowl, mix the Panko breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and oregano.

Then, dip each piece of chicken into the egg, making sure it’s coated on both sides, and then into the breadcrumb mixture. Press the breadcrumbs onto the chicken to get a good coating on the surface.

Then place the chicken breasts on a baking sheet or baking pan that’s been sprayed with non-stick cooking spray.

Baked Chicken Parmesan

Preheat your oven to 425°F. Baked Chicken Parmesan cooks quickly at this high temperature, so the coating gets nice and crispy without the chicken drying out.

Once the chicken is coated and placed on the baking sheet, bake it in the oven for about 15 minutes. At this point, you’ll flip the chicken over and top each piece with marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese.

If you’re using store-bought marinara sauce, that’s totally fine. You can also use your favorite pasta sauce if that’s what you have on hand.

Each piece of chicken gets 3-4 tablespoons of sauce. Then you’ll top it with about 1/4 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese. After adding the sauce and cheese, put the chicken back in the oven for another 5-7 minutes, until the cheese melts and the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F when checked with an instant read digital thermometer.

Want your cheese a little more golden and bubbly? If so you can turn on the broiler for the last couple of minutes. Just keep a close eye on it so the cheese doesn’t burn.

How To Serve Baked Chicken Parmesan

Now that your Baked Chicken Parmesan is ready, it’s time to decide how to serve it. One of the most common ways is to serve it over pasta.

You can boil up some spaghetti, linguine, or any other pasta you like. To make it even more tasty spoon extra marinara sauce over the noodles. Another option is spaghetti squash if you want to keep things a little lighter. Just roast the squash while the chicken is baking, and then scrape out the strands with a fork for a low-carb alternative.

You can also serve Baked Chicken Parmesan on its own as a main dish. If you go this route, you might want to pair it with a simple side salad or some roasted vegetables to round out the meal. It’s really up to you and what you’re in the mood for.

Baked Chicken Parmesan Recipe

*A printable recipe card is located at the bottom of this article which contains the specific measurements, temperatures and cook times. However, continue reading below to learn about more helpful tips about this specific recipe.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 chicken breast, large
• 3/4 cup Panko bread crumbs
• 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon oregano, dried
• 1 egg, large
• 1/2 cup marinara sauce, or pasta sauce
• 1/2 cup shredded Mozzarella cheese

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat the oven to 425°F. Spray an 8 x 8 inch baking pan with non-stick cooking spray and set aside.

Slice chicken breasts in half lengthwise to make 2 thin breasts and pound to even thickness if needed.

In a shallow bowl, combine the Panko breadcrumbs, Parmesan, salt, pepper, garlic powder & oregano. In another shallow bowl, whisk the egg.

Dip each chicken fillet into the egg mixture and then into the bread crumb mixture, coating both sides well. Transfer the chicken to the prepared baking sheet.

Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes. Then carefully, using a firm spatula, flip each breast onto the other side and top with 3-4 tablespoons of marinara sauce.

Then top each chicken breast with 1/4 cup of Mozzarella cheese. Return the pan to the oven and bake for an additional 5-7 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the chicken is cooked through.

The internal temperature should read 165°F when tested with an instant read digital thermometer. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley and more Parmesan cheese if desired.

With just one bite I am sure that this Baked Chicken Parmesan recipe will become a new favorite!

Enjoy! Mary

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