BEST Easy Chicken Parmesan Recipe | Crazy for Crust (2024)

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Easy chicken Parmesan– this quick dinner recipe is totally foolproof. The chicken comes out moist every time! It’s the BEST baked chicken Parmesan recipe we’ve ever had and it’s my husband’s favorite.

This is a tried and true recipe I’ve been making for almost 20 years and I know you’ll love it as much as we do.

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Table of Contents

  • The BEST Easy Chicken Parmesan
  • Ingredients in Easy Chicken Parmesan
  • How to make Foolproof Chicken Parmesan
  • Expert Tips
  • FAQ
  • Easy Chicken Parmesan Recipe Recipe
  • Other Easy Chicken Recipes

The BEST Easy Chicken Parmesan

I’ve been making this baked chicken parm recipe for weeknight dinners for a long time and we love it because it’s totally foolproof.

Why you’ll love this recipe

  • It’s baked, not fried, so it has less calories
  • It’s never dry! Dry chicken is the worst, which is why I like this easy chicken Parmesan recipe so much.
  • Works EVERY time
  • Done in just about 30 minutes!
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Ingredients in Easy Chicken Parmesan

  • Chicken Breasts: I like to use boneless skinless chicken breasts. When I can find them, I’ll buy thin sliced so they aren’t as bulky and oddly shaped. If using regular chicken breasts, be sure to cut them so they are uniform in size and thickness (this way they will cook the same). You can also use chicken cutlets.
  • Seasonings: You can add some Garlic powder, onion powder, and Italian herbs.
  • Breadcrumbs: You can use regular bread crumbs, Italian breadcrumbs or panko breadcrumbs. I don’t do the double dip with flour and egg to make it a bit healthier. You don’t even need an egg – the breadcrumbs stick just fine to the chicken.
  • Parmesan Cheese: I usually just use the grated kind, but you could freshly grate it too.
  • Marinara Sauce: Use your favorite jarred sauce or homemade tomato sauce. I love using my homemade marinara sauce!
  • Mozzarella Cheese: Shred it yourself for best melting results! Pre-shredded cheese has a coating that makes it not melt as pretty.
BEST Easy Chicken Parmesan Recipe | Crazy for Crust (4)
BEST Easy Chicken Parmesan Recipe | Crazy for Crust (5)
BEST Easy Chicken Parmesan Recipe | Crazy for Crust (6)

How to make Foolproof Chicken Parmesan

  1. I like to make sure my chicken breasts are uniform in size. Slice each breast in half lengthwise to get equal sized pieces. This ensures they’ll bake evenly.
  2. Bread the chicken, as it is in traditional chicken parmesan. Mix the breadcrumbs with spices in a shallow bowl or pie plate and dip chicken in the breadcrumb mixture. The breading sticks fine without egg, which reduces a step.
  3. Bake the breaded chicken at a high temperature, sealing in moisture and baking it quickly, which gives the chicken a crispy crust.
  4. At the end of baking, right when regular chicken recipes would be getting dry, you pour pasta sauce and sprinkle the cheese over the chicken. The covering of sauce helps the chicken finish cooking yet keeps it nice and juicy.
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BEST Easy Chicken Parmesan Recipe | Crazy for Crust (8)

Tip From Dorothy

Expert Tips

  • Add salt and pepper to taste after cooking. Often pasta sauces have lots of salt, which is why I don’t season the chicken itself.
  • Making sure you have evenly sized chicken breasts is really important. Be sure to cut them to be similar size and thickness, or place them in a plastic bag and pound with a rolling pin to even them out.
  • Store leftovers in the refrigerator or in the freezer (but freezing will make the chicken not as crispy).
  • I’ve also made this in the instant pot!

FAQ

How do you keep breading on chicken parmesan?

In traditional recipes, you’d dredge the chicken in egg wash so the breadcrumbs will stick. In my recipe I skip that step and just press the chicken into them to make them stick.

How to reheat chicken parmesan

This is great reheated in the microwave or you can heat it in the oven at 350°F.

Is this a ww chicken parmesan recipe?

It definitely can be! Because there is so little breading it’s relatively low carb, and you can use low-fat cheese to lower the ww points or macros.

BEST Easy Chicken Parmesan Recipe | Crazy for Crust (9)

Easy Chicken Parmesan Recipe

Easy Chicken Parmesan – this quick dinner recipe is totally foolproof. The chicken comes out moist every time! It’s the BEST chicken parmesan recipe we’ve ever had.

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes minutes

Total Time 35 minutes minutes

Yield 4 servings

Serving Size 1 serving

Save RecipeRate RecipePrint Recipe

Ingredients

  • 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 2 full breasts)
  • ¾ cup breadcrumbs (can reduce to ½ to lower the carbs)
  • ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
  • 1 cup pasta sauce any flavor
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
  • Pasta for serving

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 450°F. Spray a 9×9” pan with nonstick cooking spray.

  • Depending on the sizes of your chicken breasts, slice each longwise into 4-6 ounce pieces. Place breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese in a shallow dish and stir.

  • Place each chicken breast into the breadcrumb mixture to thoroughly coat both sides. Place in pan. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until they start to look done and crispy.

  • Remove hot pan from the oven and top with pasta sauce and mozzarella cheese. Return to oven and bake an additional 5-10 minutes or until cheese is melted and chicken is cooked through. Serve over pasta, if desired. We also like to serve this with just a salad for a lower carb meal.

Recipe Video

Recipe Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 334kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 36g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 100mg | Sodium: 871mg | Potassium: 683mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 545IU | Vitamin C: 5.6mg | Calcium: 261mg | Iron: 2.2mg

Nutritional information not guaranteed to be accurate

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Author Dorothy Kern

Did you try this recipe? Click the stars to rate the recipe below

What to serve with Chicken Parmesan

  • Serve the chicken by itself with a vegetable, like air fryer broccoli or green beans.
  • Serve it with extra sauce over spaghetti or zucchini noodles.
  • Make a side of breadsticks or dinner rolls for a side dish.

Other Easy Chicken Recipes

  • Instant Pot Chicken is another quick weeknight meal
  • Orange Chicken is one of my favorites!
  • Chicken Pot Pie

Last Updated on February 13, 2024

BEST Easy Chicken Parmesan Recipe | Crazy for Crust (10)

Dorothy Kern

Welcome to Crazy for Crust, where I share recipes that are sometimes crazy, often with a crust, and always served with a slice of life.

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24 Comments

  1. I don’t see eggs in the ingredients to coat the breadcrumbs.

    Reply
  2. Chicken is always my favorite! Thank you for sharing the recipe! Can’t wait to try this chicken parmesan.

    Reply
  3. This is the best Chicken Parmesan recipe I’ve ever ate. I made it tonight and it was a hit with my family.

    Reply
    1. Hi, do you dip the chicken in egg before coating it with the bread crumb/parmesan mixture?

      Reply
      1. Yes that’s what we do

    2. So good an sooooo easy!

      Reply
    3. So easy and delicious! Chicken came our really moist

      Reply
    4. Chicken, Veal, and Meatball Parm

      In Italy, the parmigiana treatment is given to eggplants, not chicken or other meats.

      Reply
    5. Easy and very good!

      Reply
    6. Very Very good..very easy!!…

      Reply
    7. at which stage do you recommend freezing? Looks great!

      Reply
      1. Once it’s all done you can freeze it (once it’s cooled). Then let defrost and heat!

        Reply
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BEST Easy Chicken Parmesan Recipe | Crazy for Crust (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between chicken parmigiana and chicken parmesan? ›

Chicken Parmesan and chicken Parmigiana are just different names for the same exact recipe. And, with a name like “chicken Parmigiana”, you might assume that this recipe is Italian. While it has roots in Italy (in a way), chicken Parmesan is all-American.

What can I use instead of egg for Parmesan crusted chicken? ›

Instead of the egg, Moskowitz recommends a mix of cornstarch and water, which, when stirred together, forms a slurry. It, too, is an effective glue, and you may even notice more crispness to, say, your chicken parm. This would also be another good scenario for a liquid vegan substitute.

How do you keep breading from falling off chicken parmesan? ›

  1. Rinse your chicken off then pat dry. ...
  2. Then dip it in egg, dip it in flour, dip it in egg, dip it in breadcrumb, etc.
  3. The reason the breading falls off is because moisture in or on the chicken separates it from the chicken while it's cooking.
  4. Remove the moisture and the breading stays on.
May 6, 2019

Why does the breading fall off my chicken parm? ›

You Don't Start Dry

The first step to breading chicken is crucial; make sure the chicken is completely dry before starting the dredging process. Using a paper towel, pat the meat dry on all sides. Excess moisture will cause the flour to get soggy and thus will not adhere properly to the chicken.

Is chicken parmesan better with mozzarella or provolone? ›

The use of the parmesan, mozzarella and provolone together leads to a really nice balance of cheesy flavor as opposed to just using mozzarella, which is how I have made it in the past. This will definitely be my favorite “go to” Chicken Parmigiana recipe for now on.

Why is mozzarella used on chicken parmesan? ›

Slices of fresh mozzarella melted over the browned chicken breasts and simmered marinara sauce add moist, soft texture and milky flavor.

Why is it called chicken parm if it uses mozzarella? ›

Some believe that it was created in Parma, hence the name. Others believe it comes from a Sicilian word that means slabs on a roof, referring to the thin slices of chicken covered in the sauce.

What can I use if I don t have breadcrumbs for chicken parmesan? ›

According to question, Yes, you can make breaded chicken without traditional bread crumbs. There are several alternatives you can use, such as crushed cornflakes, crushed crackers, panko breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan cheese, or even ground nuts like almonds or pecans.

Can you use milk instead of eggs for chicken parm? ›

Here are some common egg substitutes for breading: Milk or Buttermilk:Dip the meat in milk or buttermilk before coating it with the breading. This helps the breading adhere to the meat. You can use dairy or non-dairy alternatives like almond milk or soy milk.

Do you use milk or eggs for breaded chicken? ›

Can you use milk instead of eggs? As long as you coat the cutlets in a layer of flour first, you can substitute milk in place of eggs for the next layer. The combination of flour and milk will create a sticky coating that breadcrumbs can adhere to.

What is the best store bought sauce for chicken parmesan? ›

Rao's Marinara Sauce: Rao's is a popular brand known for its high-quality marinara sauce. It is often recommended for chicken parmesan recipes due to its rich flavor and clean ingredients. You can find it at most grocery stores, and Costco often offers a good deal on a two-pack [1].

Why do you pound chicken for chicken parm? ›

Chef John's Top Tips for Making Chicken Parmesan

Pound chicken to an even thickness: Pound the boneless chicken breasts out to an even width so they cook evenly. Basically, you're pounding the thick part down to the size of the thin part, about a half-inch thick.

What goes good with chicken parmesan? ›

Typical sides would be linguine or spaghetti with the same sauce, and some kind of green vegetables, like zucchini (for its Italian aesthetic). Green salad is a good accompaniment, too.

How do you keep chicken breading from falling off? ›

Place the breaded chicken on a cooling rack (or a platter) and chill in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes. This cooling time will help the layers of breading ingredients solidify and adhere better after the chicken cooks. Once you start cooking the chicken, be patient and don't flip it over too early.

Why isn't my breading sticking to my chicken? ›

Meat is not properly dry

If the meat is wet, it will make the flour soggy. In that case, breading will not stick properly and may fall off when deep frying. Therefore, you must take some paper towels and pat dry the meat on all sides.

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