Easy baked chicken parmesan topped with fresh mozzarella and basil. A quick and easy meal your whole family will love!
Chicken parmesan is one of those classic and delicious Italian dishes that you can’t go wrong with. It’s super crispy, flavorful and delicious…no wonder it’s so popular! Chicken marsala, fettuccine alfredo, baked ziti and spaghetti and meatballs are some other Italian favorites as well. Yum!
One of my husband’s all-time favorite meals is chicken parmesan. He always orders it if we’re eating out at an Italian restaurant. I’ve made quite a few versions at home and prefer my baked chicken parmesan the best. It’s healthier than frying it in butter and is also way easier to throw together.
You could of course always make your own homemade bread crumbs for a unique flavor, but I usually just buy some from the store. You can also sprinkle on some grated mozzarella instead of using slices if you’re looking to cut down on calories. I, however, love the cheese just oozing off the sides! YUM!
Ingredients
Chicken breasts: Boneless, skinless chicken breasts work great for this recipe. I use 3 breasts and then slice each in half to create 6 fillets.
Eggs: The whisked eggs are essentially the ‘glue’ for this recipe. They help ensure that the bread crumb mixture sticks to the chicken fillets.
Bread crumbs: You can use either panko or Italian bread crumbs. Both work great!
Cheese: There are 2 types of cheese used. First I used 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese to include in the bread crumb coating. Then I used fresh sliced mozzarella to add on top of the marinara at the end.
Marinara: Both marinara or spaghetti sauce work great in this recipe. Feel free to use store-bought or homemade.
Spices: Garlic powder, salt and pepper are used to season this dish. The garlic powder is added in to the bread crumb mixture and S&P is whisked in with the eggs.
How to make chicken parmesan
Find the printable recipe below.
- Preheat oven. Preheat oven to 415° and spray baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.
- Slice and tenderize chicken. Cut chicken in half horizontally to create 6 fillets. Then place fillets in a zip top bag and flatten with a meat tenderizer.
- Coat with egg and bread crumb mixture. Whisk eggs in a bowl with salt and pepper. Then place bread crumbs, parmesan and garlic powder in a separate bowl. Dip each fillet in egg, then place in bread crumbs and cover completely.
- Bake in oven. Add fillets to baking sheet and bake until chicken is no longer pink in middle, about 20-25 minutes. Flip halfway through.
- Top with sauce and cheese and bake until melted. Remove from oven and spoon 1/4 cup marinara over top. Then place mozzarella slice on top of sauce. Place back in oven and bake until cheese is melted, 3-5 minutes. Broil the last minute if desired.
- Add toppings and serve! Top with fresh basil or oregano and serve with pasta if desired.
How do you keep chicken crispy?
I like to broil my chicken during the last minute of cooking. The breadcrumbs crisp up so nicely. Be sure to keep an eye on it so that it doesn’t burn!
If you’d like yours extra crispy, you can fry the chicken before baking. Simply heat 1/2 cup olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook each side (after dipping in the crumb mixture) for 2 minutes. Then cook for 18-20 minutes in oven.
Serve with:
- Pasta: We like to serve chicken parmesan over noodles such as angel hair pasta or spaghetti.
- Salad: It tastes delicious served with a big chopped salad or Italian salad. Yum!
- Veggies: Fresh veggies always make a great addition. Some of our favorites are green beans, roasted asparagus and broccoli.
- Bread: Don’t forget the fresh bread! Garlic bread, french bread, breadsticks and garlic cheese rolls all taste delicious served alongside this dish.
Baked Chicken Parmesan Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 pieces boneless, skinless chicken breast
- 2 eggs , whisked
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1 cup Panko or Italian bread crumbs
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 cups marinara or spaghetti sauce
- 6-8 ounces fresh mozzarella , sliced about 1/8 inch thick
For serving: freshly chopped basil and cooked spaghetti noodles
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 415°. Spray a baking sheet or jelly roll pan with non-stick cooking spray and set aside.
- Cut chicken in half horizontally to create 6 fillets. Place chicken in a zip top bag and flatten chicken with a meat tenderizer or rolling pin to about 1/4" thick.
- Place egg in a bowl and whisk together with salt and pepper. Place bread crumbs, parmesan cheese and garlic powder in a separate bowl. Dip chicken in the egg and then place in the bread crumbs and cover the chicken.
- Next place chicken in the pan and bake for 20-25 minutes or until the chicken is no longer pink in the middle. Flip the chicken half way through.
- Remove chicken from oven and spoon about 1/4 cup sauce on top of the chicken and top with a slice of mozzarella cheese. Bake for an additional 3-5 minutes or until cheese is melted. Broil the last minute if desired.
- Top with fresh basil or oregano. Serve with angel hair pasta or spaghetti if desired. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Enjoy!!
I’m a bit confused! You show a photo of the chicken breasts being fried in oil. Do you fry them first?
Hi Lois! The picture is just when I take them out of the oven half way through to flip them.
thiswas a great recipe very recommended
Best homemade chicken parm I have ever made. The fresh mozzarella and basil make this dish perfect!
I’m so happy to hear you loved it!! :)