Chicken Parmesan is a classic Italian-American dish that combines crispy breaded chicken breasts with rich marinara sauce and melted cheese. This comforting meal is perfect for a family dinner or a special occasion, offering a delightful blend of flavors and textures.
If you don't usually keep Italian seasoned breadcrumbs or marinara sauce in your pantry, you might need to pick these up at the supermarket. Italian seasoned breadcrumbs add a flavorful crust to the chicken, while marinara sauce provides a rich, tangy base for the dish. Make sure to choose a good quality marinara sauce for the best results.
Ingredients for Chicken Parmesan Recipe
Chicken breasts: Boneless, skinless pieces of chicken that are the main protein in this dish.
Italian seasoned breadcrumbs: Breadcrumbs mixed with Italian herbs and spices, used for coating the chicken.
Parmesan cheese: A hard, aged cheese that adds a sharp, nutty flavor.
Marinara sauce: A tomato-based sauce with herbs, used to top the chicken.
Mozzarella cheese: A soft, stretchy cheese that melts beautifully over the chicken.
Olive oil: Used for cooking the chicken to a golden brown.
Salt: Enhances the flavor of the chicken.
Black pepper: Adds a bit of heat and depth to the seasoning.
Technique Tip for This Recipe
When preparing chicken breasts for Chicken Parmesan, ensure they are of even thickness. If needed, use a meat mallet to pound them to a uniform size. This helps in cooking the chicken evenly and prevents overcooking or undercooking. Additionally, after cooking the chicken in the skillet, let it rest for a few minutes before transferring to the baking dish. This allows the juices to redistribute, resulting in a more flavorful and moist chicken.
Suggested Side Dishes
Alternative Ingredients
boneless, skinless chicken breasts - Substitute with turkey cutlets: Turkey cutlets have a similar texture and flavor profile, making them a good alternative for chicken.
italian seasoned breadcrumbs - Substitute with panko breadcrumbs with italian seasoning: Panko breadcrumbs provide a crispier texture, and you can add Italian seasoning to mimic the original flavor.
grated parmesan cheese - Substitute with grated pecorino romano: Pecorino Romano has a similar salty and nutty flavor, making it a suitable replacement for Parmesan.
marinara sauce - Substitute with tomato basil sauce: Tomato basil sauce offers a similar tomato base with a slightly different herb profile, which can still complement the dish well.
shredded mozzarella cheese - Substitute with provolone cheese: Provolone melts well and has a mild flavor that works similarly to mozzarella in this recipe.
olive oil - Substitute with avocado oil: Avocado oil has a high smoke point and a neutral flavor, making it a good alternative for olive oil in cooking.
salt - Substitute with kosher salt: Kosher salt has larger grains and a purer flavor, which can be used in the same quantity as regular salt.
black pepper - Substitute with white pepper: White pepper has a similar heat and flavor profile but is slightly milder, making it a good substitute for black pepper.
Other Alternative Recipes Similar to This Dish
How to Store / Freeze This Dish
- Allow the chicken parmesan to cool completely before storing. This helps prevent condensation, which can make the dish soggy.
- Use an airtight container to store the chicken in the refrigerator. It will stay fresh for up to 3-4 days.
- For longer storage, wrap each piece of chicken parmesan tightly in plastic wrap, then place them in a freezer-safe bag or container. This method can keep the dish good for up to 2-3 months.
- When ready to reheat, thaw the chicken in the refrigerator overnight if frozen.
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Place the chicken parmesan in an oven-safe dish and cover with foil to prevent drying out. Heat for about 20-25 minutes or until warmed through.
- Alternatively, you can reheat individual portions in the microwave. Place the chicken on a microwave-safe plate, cover with a microwave-safe lid or another plate, and heat on medium power for 2-3 minutes, checking halfway through.
- If you notice the cheese isn't as bubbly as you'd like, you can broil the chicken parmesan for an additional 2-3 minutes after reheating to achieve that perfect, melty top.
- Always check the internal temperature of the chicken to ensure it reaches at least 165°F (74°C) before serving.
How to Reheat Leftovers
Oven Method
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Place the leftover chicken parmesan in an oven-safe dish.
- Cover the dish with aluminum foil to keep the chicken moist.
- Heat for about 15-20 minutes, or until the chicken is warmed through and the cheese is bubbly.
- Remove the foil for the last 5 minutes to let the cheese crisp up.
Microwave Method
- Place the chicken parmesan on a microwave-safe plate.
- Cover with a microwave-safe lid or another plate to prevent splatters.
- Heat on medium power for 2-3 minutes, checking halfway through.
- If not heated through, continue in 30-second intervals until warm.
Stovetop Method
- Heat a skillet over medium-low heat.
- Add a small amount of olive oil to the skillet.
- Place the chicken parmesan in the skillet and cover with a lid.
- Heat for about 5-7 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the chicken is warmed and the cheese is melted.
Air Fryer Method
- Preheat your air fryer to 350°F (175°C).
- Place the chicken parmesan in the air fryer basket.
- Heat for 5-7 minutes, or until the chicken is hot and the cheese is bubbly and slightly crispy.
Toaster Oven Method
- Preheat your toaster oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Place the chicken parmesan on a toaster oven tray.
- Cover with aluminum foil to retain moisture.
- Heat for 10-15 minutes, removing the foil for the last 5 minutes to crisp up the cheese.
Best Tools for This Recipe
Oven: Used to bake the chicken parmesan until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Skillet: Used to cook the chicken breasts until they are golden brown.
Baking dish: Used to transfer the cooked chicken breasts and bake them with marinara sauce and cheese.
Tongs: Useful for flipping the chicken breasts in the skillet.
Measuring cups: Used to measure out the breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese, marinara sauce, and mozzarella cheese.
Spatula: Helpful for spreading the marinara sauce evenly over the chicken breasts.
Knife: Used to season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper.
Cutting board: Provides a surface to season the chicken breasts.
Grater: Used to grate the parmesan cheese if not pre-grated.
Serving platter: Used to serve the hot chicken parmesan once it is ready.
Basil: Optional garnish to add a fresh touch to the dish.
How to Save Time on Making This Recipe
Prepare ingredients in advance: Measure and set aside breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese, and mozzarella cheese before starting.
Use pre-made marinara sauce: Save time by using store-bought marinara sauce instead of making it from scratch.
Flatten chicken breasts: Pound the chicken breasts to an even thickness for quicker and more uniform cooking.
Cook in batches: If your skillet is small, cook the chicken breasts in batches to ensure even browning.
Preheat oven early: Start preheating your oven while you prepare the other ingredients to save time.
Chicken Parmesan Recipe
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 4 pieces Chicken breasts boneless, skinless
- 1 cup Breadcrumbs Italian seasoned
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese grated
- 2 cups Marinara sauce
- 1 cup Mozzarella cheese shredded
- 2 tablespoon Olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1 teaspoon Black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper.
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Cook the chicken until golden brown, about 3-4 minutes per side.
- Transfer the chicken to a baking dish. Top each piece with marinara sauce, mozzarella cheese, and Parmesan cheese.
- Bake in the preheated oven until the cheese is melted and bubbly, about 20 minutes.
- Serve hot, garnished with fresh basil if desired.
Nutritional Value
Keywords
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