Description
This Crispy Chicken Parmesan recipe combines tender, breaded chicken breasts fried to golden perfection with a flavorful tomato sauce and melted mozzarella cheese, finished in the oven for a classic Italian comfort dish. Ready in just 35 minutes, it’s perfect for a satisfying weeknight dinner that serves four.
Ingredients
Chicken and Coating
- 2 large chicken breasts, halved horizontally to make 4 fillets
- 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, grated
- 1 1/4 cup panko bread crumbs
- 1 tbsp onion powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup vegetable oil for frying
Tomato Sauce
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 cup onion, chopped
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 1/2 cup tomato puree
- 2 tsp sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
Topping and Garnish
- 8 ounces mozzarella cheese, sliced
- 1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 450°F to prepare for finishing the chicken with melted cheese.
- Prepare Chicken Breast: Dry chicken breasts thoroughly with a paper towel. Flatten each piece to 1/2 inch thickness between plastic sheets or in a plastic bag. Season both sides liberally with salt and pepper.
- Prepare Coatings: Place flour in a small bowl. In another bowl, whisk eggs and olive oil together. In a third bowl, combine panko bread crumbs and parmesan cheese with onion powder.
- Coat Chicken: Dredge each chicken piece in flour, shaking off excess. Dip into egg wash, draining excess, then coat evenly with breadcrumb mixture, pressing lightly to adhere. Repeat for all pieces.
- First Fry of Chicken: Heat 1/2 cup vegetable oil in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add two pieces of chicken gently. Fry 2-3 minutes until golden brown on the first side.
- Flip and Finish Frying: Lower heat to medium and flip chicken. Cook an additional 3 minutes or until golden brown and internal temperature reaches 160°F (71°C). Remove and drain on paper towel-lined plate, then transfer to wire rack over a sheet pan.
- Repeat Frying: Discard used oil, clean pan, and add 1/2 cup fresh oil. Fry the remaining two chicken pieces using the same method.
- Prepare Sauce: In a separate pan, heat olive oil over medium heat. Sauté chopped onion and minced garlic until translucent. Add tomato puree, sugar, salt, and black pepper. Simmer to combine flavors thoroughly.
- Assemble Chicken Parmesan: Spoon the prepared tomato sauce evenly over each fried chicken fillet on the wire rack. Top each with slices of mozzarella cheese.
- Bake to Finish: Transfer the sheet pan with chicken to the preheated oven. Bake for about 5 minutes or until the mozzarella is melted and bubbly.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from oven and sprinkle with fresh chopped parsley. Serve hot and enjoy your Crispy Chicken Parmesan!
Notes
- Ensure chicken pieces are patted dry for better breading adherence.
- Use a meat thermometer to check chicken reaches 160°F to ensure it is fully cooked.
- For a healthier version, you can bake the chicken instead of frying, but frying gives the classic crisp texture.
- Fresh parsley adds color and brightness; substitute with basil if preferred.
