This healthy oven-baked chicken parmesan recipe brings restaurant-style cooking home. Enjoy tender breaded chicken topped with melty mozzarella cheese for an effortless dish! A restaurant favorite made easy.
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F, line a large baking sheet with aluminum foil, and combine panko bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, oregano and black pepper in a shallow dish. Separately whisk an egg; coat chicken breasts in flour, then dip them in the egg, and finally in the breadcrumb mixture.
Ingredients
This restaurant-quality Chicken Parmesan (AKA Chicken Parmigiana) recipe is easy to replicate at home! Tender breaded chicken pieces are layered with homemade marinara sauce and cheese before being baked until golden brown – providing you with a comforting meal the entire family will appreciate.
This version of chicken parmesan uses less oil and higher-grade tomato sauce than its pan-fried counterpart, making this healthier than many dishes served at restaurants. Furthermore, baking this version leads to an even, crispy crust than its pan-fried equivalent.
To prepare this delicious and simple dish:
- Lightly spray a large-rimmed baking sheet with cooking spray.
- In a shallow dish, mix panko breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan cheese, salt, garlic powder, oregano and black pepper until fully combined.
- In another bowl, whisk an egg; dip each chicken cutlet in this egg before gently pressing onto the breadcrumb mixture with your hand so the crumbs stick securely onto its surface.
Once all the breaded chicken has been coated, place it onto a prepared baking sheet. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until an instant-read thermometer inserted into a chicken breast registers 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
To prepare, spoon a generous portion of marinara sauce onto each breaded chicken cutlet and top it off with 2 tablespoons or more of mozzarella cheese. Broil for 5 to 7 minutes or until cheese has melted and become bubbly – and enjoy this classic, flavorful meal alongside roasted vegetables or Caesar salad for a healthy and filling weeknight meal!
Prep Time
Traditional chicken parmesan is made by pan-frying breaded, pan-fried chicken that’s covered with tomato sauce, mozzarella and Parmesan cheese, and additional toppings such as breadcrumbs or panko crumbs for breeding purposes. While the original recipe requires much pounding and breading work as well as deep frying steps, we have simplified its preparation into this quicker weeknight dinner option with some helpful shortcuts.
Instead of pan-frying chicken, this alternative uses an oven to reduce both cooking time and add extra flavour. The chicken is coated with an easy breadcrumb mixture combining Panko crumbs and finely grated parmesan for an irresistibly crunchy crust that adds extra zing! For even less prep work and prep time savings, store-bought marinara can be substituted as an accompaniment.
To ensure even cooking of chicken, it should be pounded down to an even thickness before breading. This ensures that thicker portions don’t dry out too quickly while thinner parts stay juicy enough for proper cooking. Using a meat thermometer is key here as well. Resting the bird after taking it out of the oven allows juices to return to its surface again and re-absorb into its structure.
Leftover baked chicken parmesan can last in the refrigerator for 3-4 days and also freezes well, making this meal easy to reheat in the oven or serve on toasty hoagie rolls as chicken parmesan sandwiches.
Cook Time
Chicken Parmesan is an easy and quick weeknight dinner option that requires only minimal ingredients to prepare. The classic Italian restaurant dish can easily be recreated at home using baked chicken breasts with breading coated in mozzarella cheese and parmesan, making this a delicious, family-friendly option! Compared to its deep-fried counterpart, this baked version uses less oil. Perfect for busy family dinner nights!
Panko breadcrumbs provide the light, crispy texture of chicken parmesan without the additional fat and calories found in traditional fried versions, while egg whites help the breadcrumbs adhere, and we add flavorful spices such as garlic powder, onion powder and Italian seasoning for flavour enhancement. Grated parmesan cheese gives this healthy option even more depth of flavor!
Once made, bake it until the cheese bubbles and browns. Enjoy immediately or allow to cool slightly so the sauce thickens more.
If desired, the chicken and sauce can be prepared ahead of time and kept refrigerated until ready for baking. Served over pasta or on toasted hoagie rolls as an easy cheesy chicken sandwich option!
Serve
This oven version of Chicken Parmesan takes a lighter approach to this classic Italian dish, opting for baking instead of frying and still covered in plenty of tomato sauce and two types of cheese smothering. A perfect weeknight-friendly dinner that everyone is sure to love!
To keep the chicken moist and tender while baking, lightly apply mayonnaise or Greek yoghurt to each piece before breading it – this helps the coating stick better while providing moisture for tender, juicy chicken pieces! This step will keep your poultry succulent.
This recipe uses a mixture of regular flour and Japanese panko breadcrumbs for its breading, creating an irresistibly crispy coating without the need for deep frying. I added finely grated parmesan for extra flavor – this provides all of the delicious taste of freshly grated parmesan without all of its hassle and expense!
I prefer mozzarella in this recipe, though any semi-soft variety, such as fontina, would do just as well. Fontina cheese’s smooth and melting-friendly texture makes it especially enjoyable; find it at most supermarkets or use regular whole-milk mozzarella as a suitable replacement.
Assemble this dish in no time at all by covering breaded chicken pieces with the desired amount of marinara sauce, then topping each one with mozzarella and parmesan. Bake until cheese bubbles and turns golden brown – usually about 15 minutes. Serve alongside pasta (regular or whole wheat), spaghetti squash noodles or zucchini strands, or side salad for an unforgettable Italian-flavored comfort meal!
Conclusion:
Savor the magic of oven-baked perfection with our chicken parmesan recipe. Crispy, golden layers of flavor await, turning an ordinary dinner into a culinary delight. Elevate your dining experience with this simple yet irresistible dish.