This Easy Chicken Parmesan recipe is your next date night at home meal! Crispy chicken breasts topped with tangy tomato sauce and cheese baked until golden and bubbly. It's your favorite restaurant dish, made at home in simple steps. Use the how to video below to help you!
Hello, Friday date night! I'm a big proponent of the at-home date night. You can spend a ridiculous amount of time on the first bottle of wine while leisurely cooking for each other. I love to divide and conquer the chopping of vegetables or the steps of a recipe. Easy chicken parmesan is a great meal to cook together with your partner.
I don't know a single person that doesn't love chicken Parmesan. Crispy chicken topped with a tangy tomato sauce and creamy cheese is just something that can't be beat. It's heaven on a plate, if you ask me.
Easy Chicken Parmesan method:
I've made a lot of chicken Parmesan in my day. I've tried all sorts of coatings (fresh bread crumbs, stale/toasted bread crumbs, onion focaccia), and I've opened a jar of store-bought marinara more times than I've made a sauce from scratch. It's one of those dishes that almost doesn't require a recipe once you know the method. But, when you follow a recipe that works, you'll get great results every time.
This easy chicken parmesan recipe below is meant to be a starting place if you've never made the dish before. Once you've nailed it, feel free to make substitutions. You can double or triple this recipe to feed a crowd.
Whatever you do, do not skip the step of adding Parmesan cheese to the bread crumbs! This gives the chicken crust a crisp, cheesy flavor that makes this recipe better than any other recipe!
How to make Chicken Parmesan:
- First, we're going to make a simple tomato sauce that will top our chicken cutlets and our pasta. It's simply a can of tomatoes pureed and sauteed with spices, but you are definitely welcome to open a jar of your favorite sauce instead! You'll save a few steps and a few dishes. I would recommend a canned pasta sauce that is tangy and vibrant with fresh tomatoes instead of loaded with sugar, because it compliments the chicken so much better.
- One secret for getting a thick, crispy crust on chicken Parmesan is to dust the chicken breasts in a light coating of flour. This gives the eggs something to stick to on the chicken, which then enables more breadcrumbs to stick, too!
- So, take two chicken breasts that are a similar size and thickness, and coat them lightly in flour.
- Dunk the chicken breasts in egg, followed by the breadcrumbs mixed with the Parmesan cheese.
- After sautéeing the chicken in a skillet to make a golden brown crust, simply place them on a pan, top with a dollop of tomato sauce and fresh mozzarella. A few minutes under the broiler will make everything come together!
- There's nothing better than a crispy chicken cutlet topped with tomato sauce and fresh mozzarella all on top of spaghetti.
More chicken dinners for two you might like:
Dinner for Two: Easy Chicken Parmesan
Easy chicken parmesan recipe for two with an extra cheesy crust.
Ingredients
Quick tomato sauce:
- 1 28-oz. can whole peeled tomatoes, drained
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
- ¼ teaspoon sugar
- salt to taste
For the chicken and spaghetti:
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 large egg
- ¾ cup panko bread crumbs
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 8-ounce boneless, skinless chicken breasts, trimmed
- salt and pepper, to taste
- 6 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 2 ounces whole-milk fresh mozzarella cheese, thinly sliced
- 1 tablespoon fresh basil leaves
- 4 ounces uncooked spaghetti
Instructions
- First, make the sauce: pulse the tomatoes in a food processor until coarsely ground, 6-8 pulses. Next, saute the garlic in the 2 tablespoons of oil in a medium skillet until fragrant but not burned, about 2 minutes over medium heat. Stir in the tomatoes, then bring to a simmer. Simmer for 10-15 minutes, until slightly thickened. Off heat, stir in the basil, sugar, salt and pepper to taste. Cover to keep warm.
- For the chicken and spaghetti: adjust an oven rack to be 4 inches from the broiling element. Turn the broiler to high.
- Spread the flour in a shallow dish. Beat the egg in a second shallow dish. Combine the bread crumbs and Parmesan in a third shallow dish. Pat the chicken dry with paper towels, then season with salt and pepper. Dredge each chicken breaset in the flour, then egg, then bread crumbs.
- Heat the oil in a 10" large skillet over medium-high heat until the oil shimmers. Gently lay the chicken in the oil, and cook until golden brown on each side and the chicken registers 160 degrees (about 4-6 minutes per side). Place the chicken breasts on a baking sheet.
- Divide the cheese over the chicken, and broil until the cheese melts. Serve with the tomato sauce.
- Meanwhile, cook the pasta in ample boiling water, and toss with tomato sauce before serving on the side.
Notes
You can skip the quick tomato sauce and use a jar of your favorite pasta sauce instead!
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
2Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 1509Total Fat: 76gSaturated Fat: 13gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 58gCholesterol: 311mgSodium: 1290mgCarbohydrates: 104gFiber: 9gSugar: 17gProtein: 99g
Julia says
MMMM! This is making me hungry! And it doesn't look too difficult. I am going to try this soon, I think my boyfriend is getting tired of me making him only desserts ;-)
Lindsay Ann @ Lindsay Ann Bakes says
I absolutely love chicken parm! I might end up eating both servings though ;)
Gerry @ Foodness Gracious says
Chicken Parma-zoom zoom!! I love this meal and all who eat it :)
sam says
Yum #thatisall
Julia t says
I am a fan of ATK and really like this new book. I've made the lasagna and manicotti recipes. It was great getting my fix and the ingredients are streamlined ie to not have 1/4 of a can leftover. Maybe I'll try this one next.
Thank you for all your wonderful posts.
Shanna @ Pineapple and Coconut says
I have been meaning to make chicken parm for my fam one of these days. I know my kiddos will love it. i am a fan of panko breading although I did find something recently I really need to order and its basically pork rinds made into breading. Sounds insanely amazing right? And I also love ATK. Their family baking book is my go-to for so many recipes.
Jess @ Sweet Menu says
Eeek, I'm so hungry and can't stop looking at your pics! I love chicken parmesan!
Rachel Cooks says
Your photos have been so fantastic lately -- and this looks absolutely phenomenal!
Christina says
I saw you holding that cookbook and thought it was one you had put out. Do you have one (I'm a new follower)? I grew up cooking for six and now that I'm married it's hard to cook for just two so I LOVE your blog!
Christina Lane says
Hi Christina. It's nice to meet you :) My cookbook comes out February 2015. Thanks for the kind words :) xox
Happy baking,
Christina
Hayley @ The Domestic Rebel says
You're right -- chicken parm can't be beat. And that cookbook is AWESOME -- totes meant for you in mind. Also, .5 eggs? NO SCIENCE. NO.