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    Home » Recipes » Dinner

    Perfect Chicken Parmesan

    Published: May 2, 2020 · Updated: December 5, 2020 · By: Krissy · 63 Comments
    This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

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    recipe for perfect chicken parmesan
    I made the most Perfect Chicken Parmesan that's full of flavor, only takes minutes to cook up for a quick and easy dinner, and is the best comfort food!

    Perfect Chicken Parmesan is full of flavor, takes minutes to cook, and is my favorite chicken dinner recipe!

    Boneless skinless chicken breasts are tenderized, lightly breaded, and cooked to crispy perfection. Once they are smothered in your favorite marinara sauce and melted cheese, the most delicious dinner is ready for your consumption!

    homemade chicken parmesan with pasta on plate with basil

    Why this recipe works:

    Any recipe that coats chicken in a wonderful crispy outside like my chicken tenders or buttermilk fried chicken is a winner in my book. And the fact that this is such an easy recipe will have you making it on a weekly basis.

    Because the chicken breasts are tenderized before cooking, no knife is required. This recipe is made extra easy by using bottled pasta sauce and you can even use pre-shredded cheese.

    Chicken parm is possibly my favorite dinner... especially when served with homemade pasta! If you're wanting a vegetarian version, you can't go wrong with eggplant parmesan! Also, if you enjoy this recipe, you'll want to make my Chicken Cacciatore.

    Here's how to make it:

    1. First step is to tenderize the chicken (more information on why that is important below) and season with salt and pepper (photo 1).
    2. The crumb coating I use when making this easy chicken parmesan is a 2:1 mixture of bread crumbs to parmesan cheese plus some herbs. Dredge the chicken in the flour, then coat with egg, then coat with the bread crumb mixture (photo 2).
    3. Brown the chicken on both sides in olive oil (photo 3).
    4. To finish off your chicken parm, all you need to do is top those crispy seasoned chicken breasts with a healthy portion of amazing tomato pasta sauce (photo 4) and then top that with some slices of fresh mozzarella (photo 5) along with some grated parmesan. Finish the whole thing off in the oven to get the cheese all nice and melted (photo 6).

    step by step process photos of how to make Chicken Parmesan

    Why tenderizing is important:

    You want your chicken breasts to be thin for several reasons:

    1. First, when you pound the meat with a mallet or roll it with a rolling pin, you break up the tissue and it makes it more tender. So much so that you can easily cut it with the side of your fork. I prefer to pound my meat over rolling it because its fun.
    2. Second, you want your chicken to be of uniform thickness so that it cooks evenly.
    3. And third, the thinner the meat, the faster it cooks. During school and sports season, we all need meals that can be cooked quickly.

    Cooking tips:

    • I always choose to put my crumb mixture in a rectangular dish that's the exact size of the chicken breast. It makes coating the chicken easy.
    • If you're wondering how do you keep chicken parmesan crispy, you must cook the coated breasts in very hot oil in a single layer. This will give them a crispy golden outside and won't leave them soggy.
    • I served my parmesan chicken up with some basil pasta that I tossed in some of the reserved pasta sauce.

    top down photo of chicken parmesan with pasta

    Step-by-step recipe video below!

    Did you make this recipe? Please leave me a comment below to let me know what you think!

    I made the most Perfect Chicken Parmesan that's full of flavor, only takes minutes to cook up for a quick and easy dinner, and is the best comfort food!

    Perfect Chicken Parmesan Recipe

    Perfect Chicken Parmesan is the best chicken parmesan recipe you'll find. Full of flavor, takes minutes to cook, and is my favorite chicken dinner recipe!
    4.69 from 70 votes
    Print Pin Rate SaveSaved!

    CLICK TO PLAY RECIPE VIDEO

    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Italian
    Prep Time: 15 minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes
    Total Time: 30 minutes
    Scale: 4 servings
    Recipe Created By: Krissy Allori

    Ingredients

    • 1 pound boneless chicken breasts (skinless)
    • salt & pepper
    • ½ cup all purpose flour
    • 1 egg (beaten)
    • 1 cup panko bread crumbs
    • ½ cup grated parmesan cheese (divided)
    • 1 teaspoon dried basil
    • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
    • ¼ cup olive oil*
    • 1 25 ounce jar pasta sauce
    • 8 ounces fresh mozzarella (sliced)

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
    • Using a large plastic bag or plastic wrap, cover chicken and flatten to half inch thickness using a meat pounder or a rolling pin.
    • Sprinkle salt and pepper on both sides of chicken.
    • Add flour to bowl. Add beaten egg to another bowl. Combine bread crumbs with ½ cup parmesan (reserving the other half for later) along with the basil and oregano in a dish large enough for the chicken breasts.
    • Heat oil in a very large skillet over medium high heat.
    • Dredge chicken in flour, then coat with egg, then cover with bread crumb mixture. Press coating onto chicken to get as much as possible to stick. When the oil is very hot, just below the point where it begins to smoke, add your coated chicken. Continue with the remaining chicken breasts.
    • Cook each breast until golden brown, about 2 minutes on each side. Remove from pan and transfer to baking dish.
    • Cover each breast with Mezzetta Napa Valley Homemade pasta sauce as well as a couple slices of mozzarella and the remaining parmesan cheese. You may reserve some of the sauce to serve with pasta on the side, if desired.
    • Cook in preheated oven until cheese has melted, about 5-10 minutes.

    Notes

    • I used a combination of olive oil with avocado oil because it tolerates high temperatures better
    • I always choose to put my crumb mixture in a rectangular dish that's the exact size of the chicken breast. It makes coating the chicken oh-so-easy. The crumb coating I use when making this easy chicken parmesan is a 2:1 mixture of bread crumbs to parmesan cheese plus some herbs like fresh basil. 
    • If you're wondering how do you keep chicken parmesan crispy, you must cook the coated breasts in very hot oil in a single layer. This will give them a crispy golden outside and won't leave them soggy. 

    NUTRITION INFORMATION

    Calories: 714kcal | Carbohydrates: 34g | Protein: 48g | Fat: 42g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Cholesterol: 169mg | Sodium: 1672mg | Potassium: 955mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 1410IU | Vitamin C: 12.4mg | Calcium: 508mg | Iron: 5.1mg
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    This post was originally created in September 2015 and has been updated with additional photos, cooking tips, and helpful information. Don't worry - I didn't change the recipe!

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Tisha

      September 05, 2018 at 11:10 am

      5 stars
      Love Chicken Parmesan!! This recipe looks perfect and love the fresh mozzarella!!!

      Reply
    2. camila

      September 05, 2018 at 11:01 am

      5 stars
      I haven't made chicken Parmesan for my husband in a long time. I will add chicken Parm to my list for next week.

      Reply
    3. Josh Wakeman

      July 12, 2018 at 12:18 am

      5 stars
      Excellent recipe! I’ve made this over 12 times and it never disappoints. I also use a panco/Italian bread crumb mix and also add some peccarino Romano to the parm. cheese. I then put the coated breasts in the fridge for and hour or so then pull them out to rest at room temperature before frying in peanut oil. I finished the browned and topped chicken under a broiler set on medium. This gives a lightly carmalized melted cheese which only adds to the depth of flavor from top to bottom. Best recipe I’ve found yet. Thank you for sharing!

      Reply
      • Krissy

        July 12, 2018 at 11:41 am

        Thank you!!!

        Reply
    4. Alyssa

      June 20, 2018 at 4:13 pm

      5 stars
      Followed the recipe, used classico four cheese bottled sauce added in some garlic, and it came out AWESOME!! my boyfriend usually does all the cooking and when he had this nice juicy chicken Parm, he was SHOCKED! I am super proud of myself but so thankful I followed your recipe thankyou so much again!!!!

      Reply
    5. Andy

      April 08, 2018 at 3:01 pm

      5 stars
      Love this recipe. I thought it was time to leave a comment because I've cooked it about a dozen times and each time never disappoints. Thank you!

      Reply
      • Krissy

        April 09, 2018 at 1:05 pm

        Well, I thank you for the nice comment! I really appreciate you letting me know! Krissy

        Reply
    6. Kelsey

      February 18, 2018 at 8:32 am

      Hi krissy! This looks like a wonderful recipe. I️ would like to make this for my boyfriend but we will have to do a couple of things right before so I️ was hoping that I️ could have this prepped pretty well. Would it alter the taste at all if I️ have the chicken all cooked about 2-3 hours ahead of time and all I️ would have to do right before would be to assemble and bake in the oven?

      Reply
      • Krissy

        February 20, 2018 at 8:34 am

        Hi Kelsey, You absolutely can make the whole recipe up to the part where you stick it in the oven to melt the cheese. Just be sure to take it out of the refrigerator and let it come to room temperature before you stick it in the oven. It will take longer to heat through, but should work fine!

        Reply
    7. Melissa

      January 28, 2018 at 10:20 am

      5 stars
      Our family absolutely loves this recipe, and the recommended sauce.
      Do you have any suggestions on temp and cook time from frozen; considering premaking a few.

      Reply
      • Krissy

        January 31, 2018 at 6:40 am

        Oh boy. Well, if you make ahead everything would be cooked and just need to be heated through. I probably would not change the temp but would plan on cooking at least an hour. If you try this, will you please come back and let me know what you did and how well it worked so I can incorporate it into the recipe? thanks!

        Reply
    8. Andrea D

      November 14, 2017 at 4:39 am

      Hi Krissy, I'm an Italian-American and I want to tell you your recipe for this chicken parmigiana is AMAZING!!! Honestly the best I've found as far as online recipes go! Thank you and I just subscribed!

      Reply
      • Krissy

        November 14, 2017 at 1:37 pm

        Whoa, thank you!

        Reply
    9. RYAN Kerr

      October 26, 2017 at 5:04 pm

      I'm a disabled veteran who unfortunately Can not consume food anymore living on a feeding tube @ the moment. Anyways this is my Fav dish of all time and to be able to share it with my family was even better. Their heads never lift from the plate until they are asking for seconds. Thanks for the recipe

      Reply
      • Krissy

        October 29, 2017 at 7:43 am

        Wow, Ryan. I cannot even imagine. Thank you so much for your service and your sacrifice! People like you amaze me. I thank you kindly for the comment. take care, Krissy

        Reply
        • Olivia

          March 26, 2018 at 9:49 pm

          5 stars
          I'm in Melbourne how r u
          Will try this for a weeknight meal cheers .would will be healthy to serve with it apart from vegies.tganks

          Reply
    10. Holly

      March 24, 2017 at 6:11 am

      I made this last night and it was incredible! My family loved it and said it was restaurant-quality! I will be throwing all my other chicken parm recipes away and will only be using this one. It was simple and very delicious!

      Reply
    11. Stacy Davis

      March 15, 2017 at 4:19 pm

      5 stars
      This was delicious! I used a hot cast iron skillet to fry it in before putting in oven and it it turned out amazing . Will be pulling this recipe out for future dinner guests....thanks for sharing!

      Reply
    12. Nancy

      March 01, 2017 at 7:10 pm

      Made this tonight for my family. Everyone loved it!! Very easy to make. The only thing different I did was to do 1/2 cup panko and 1/2 cup Italian bread crumbs. Will definitely be making again soon when my daughter comes home from college!!! Thanks!!

      Reply
    13. Sheena

      January 26, 2017 at 5:23 pm

      Followed the recipe exactly, even used the same sauce and it came out perfect!
      The chicken was very moist. By putting it in the oven for only 5 mins isn't really enough to dry out the chicken. I will definitely make this again.

      Reply
    14. Erin

      January 19, 2017 at 3:42 pm

      I pounded my chicken breast and cooked each one 1 minute a side for a total of 2 minutes. They were still not cooked in the oven after 10 minutes. I had to keep mine in the oven longer. Did you use chicken tenders instead or cook them longer on the stove top before placing them in the oven?

      Reply
      • Krissy

        February 12, 2017 at 6:37 am

        I pound mine really thin. Perhaps that's the difference? Cook times are always approximate, though, because of how ovens and cookware differ... Hope it still worked for you! Krissy

        Reply
      • Erin S

        April 03, 2018 at 2:16 pm

        I also Cooked the chicken longer than in the recipe and mine was raw! Very disappointing. But i put it back in the oven 10 minutes longer

        Reply
        • Krissy

          April 04, 2018 at 1:57 pm

          Sorry to hear that! With meat, cooking times always vary based on the temperature of how your oven cooks, the thickness of the meat, and how cold the chicken was prior to cooking. I hope that it still tasted great even though it took longer to cook!

          Reply
    15. Marsha

      January 07, 2017 at 9:46 am

      5 stars
      This is about the same way I make chicken parm, and the Mezzetta sauce is the best of jarred sauces in the market. I use the marinara. Sure, always best to make your own but not always convenient.

      Reply
      • Krissy

        January 16, 2017 at 7:21 am

        Agreed!!! Thanks, Marsha! -Krissy

        Reply
    16. Shanna cheree

      September 17, 2016 at 1:09 pm

      5 stars
      Its very difficult to see the consistency of the sauce.. Is it as thick as it looks in the pictures?? Was thinking about trying the sauce but also debating making my own.. Very unsure.. Hmm

      Reply
      • Krissy

        September 18, 2016 at 7:57 am

        Hi Shanna, I actually highly recommend that sauce. Homemade is always best, but that particular sauce is fantastic! -Krissy

        Reply
    17. Kat

      August 06, 2016 at 8:30 am

      Looks great! Where can I find this jar of sauce please?

      Reply
      • Krissy

        August 07, 2016 at 7:35 am

        Hi Kat! I got it at Fred Meyer, which is a Kroger store. -Krissy

        Reply
    18. lovetocook

      August 01, 2016 at 2:49 pm

      5 stars
      I cooked this for my family tonight. The chicken was tender and juicy. It never dried out. Wonderful flavor!!!!

      Reply
    19. Lisa

      April 22, 2016 at 10:41 am

      4 stars
      I will definitely be trying this one, thank you, although I will make the sauce from scratch and maybe pop under a very hot grill rather than in the oven. Thank you so much. Have you tried Rice Bran Oil? Fabulous for really high heats (up to 250C) and does not change taste or appearance, makes great dressing as well. I use a brand called Alpha One (in the UK)

      Reply
      • Krissy

        May 10, 2016 at 6:34 am

        I've never even heard of Rice Bran Oil. Interesting! -Krissy

        Reply
    20. Dennis

      February 22, 2016 at 6:25 am

      3 stars
      It seems a pity to do such a nice job with the chicken and then pour sauce right out of the jar onto the food. Find a nice tomato basil that you like and saute the garlic and onions and it will be infinitely better. Once onions (or anything else) sits in sauce for a few months you lose a lot of the point of using them.

      You emphasize "quickness". Baking chicken after frying it dries it out. Just drop the sauce on the chicken, put on your cheese and put a cover on the frying pan. The steam from the sauce will melt the cheese in 15 seconds. The oven is wholly unnecessary.

      Reply
      • Krissy

        March 20, 2016 at 9:56 am

        Excellent tips, Dennis. Thanks for sharing! Krissy

        Reply
      • Foodie

        May 16, 2016 at 6:11 pm

        If you didn't like the recipe, write your own. Sounds yummy too me.

        Reply
      • Rose

        September 11, 2017 at 11:42 am

        4 stars
        Sounds like a wonderful dish. I will definitely try.

        Reply
      • Andrea

        April 01, 2018 at 10:16 am

        If you cover the chicken well so that the steam is trapped inside, it doesn't dry out the chicken.

        Reply
      • KAREN BRITTON

        October 08, 2018 at 10:15 am

        I wouldn't do it in a covered frying pan to melt the cheese if you want your chicken cutlets to be crispy...in the oven to keep it crisp is a better alternative IMO

        Reply
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