Chicken Parmesan – Easy Italian Comfort Food!

Everyone loves Chicken Parmesan! Tender breaded chicken, rich red sauce and melted cheese. Easy & yummy. Read, Cook & Share!

Chicken Parmesan

Easy Italian Comfort Food

Chicken Parmesan was on the menu when our daughter Stacey stopped in recently for a weekday meal. Because I am retired, I have ample time to cook any day of the week. Yet I know that’s not everyone’s situation, so I like to select recipes with that in mind. The prep for this recipe is fairly easy, especially if you use sealable plastic bags for the flour and seasoned breadcrumb mixture. This ensures an even coating on the chicken and makes clean-up easier. Once the chicken is breaded, it takes just 6-8 minutes to brown. Next, pop it in the oven with your favorite spaghetti sauce and a sprinkle of cheese. Twenty minutes later, you can serve up this hearty dish of Italian comfort food!

Pasta & Veggie Side Dish

Traditionally, Chicken Parmesan is served with a side of spaghetti. Instead, I decided to mix it up with a pasta and veggie creation. To make last minute serving easy, you can pull this together in advance. Toss cooked bow tie pasta (about 6 oz precooked weight which is 2 1/3 c.), a microwaved bag of Birds Eye Broccoli, Carrots, Sugar Snaps Peas and Water Chestnuts, 1/2 c.  spaghetti sauce, 2 tbsp. butter, 1/2 tsp. oregano, 1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper, 1/4 c. grated Parmesan cheese and salt, to taste. Then warm it gently in the microwave just before serving.

You can also throw this side dish together while preparing the chicken. Start the water for the pasta before browning the chicken. While the chicken is baking, boil the pasta, microwave the veggie blend and then toss with the rest of the ingredients. Warning! The kids might finish this delicious side dish before they realize they’ve eaten their vegetables!

Chicken Parmesan

Parmesan and seasoned breadcrumb coated chicken, baked with marinara sauce and topped with an Italian cheese blend.

4.34 from 3 votes

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Prep Time: 30 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 4 pieces boneless skinless chicken breasts 1 lb.
• 1/3 c. flour
• 1 egg slightly beaten
• 3/4 c. dry Italian seasoned breadcrumbs
• 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
• 1/3 c. grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. pepper
• 3 tbsp. olive oil
• 1 1/2 c. spaghetti sauce divided
• 6 ounces shredded Italian cheese blend or use a combination of mozzarella & Parmesan

Instructions

• Slice chicken horizontally into 1/2 inch fillets. (See notes section for tips.) Optionally you can pound it to 1/2" thickness.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Place the flour in a sealable plastic bag. Place beaten egg in a shallow bowl. Place breadcrumbs, garlic powder, 1/3 c. Parmesan, salt and pepper into another sealable bag. Seal bag and shake to combine.
• Shake 1 chicken fillet in sealed flour bag. Next coat fillet in egg, letting excess drip off. Then shake fillet in breadcrumb mixture bag. Repeat process with remaining fillets.
• In large skillet, heat 3 tbsp. oil. Add cutlets and cook over medium heat for 3-4 minutes per side, until golden. Remove from skillet and set aside.
• Pour 1 c. of spaghetti sauce into the bottom of a baking dish. Arrange fillets in dish in a single layer and pour remaining marinara sauce over chicken. Bake for 15 minutes, Top with Italian cheese blend and bake for 5 additional minutes, or until cooked through. Enjoy!

Notes

Note – It’s much easier to slice chicken into thin fillets when it’s still partially frozen. Here are two methods you can use.

If you are starting with fresh chicken, you can put it in the freezer for 1 1/2 – 2 hours. This will firm up the chicken but it won’t be frozen solid.

If you are starting with frozen chicken, thaw it until it’s mostly thawed but still somewhat firm.