This Classic Chicken Parmesan Recipe is delicious and easy.  It’s a homemade chicken parm recipe and has step-by-step instructions to make simple chicken parmesan any night of the week.  

Each juicy chicken breast is coated in a crisp Parmesan crust and covered in marinara sauce and melted cheese. It’s the best easy chicken parmesan casserole that is surprisingly quick to throw together.

Classic chicken parmesan in a skillet, covered with cheese and marinara sauce. An easy chicken parmesan casserole.

Classic Chicken Parmesan Recipe

This no-fail chicken Parmesan recipe will have you making restaurant quality chicken Parmesan in no time. Anyone can make this recipe – just follow the step-by-step instructions and enjoy.

I also have a recipe for the Best Homemade Marinara Sauce that tastes amazing in this recipe. But, feel free to use your favorite jar of store bought marinara sauce too. If you’re looking for a lighter version, here’s the recipe for my Oven-baked Chicken Parmesan Recipe.

Key Ingredients 

  • Chicken: I usually use the boneless skinless chicken breasts for this recipe; chicken tenderloins work too.
  • Egg- The egg wash for chicken parm is made out was a little bit of water and then some salt and pepper.
  • Breadcrumbs- These can be gluten-free breadcrumbs or regular breadcrumbs. Crackers or croutons work too.
  • Parmesan Cheese- Added to the breadcrumb mixture.
  • Herbs and Spices- Italian seasoning and garlic powder are used to flavor the crust.
  • Marinara: You can certainly make your own marinara sauce. I actually have a great recipe on my site. It’s an Italian Marinara sauce. Or just use your favorite jarred sauce.
  • Mozzarella Cheese- Top the marinara sauce with shredded mozzarella cheese and bake in the oven until melted and golden.
how to make homemade chicken parmesan, just like classic italian chicken parmigiana.

How to Make Chicken Parmesan

  1. Tenderize the chicken breasts. Place chicken breasts in a large freezer bag or between two sheets of plastic wrap.  Using a rolling pin, or the bottom of a mason jar, whack the thickest part of the chicken to to even out the thickness and tenderize the meat. Set aside.
  2. Prepare the breading. In a pie plate or shallow dish, add the breadcrumbs, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and 6 Tablespoons of Parmesan cheese and mix well. In a separate pie plate or shallow dish, add the egg, water, salt, and pepper and whisk. Add the chicken breasts and turn over with thongs to cover all sides of the chicken.
  3. Bread the chicken. Using tongs, dip a chicken breast into the egg mixture and let the excess drip off. Next, place into the breadcrumb mixture and gently press, making sure to cover all areas of the chicken. Repeat with each breast. and lay in a non-stick skillet with a couple of tablespoons of oil. 
  4. Brown the chicken. Heat a nonstick skillet over medium heat and add about 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil. Add the breaded chicken and cook until golden brown, or about 3-5 minutes. Flip and continue to cook on the other side until golden brown.
  5. Assemble. Place the browned chicken into a lightly greased baking dish and cover with the marinara sauce. Sprinkle evenly with mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
  6. Bake. Bake in the preheated 350 degree oven for about 15 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the chicken reads 165 degrees F. and the cheese is melted. (Note: If the chicken is done before the cheese is melted, place in the broiler for 1-2 minutes)
  7. Serve. Remove from the oven and let cool for a few minutes. Garnish with minced parsley if desired. Enjoy!
Chicken parmesan recipe in a pan with cheese on top.  chicken parmesan easy recipe.

What to Serve with Homemade Chicken Parm

chicken parmesan with melted mozzarella cheese in a pan.

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the best chicken to use for chicken parmesan?

I like to use boneless, skinless chicken breasts but you could also use chicken tenderloins.

Do I need to tenderize the chicken first?

Tenderizing the chicken helps to even out each chicken breast and ensure that it cooks evenly. It also keeps the chicken super tender and juicy once it’s finished.

How long does it take to cook chicken parmesan?

The cooking time for chicken parmesan depends on how long you brown each breast in the pan, how thick the chicken is, and how hot your oven is. In general, it should take about 15 minutes in a preheated 350 degree oven to finish cooking the chicken and melt the cheese. Be sure to also check that the internal temperature of the chicken has reached 165 degrees F.

best chicken parmesan recipe, chicken parmesan ingredients.

Storing and Reheating

  • Refrigerator: store leftovers covered or in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
  • To reheat: to reheat a large portion of leftovers, cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and reheat in a 350 degree oven until warmed through.  You can also microwave smaller portions.
5 from 1 vote

Classic Chicken Parmesan Recipe

Author The Carefree Kitchen
This chicken Parmesan recipe is delicious and easy, with step by step instructions on how to make simple chicken parmesan any night of the week.  
Prep: 30 minutes
Cook: 20 minutes
Total: 50 minutes
Yields6 people

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds chicken breasts
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 tablespoon water
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon black pepper

Parmesan Breading

  • 6 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, grated or shredded
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • cups bread crumbs

Toppings

  • 1/3 cup Parmesan cheese
  • 2 cups marinara sauce
  • 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  • Lightly grease a baking dish with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
  • Place chicken breasts in a large freezer bag or between two sheets of plastic wrap.  Using a rolling pin, or the bottom of a mason jar, whack the thickest part of the chicken to to even out the thickness and tenderize the meat. Set aside.
  • In a pie plate or shallow dish, add the breadcrumbs, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and 6 Tablespoons of Parmesan cheese and mix well. In a separate pie plate or shallow dish, add the egg, water, salt, and pepper and whisk. Add the chicken breasts and turn over with thongs to cover all sides of the chicken.
  • Using tongs, dip a chicken breast into the egg mixture and let the excess drip off. Next, place into the breadcrumb mixture and gently press, making sure to cover all areas of the chicken. Repeat with each breast. and lay in a non-stick skillet with a couple of tablespoons of oil. 
  • Heat a nonstick skillet over medium heat and add about 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil. Add the breaded chicken and cook until golden brown, or about 3-5 minutes. Flip and continue to cook on the other side until golden brown.
  • Place the browned chicken into the prepared baking dish and cover with the marinara sauce. Sprinkle evenly with mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
  • Bake in the preheated oven for about 15 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the chicken reads 165 degrees F. and the cheese is melted. (Note: If the chicken is done before the cheese is melted, place in the broiler for 1-2 minutes)
  • Remove from the oven and let cool for a few minutes. Garnish with minced parsley. Enjoy!

Notes

Storing leftovers: store leftovers covered or in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Reheating: to reheat a large portion of leftovers, cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and reheat in a 350 degree oven until warmed through.  You can also microwave smaller portions.

Nutrition

Calories: 365kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 38g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 122mg | Sodium: 1013mg | Potassium: 758mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 641IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 296mg | Iron: 3mg
Disclaimer: Nutritional values were calculated using a third-party tool and are provided as an estimation only.
Course Main Course
Cuisine American, Italian
Sharing this recipe with a link is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying/pasting and/or screenshots of full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Content and photographs are copyright protected.

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More Italian Recipes You Will Love

This homemade chicken parm is a classic chicken parmesan recipe.  It has step by step instructions to make simple chicken parmesan any night of the week.  It’s as good as your favorite takeout chicken parmesan.

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5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

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