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    Home » Recipes » Chicken and poultry recipes

    Crispy chicken parmesan with marinara sauce

    Published: Sep 12, 2021 · Modified: Jun 2, 2024 by VJ · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

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    Crispy chicken parmesan (otherwise known as chicken parmigiana) always guarantees empty plates! It's made with juicy chicken fillets coated with a mixture of crispy breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese, smothered in a delicious marinara sauce and topped with gooey mozzarella cheese. Read on to get my tips on how to make the crispiest parmesan chicken ever!

    Servings of chicken parmigiana on a plate, next to a dish of marinara sauce.

    Crispy chicken in a parmesan crust smothered in tangy marinara sauce and topped with slices of gooey mozzarella cheese.

    Jump to:
    • Crispy chicken parmigiana
    • Secrets for making the crispiest chicken parmesan
    • Ingredients you will need
    • How to make it
    • Other serving suggestions
    • Freezing and reheating
    • Save for later
    • More chicken recipes
    • 📋The recipe

    Crispy chicken parmigiana

    Chicken parmesan is a delicious dish of juicy chicken fillets, coated in crispy breadcrumbs and oven-baked in a tangy marinara sauce, topped with gooey melted mozzarella cheese. It originated in Italy, where it was first made with eggplant or aubergines but over the years has evolved to include the use of chicken.

    Depending on where in the world you live, you may know it by other names. In Italy it's called pollo alla parmigiana; in America, you may know it as chicken parm; in Australia, it's known as parmi or parmy. If you live in the north of England you may have eaten Chicken Parmo, which is a similar dish made from breaded chicken but covered with bechamel sauce rather than tomato sauce.

    In my opinion, one thing is certain - parmesan chicken has to be crispy! There's absolutely no doubt about it. No one enjoys eating soggy breadcrumbs.

    And while a mediocre chicken parmesan is still delicious, there are three things that elevate this particular recipe for chicken parmesan from simply great to magnificent:

    • the tender juicy chicken fillets are coated in crispy breadcrumbs that crunch as you bite through them;
    • the crispy chicken is smothered in a tangy marinara sauce that bursts with flavour;
    • and finally, it is all topped with gooey mozzarella cheese which has been melted into chewy lusciousness,

    I've made this dish many times over the years, and I think I've finally perfected the way to get perfectly crispy parmesan chicken - every ... single ... time.

    A slice of chicken on a fork, showing the texture of the chicken and the crispy breadcrumbs surrounding it.

    This is the juiciest and most tender chicken with a super tasty parmesan breadcrumb coating.

    Secrets for making the crispiest chicken parmesan

    There are two secrets to getting perfectly crispy parmesan chicken. The first secret lies in the coating.

    The coating on this chicken is made in the standard way by coating the fillets in flour, then egg and finally in breadcrumbs. The difference is that the breadcrumbs are toasted in a dry frying pan and then mixed with parmesan cheese before being pressed onto the chicken.

    Breadcrumbs being toasted in a frying pan.

    I like to make my own breadcrumbs by blitzing day-old bread in a food processor and then toasting them in a dry frying pan for a few minutes until they turn crispy and golden.

    You could get away with using Panko breadcrumbs instead (and I must say I do like to use Panko breadcrumbs for most recipes), but for this recipe, the parmesan cheese is mixed into the breadcrumbs while they are still warm which gives the cheese a chance to melt slightly and combine itself with the breadcrumbs.

    The second secret is to fry the chicken fillets in a little sunflower or olive oil until the breadcrumbs start to turn crispy, and then place the fried chicken fillets into a dry baking tray, top with marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese, and finish off by baking the chicken in the oven.

    Four helpings of chicken parmesan on a plate.

    Because the bottom of the crumbed parmesan chicken doesn't come into contact with any moisture, the breadcrumbs remain beautifully crispy.

    Ingredients you will need

    There are three elements to this dish - the crispy chicken, the marinara sauce, and the cheese topping. Let's take them each in turn.

    Marinara Sauce

    • Passata - this is simply fresh tomatoes that have been blended and then sieved to remove any pips and skin. In the UK we buy it in bottles or cartons from any large supermarket. I've included a link to passata on Amazon for those of you who are unsure about what it is.
    • Shallots - finely chopped. You can substitute these for finely chopped white onion.
    • Garlic - use either freshly minced garlic cloves or bottled crushed garlic.
    • Italian mixed herbs - this is a dried blend of mixed herbs and normally contains a mixture of dried basil, oregano, rosemary and thyme.
    • Olive oil - for frying

    Crispy-coated chicken fillets

    • Skinless chicken breast fillets - Try to get chicken breasts weighing approximately 200 grams each (or 7 ounces). Cut each fillet in half through the middle. There is no need to pound the chicken to flatten it. I find that with all the cheese and breadcrumbs coating the chicken, half a breast is sufficient for one serving. 2 chicken breasts should feed 4 people. Use your own judgment as to how much chicken you will need to satisfy your family's appetite.
    • Coating - the chicken will be coated using the dry - wet - dry method. Cornflour provides the first 'dry' element, followed by beaten egg (the 'wet') and a final 'dry' mixture of toasted breadcrumbs and grated parmesan cheese.
    • You will also need some olive oil for frying the chicken. You can use sunflower oil if you prefer.

    Cheese topping

    • Mozzarella balls - I find that you can get 8 thinnish slices of mozzarella from one ball which is ample for 4 pieces of chicken.
    • Extra grated parmesan cheese for sprinkling on top.

    How to make it

    **Get the complete recipe for chicken parmesan on the printable recipe card at the end of this post**

    Once again let's take each element in turn

    Marinara Sauce

    This recipe makes a lot of marinara sauce, so you will likely have some leftovers. I like to serve any remaining sauce on the side to pour over the chicken. If you prefer you can freeze the leftovers for another meal.

    My top tip here is to start with the marinara sauce, that way you can leave the sauce to simmer while you get on with preparing the chicken.

    • Peel the shallots and chop them finely. Peel and crush the garlic.
    • Fry the shallots and garlic in olive oil until they start to soften. Don't allow them to brown, the onions should be just starting to turn translucent.
    • Add the passata, the mixed herbs and half a cup of water. Bring to a boil, cover the pan with a lid and turn the heat down to a simmer. Leave the sauce to simmer gently for 30 minutes until thick.
    • Keep the heat as low as possible so the liquid doesn't all evaporate. If it does seem to be losing a lot of liquid top up with an extra splash of water.

    Coat the chicken

    Cut the chicken breasts in half through the middle. There is no need to pound the chicken to make it thinner. Sprinkle each piece of chicken lightly on both sides with salt.

    Steps for coating the chicken.

    Prepare three bowls, one containing cornflour (cornstarch), the second containing beaten egg, and the third containing a mixture of toasted breadcrumbs and grated parmesan cheese.

    • Dip each chicken breast into the cornflour and shake off any excess.
    • Now dip the chicken into the beaten egg.
    • Finally coat the chicken in the breadcrumbs, taking care to pat the crumbs firmly onto the chicken.
    • Fry the chicken pieces for about 3 minutes per side in sunflower oil until the breadcrumbs turn crispy and golden (1 below). Don't worry if they are not 100% cooked through - they will finish off cooking in the oven.
    • Place the chicken fillets into a baking dish or on a baking sheet large enough to hold all the chicken in a single layer. Don't add any oil to the baking dish.
    • Cover each chicken fillet with 2 to 3 tablespoons of the marinara sauce (2 below).
    Steps for baking chicken parmigiana

    Cheesy topping

    • Place slices of mozzarella cheese onto each chicken fillet (3 above).
    • Place the baking dish into a pre-heated oven (200C / 400F) until the cheese is melted and golden (4 above).
    • Garnish with chopped parsley and serve the chicken parmesan immediately. As I've mentioned above, this is traditionally served with spaghetti and the remainder of the marinara sauce. I also like to serve it with vegetables and crispy German fried potatoes.
    Chicken parmesan on a plate with vegetables.

    Don't forget to serve any remaining marinara sauce on the side!

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    Other serving suggestions

    As I mentioned chicken parmesan is traditionally served with spaghetti. However, that doesn't mean you can't serve it with anything else.

    Here are a few suggestions:

    • Instead of pasta, why not serve your chicken parmesan with a mixture of fresh salads like this creamy coleslaw or a tangy copper penny salad? And if you'd still like to serve it with pasta, what about this cheesy barbeque pasta salad instead of spaghetti?
    • Serve it with a side dish of crispy french fries or some scalloped potatoes in batter.
    • If you want to serve it with vegetables, I think these would go well - spicy mushroom fried rice, buttered cabbage and leeks or spicy braised red cabbage.
    • Finally, chicken parmesan will make a great chicken burger. Why not whip up a batch of these crusty Portuguese rolls and try it for yourself?

    But however you serve it, I'm sure you're going to love it.

    A crispy chicken parmigiana on a plate with a pile of linguine covered with marinara sauce.

    Freezing and reheating

    Can I freeze parmesan chicken?

    I wouldn't freeze the baked chicken as the breadcrumbs would lose their crispness.
    If you want to freeze the breaded uncooked chicken just lay it on a baking sheet and freeze until solid. Then transfer the frozen chicken to a large Ziploc bag and freeze for up to three months.
    To use, allow to defrost and then follow the recipe instructions for frying and baking.

    The marinara sauce can be frozen in a plastic bag for up to 6 months.

    Can I make it in advance?

    Yes. You can make this in advance and store the coated chicken and the sauce separately in covered containers in the refrigerator for 2 days.
    To use, place the chicken on an ungreased baking tray, top with the sauce and cheese and bake as per the recipe instructions. If you prefer (and to save on washing up) you could line the baking sheet with parchment paper first.

    Leftover chicken parmesan can be stored for 2 days in the refrigerator and reheated in the oven for 8 to 10 minutes. The heat from the oven crisps up the chicken pieces nicely.

    Save for later

    If you would like to make this recipe for chicken parmesan, why not pin it to one of your Pinterest boards so you can find it again easily? Just click on the image below.

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    📋The recipe

    Servings of chicken parmigiana on a plate, next to a dish of marinara sauce.

    Crispy chicken parmesan with marinara sauce

    Crispy chicken parmesan (otherwise known as chicken parmigiana) always guarantees empty plates! It's made with juicy chicken fillets coated with a mixture of crispy breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese, smothered in a delicious marinara sauce and topped with gooey mozzarella cheese.
    Recipe by: Veronica
    Main Course
    American, Australian, Italian inspired
    Calories 584
    Prep 30 minutes minutes
    Cook 30 minutes minutes
    Total Time 1 hour hour
    Servings: 4 people
    Print Pin Comment Bookmark Saved!
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    5 from 2 votes

    (Click the stars to rate this recipe)

    Equipment

    • Saucepan
    • Frying Pan
    • Baking dish
    • 3 Shallow bowls

    Ingredients

    Marinara sauce

    • 2 cups / 500 ml tomato passata
    • 1 cup finely chopped shallots
    • 2 cloves garlic or more to your own taste
    • 1 teaspoon dried Italian mixed herbs
    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 1 teaspoon sugar optional
    • ½ cup water
    • salt to taste

    Chicken

    • 14 ounces / 400 grams skinless chicken breast fillets
    • 4 tablespoons cornflour or cornstarch
    • 1 large egg
    • 1½ cup toasted breadcrumbs see notes
    • ⅓ cup grated parmesan cheese plus extra for sprinkling on top
    • 2 tablespoons olive oil

    Cheese topping

    • 1 ball mozzarella cheese
    • Parmesan cheese for sprinkling

    Instructions

    Marinara sauce

    • Peel the shallots and chop them finely. Peel and crush the garlic.
      1 cup finely chopped shallots, 2 cloves garlic
    • Fry the shallots and garlic in olive oil until they start to soften. Don't allow them to brown, the onions should be just starting to turn translucent.
      1 tablespoon olive oil
    • Add the passata, sugar, the mixed herbs and ½ cup of water. Bring to the boil, then cover the pan with a lid and turn the heat down to simmer. Leave the sauce to simmer gently for 30 minutes until the sauce is thick.
      2 cups / 500 ml tomato passata, 1 teaspoon dried Italian mixed herbs, 1 teaspoon sugar, ½ cup water
    • Taste for seasoning and add salt to taste if necessary.
      salt

    Chicken

    • Cut the chicken breasts in half through the middle. Sprinkle each piece of chicken lightly on both sides with salt.
      14 ounces / 400 grams skinless chicken breast fillets
    • Prepare three bowls, one containing cornflour (cornstarch), the second containing beaten egg, and the third containing a mixture of toasted breadcrumbs and grated parmesan cheese.
      4 tablespoons cornflour or cornstarch, 1 large egg, 1½ cup toasted breadcrumbs, ⅓ cup grated parmesan cheese
    • Dip each chicken breast into the cornflour and shake off any excess.
    • Now dip the chicken into the beaten egg.
    • Finally coat the chicken in the breadcrumbs, taking care to pat the crumbs firmly onto the chicken.
    • Fry the chicken pieces for about 3 minutes per side in olive oil until the breadcrumbs turn crispy and golden. Don't worry if the chicken fillets are not 100% cooked through - they will finish off cooking in the oven.
      2 tablespoons olive oil
    • Place the chicken fillets into a baking dish or on a baking sheet large enough to hold all the chicken in a single layer. Don't add any oil to the baking dish.
    • Cover each chicken fillet with 2 to 3 tablespoons of the marinara sauce.
    • Cut the mozzarella into slices and arrange it on top of the chicken and sauce. Sprinkle with more parmesan cheese if desired.
      1 ball mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese
    • Place the baking dish into a pre-heated oven (200C / 400F) until the cheese is melted and golden.
    • Garnish with chopped parsley and serve immediately with spaghetti or your choice of vegetables and the remainder of the marinara sauce.

    Notes

    Make your own breadcrumbs by blitzing 2 or 3 slices of day-old bread in a food processor (or grating on the largest holes of a box grater).  Toast the breadcrumbs in a dry frying pan over a low heat until they start to dry out and turn brown.  Stir frequently.  This should take about 5 minutes.  Allow the breadcrumbs to cool slightly and then mix in one-third cup of finely grated parmesan cheese.
    To freeze - If you want to freeze the breaded uncooked chicken just lay it on a baking sheet and freeze until solid. Then transfer the frozen chicken to a large ziploc bag and freeze for up to three months.
    To use, allow to defrost and then follow the recipe instructions for frying and baking.
    Leftover chicken can be stored covered in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.  To use place on a baking tray in a hot oven for about 10 minutes until heated through.
    Leftover sauce can be frozen for up to 6 months.
    Nutrition has been calculated on the assumption that all the coating ingredients will be used and that all the sauce will be served.

    Nutrition

    Calories - 584kcal | Carbohydrates - 51.2g | Protein - 38.8g | Fat - 24.2g | Saturated Fat - 8.2g | Cholesterol - 116mg | Sodium - 492mg | Potassium - 632mg | Fiber - 3.8g | Sugar - 4.1g | Calcium - 169mg | Iron - 3mg

    I am not a nutritionist. The nutrition information has been calculated using an on-line calculator, and is intended for information and guidance purposes only. If the nutrition information is important to you, you should consider calculating it yourself, using your preferred tool.

    Unless otherwise stated, a cup is the standard US cup containing 240 ml. In all my recipes this cup is assumed to hold 140g of flour. For help converting other ingredients between cups, grams, ounces and other measures, see my recipe conversion calculator.
    All my recipes are developed and tested at sea-level. For tips on adjusting recipes for high altitudes see my post on baking at high altitudes.
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    About VJ

    Before I started my food blog I was an IT Consultant. Now that I've swapped an office for a kitchen I have a lot more time to spend on things that interest me such as trying out new recipes. Most of my cooking is based around quick and easy meals, mostly made from scratch, using everyday pantry ingredients.

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