Name: Baked Crispy Chicken Parmesan
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 3 large chicken breasts (cut lengthwise); 1 cup Panko breadcrumbs; 1 cup Parmesan cheese (grated .. plus more for sprinkling); 4 eggs (whisked); 1 teaspoon onion powder; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 3 tablespoons vegetable oil; 24 ounces jar favorite spaghetti sauce; 16 ounces mozzarella cheese (sliced); 16 oz spaghetti pasta; Italian parsley (for garnish)

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Baked Crispy Chicken Parmesan is easier than you think to make and a family favorite recipe. Pan fried and then oven baked, this quick and easy chicken Parmesan is crispy on the outside but moist and tender on the inside. Ready in just 30 minutes, this is the perfect quick dinner recipe any day of the week.

Chicken Parmesan is one the most ordered and most loved dishes .. ever!

Also known as Chicken Parmigiana, it’s easy to see why everyone loves this classic family favorite dish. Moist chicken breaded and fried, covered in tangy tomato sauce and then sprinkled with melted mozzarella cheese baked until bubbly and all served up on a bed of pasta is a food lovers dream!

Well.. for everyone but THIS girl.

Don’t get me wrong, I love chicken Parmesan now but for most of my existence (*cough.. *cough … actual years in numbers not required), I couldn’t see what the big deal was.

My contempt for all things chicken parm was because once upon a time, I decided to give chicken Parmesan a try and it was horrible. The breading was soggy, the chicken was boring and the cheese was that plastic cheese that doesn’t even melt.

Let me go back to the part about soggy breading. No. Just .. no.

I am one of those people that cannot stand wet bread. French toast? .. extra crispy, please. Thanksgiving stuffing? … crunchy top, please.

Bread pudding? .. go talk to my husband because that’s a big no-go for me.

But THIS recipe is sure to WOW you and as you bite into that oven baked chicken cutlet and hear that Panko crusted crunch you will throw your fork down, run to your computer…possibly knocking over a small, slow-moving child on your way.. and hit that PRINT button on this recipe with all your might!

Yes, Friends… it’s just THAT good!

WHY THIS CRISPY CHICKEN PARMESAN IS THE BEST

Not only is this Baked Crispy Chicken Parmesan recipe amazing, it’s also really easy and quick to put together.
This chicken Parmesan is super crispy on the outside and moist on the inside because we pan fry it briefly on the stove before finish cooking it in the oven.
There are no unusual ingredients in this recipe… nope, just delicious easy dinner ideas made using ingredients already in your pantry.
No extra cooking time needed making homemade sauce. While I do love a good homemade tomato sauce, this baked chicken Parmesan recipe is made using your favorite spaghetti sauce.
No soggy breading = very happy chicken eaters.
Tons of flavor is being added to the crispy coating of your chicken so no blah chicken bites!
Ready in just 30 minutes!!
Because I am not adding sauce to my chicken before baking it, my chicken stays super crispy.

To make this Baked Crispy Chicken Parmesan, you will need:

Chicken cutlets or chicken breasts cut lengthwise
Eggs
Panko breadcrumbs, Italian seasoned if possible – found in the same aisle as regular breadcrumbs, these Japanese breadcrumbs are drier so they produce a crispier coating.
Grated Parmesan cheese
Onion powder and Salt
Spaghetti or marinara sauce
Vegetable oil
Mozzarella cheese
Fresh parsley
Pasta, traditionally spaghetti

HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE CHICKEN PARMESAN

Preheat oven to 400 degrees and set an over safe cooking rack on a 13 x 9 cooking tray.
In a large skillet, heat vegetable oil over medium-high heat until hot and shimmering.
Pour Panko crumbs and grated Parmesan cheese in a large dipping bowl and whisk the eggs together with the onion powder and 1/2 teaspoon of salt in another.

Dredge the chicken cutlets through the whisked eggs on both sides, evenly coating them.

Next, dredge the chicken through the breadcrumbs, lightly pressing down to make sure the cutlet is evenly coated on both sides.

Set aside and follow this assembly with all of your chicken cutlets.
Add 2 or 3 cutlets to the vegetable oil and fry chicken for 3-4 minutes on each side or until lightly browned.

When both sides have been cooked, remove cutlets to the cooking rack on the baking tray.
Top each chicken cutlet with 2 or 3 slices of mozzarella cheese.

When all pieces have been fried and covered with cheese, place the cooking tray with the racks in your oven and bake for 15-20 minutes until cheese is melted the chicken is completely cooked through and no longer pink.

While your chicken is cooking, bring a large pot of water to boil. Add pasta and cook according to manufacturers instructions.
Pour your favorite spaghetti or marinara sauce into a medium saucepan and warm over medium heat.
When your chicken is cooked, remove from oven. Plate your pasta and sauce and add your chicken cutlet. Garnish with more sauce, more Parmesan and Italian parsley.

WHAT DO YOU SERVE CHICKEN PARMESAN WITH?

Mashed potatoes or parsnips
Zucchini noodles
Spaghetti, fettuccine or any other pasta you like
Salad
Veggies

PRO TIPS FOR PERFECT BAKED CHICKEN PARMESAN

Cover your entire piece of chicken in egg and breadcrumbs. No naked spots!
You will notice I don’t add sauce to my chicken before baking it. If you prefer lots of sauce, feel free to add a few spoonfuls on top of your chicken before adding your cheese.
If you find you need more oil before frying the second batch of chicken, remove the first batch when it is done and add a few more tablespoons of oil to your skillet. Heat for a minute or so before adding your next batch of chicken to fry.
Don’t skimp on the cheese, the oooey gooey cheese really makes the best chicken Parmesan!
Use good quality cheese for this recipe. You don’t need to break the bank but you don’t want to grab the cheese that doesn’t even melt.
Grab your favorite spaghetti or marinara sauce for this recipe. If you enjoy a particular sauce, why not enjoy this chicken parm with your favorite flavor? I like Mids sauce, myself!
Shopping and see a wide low bowl in the kitchen dish section? Grab a few! They are the perfect size needed for a ‘breading station’.

LIGHTENED UP CHICKEN PARMESAN

You make a few changes to serve up a lightened chicken Parmesan recipe.

Leave out using flour in the breading steps as I have. You can also skip the breading altogether and serve up this recipe using oven baked chicken breasts.

You can also lower your carb count by serving this over zucchini noodles in place of pasta.

MORE 30 MINUTE MEAL IDEAS

This is seriously the best chicken Parmesan recipe and did you do the math on this? This is a hearty, comfort food dinner idea ready and hitting your dinner table in just 30 minutes!!

Win, win and WIN! …. now go pick up that kid you mowed over … feed him a cupcake or something!

Enjoy!!

If you’ve tried this Baked Crispy Chicken Parmesan or any other recipe on this website, please don’t forget to rate the recipe and let me know how you it came out in the comments below.

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Update Notes: This post was originally published in August of 2015 but was republished with an updated recipe, new photos, step by step instructions and tips in December of 2019.

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