Oven Baked Chicken Parmesan

This oven baked chicken parmesan is loaded with cheese and Italian flavors. Not only is this simple crispy baked parmesan chicken dish ready in 30 minutes, but it’s a delicious homemade recipe to fuel the family with as well.

BAKED NOT FRIED

Before I started making chicken parmesan I personally thought it would be a difficult recipe. Little did I know that oven baked chicken parmesan is not only simple, but it’s the perfect recipe for a bust weeknight when you need dinner on the table fast.

If you love chicken breasts, you’re going to love this recipe. I’m going to share a few of my favorite tips and tricks and even share different sauces you can use when you start branching out to even more Italian flavors.

Tip: Cutting the chicken in half will make baking and cooking this recipe even easier. If you’re cutting large chicken breasts in half, you may also want to pound the chicken breast.

How to Cut Chicken Breasts

Cutting chicken breasts is easy and will ensure this recipe turns out amazing just like your favorite restaurant’s parmesan chicken.

To cut chicken breasts evenly, you need to cut the chicken in the middle as if you were going to stuff the chicken breast. When you get to the point of cutting halfway through the breast, instead of stopping, continue to cut through the breast to make two separate pieces.

If the chicken breasts are still a bit thick, you can pound down the chicken breast to make them all uniform in size. Not sure what to pound the chicken with? First, place the chicken breasts into a plastic sealable baggie. Here are a few ideas for pounding chicken in case you don’t have a meat mallet on hand:

• use a rolling pin
• the bottom of a skillet
• empty wine bottle

INGREDIENTS YOU NEED

You need less than 10 ingredients to make this delicious dish.

• Chicken breasts
• Italian breadcrumbs
• Salted butter
• Parmesan cheese
• Italian seasoning
• Marinara sauce
• Mozzarella cheese
• Fresh parsley

HOW TO MAKE OVEN BAKED CHICKEN PARMESAN

• Heat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Prepare a 9 x 13 baking dish with non -stick cooking spray.
• Cut the chicken breasts in half and pound the chicken evenly.
• While the oven is heating, brush the chicken breasts with melted butter. 
• Mix breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese and Italian seasoning in a small bowl. Dip chicken breasts into the breadcrumb mixture until fully coated. 
• Place the breaded chicken breasts into the preheated oven and bake for 15 minutes.

• Remove the chicken from the oven and turn the oven broiler on high.
• Top each chicken breast with 1 tbsp spoon of marinara sauce.
• Add 2 tbsp of mozzarella cheese over the marinara sauce and then garnish the top with fresh parsley.
• Bake under the broiler for 2-4 minutes, or until the cheese has melted and started to turn a light golden brown.

Is there a difference between chicken parmesan and chicken parmigiana?

These two dishes are actually the same! They are just spelled differently but they have the same meaning. You’ll also hear people use it by its slang name, “chicken parm”.

Why is it called Chicken Parm if it’s made with mozzarella?

While this recipe actually has parmesan cheese in the breading mixture, the name of this dish actually refers to where it originated from which is Parma, Italy.

What is the best parmesan cheese?

If I am making a homemade Italian dish I like to use freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano that is sourced from dairy cows. This aged Italian parmesan cheese is a favorite for all of our Italian dishes. Parmigiano Reggiano is best purchased in a block and left in the block until you freshly grate the cheese before serving.

Do they eat chicken parm in Italy?

Believe it or not, this dish is more popular here than there. Americans tend to “americanize” foods a bit and then give them an ethnic flair. You might actually find a dish that resembles eggplant parmesan more in Italy than chicken parmesan.

SAUCE SUBSTITUTIONS

Even though this is a pretty straight forward recipe, you can change up the taste a bit each time if you want. Making your own homemade marinara sauce can really set the bar high, and if you can even add a little bit of spice to it as well.

Chicken parmesan is traditionally made with marinara sauce but you can also use other sauces to give it a different Italian flavoring. Here are a few I like to use:

• fresh crushed tomatos and peppers
• Arrabbiata sauce – (a spicy garlic flavored sauce)
• Alfredo sauce (gives this an even bigger cheesy flavor)

Make certain to check out our One Pot Chicken Parmesan Casserole too. Because cooking everything in one pot is always a good idea!

We eat chicken a lot. Like…a lot, a lot. But that’s because it’s versatile, affordable, and can literally take on any taste and flavor without issue. I also love that it’s a healthier protein option that cuts down on the fat and calories. AND, since this recipe isn’t fried, you are saving a LOT of calories with this dish.

Luckily, the family loves this dish because anytime I say that this is on the menu for the night, they’re pumped and ready to chow down.

And dare I say that this Baked Chicken Parmesan dish tastes really great as leftovers, too? I add a tad bit more cheese on top the next day when I reheat to eat and it’s so a tasty lunch or dinner that I really don’t mind having again.

How do I store leftovers?

Chicken Parmesan can be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Just add a little fresh cheese when reheating. You can eat it with your standard sides ,cut up the chicken and make a chicken parmesan sandwich, or even a delicious salad.

Whatever you decide to do to create with the leftovers of this dish, it’s going to be good!

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MORE RECIPES YOU MIGHT LIKE:

• Grilled Caprese Chicken
• Italian Chicken Pasta Salad
• Crockpot Chicken Spaghetti