Juicy chicken cutlets, breaded with parmesan cheese and seasoned breadcrumbs, are fried to perfection, then topped with marinara sauce and plenty of cheese.
Every time I go to a new Italian restaurant, I have to try the chicken parmesan. I honestly don’t think I’ve ever had a plate of chicken parm that I didn’t enjoy, and that’s because this recipe is perfect.
Crispy, tomato-y, salty, and savory flavors, melty cheese, and perfectly cooked chicken cutlets – what’s not to love?
While it can be easy to order chicken parmesan at your local Italian eatery, it’s even easier to make it yourself at home!
If you love Italian dishes, you need to try my Chicken Francese recipe. It’s also made with fried chicken cutlets, but with a lighter breading and a delicious lemony sauce. Ravioli Lasagna is another favorite, it’s hearty and cheesy, and simple to make!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Want to try chicken parmesan in meatball form? Check out my recipe for Chicken Parm Meatballs – they are super simple to make and just as delicious as the real thing.
Key Ingredients for Chicken Parmesan
Here’s what you need to make this easy chicken dinner: Complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Chicken Cutlets: Slice boneless skinless chicken breasts in half to create thin cutlets that will cook quickly and evenly. Flour and Eggs: A three-part breading station will ensure that the cutlets are properly coated. Step 1 is seasoned flour. Step two is well-beaten eggs. Bread Crumbs: Step 3 of the chicken parm breading station is breadcrumbs seasoned with Italian seasoning and freshly grated parmesan cheese. I prefer to use panko breadcrumbs for this recipe, but traditional ones will also work. Oil: You need oil for frying, like vegetable or canola oil. My chicken parmesan recipe uses a small amount of oil and a non-stick pan, but you can use more oil to get a deep-fried texture. Marinara Sauce: Use your favorite jarred marinara sauce, or make your own homemade tomato sauce. You need just under a cup of sauce for the chicken, but you’ll probably want more to serve with pasta. Mozzarella Cheese: I like to use low-moisture mozzarella cheese to top the chicken, but feel free to use thinly sliced fresh mozzarella if you have it. Fresh Basil: In the images here, I sliced basil leaves into a chiffonade, which is just a fancy French way to say that I sliced them into thin ribbons. You can also just chop the basil, but I don’t suggest skipping it. Fresh herbs make this recipe extra special.
If you love basil, you will love my recipe for Creamy Chicken Pesto Pasta, made with fresh basil pesto. Yum!
How To Make The Best Homemade Chicken Parmesan
Get ready by setting your oven to preheat at 375°F/190°C.
Recipe Tips
Don’t Overcook the Chicken: There’s nothing worse than dried out chicken! This dish spends a few minutes in the oven, so it’s very important to fry the cutlets just until they’re cooked, and not a minute longer. Want Crispier Cutlets? Fry them in an inch of oil in a deeper pan rather than cooking in a non-stick pan as we are here. An Alternate Set-Up: If you like your chicken parmesan saucier, you can bake it in a 9×13-inch dish. Layer marinara sauce, then the chicken cutlets, then more marina sauce, and the cheese. Bake for 15 minutes. Prefer to bake the chicken rather than fry it? Follow my oven baked chicken tenders recipe. For cutlets, adjust the oven temperature to 350°/180°C, and bake for 15 minutes. After the tenders are baked, cover with sauce and cheese and bake again to get everything melty. If you love this chicken parmesan recipe, be sure to check out my recipes for Chicken Parmesan Sandwiches and Instant Pot Chicken Parmesan too!
Storing Tips
Keep leftovers of chicken parmesan in the fridge and enjoy within 3 days.
How to Reheat Chicken Parmesan
I like to reheat chicken parmesan in the air fryer or toaster oven (at 350°F/180°C for 5 minutes or so) so that it gets crispy again, but it’s still tasty if you microwave it too.
What To Serve With Chicken Parmesan
I love to serve this dish with buttered noodles (usually spaghetti) or garlic and olive oil pasta and extra marinara sauce on the side so everyone can have as much as they like. This tasty Italian chicken dish goes great with any kind of pasta though! Pasta with peas is a delicious way to get some extra veggies into your meal. Or try pasta with a classic alfredo sauce instead. On the side, try a simple veggie like asparagus, broccoli, or green beans. A simple salad or a creamy homemade Caesar salad will also be delicious. Don’t forget to make up some easy garlic bread too! Skip the restaurant, and make Chicken Parmesan at home to feed the entire family! Save this recipe for a busy weeknight, or serve it to guests – Chicken Parmesan is perfect for any occasion! © Little Sunny Kitchen
