The Easiest, Tastiest Chicken Parmesan Bake

Is there anything in the world that’s as satisfying as a heaping bowl or plate of comfort food? I don’t think there is anything I love more.

Comfort food is easily my favorite recipe category, and so many popular dishes in classic Italian-American cuisine get it right every single time.

Be it lasagna, spaghetti, stuffed shells, or pizza, all of these recipes will warm you up from the inside out.

Do you love comfort food, too? Be sure to add this recipe for my chicken parmesan bake to your next weekly meal plan!

Vertical image of a cooked piece of meat topped with tomato sauce, melted mozzarella, and herb garnish on a black late in front of a large salad bowl, with text on the top and bottom of the image.

This dish quickly became a family favorite, and is requested by friends and family for virtually every occasion, whether for busy weeknights or casual dinner parties.

The best part? You can be the star of your own household and cook this super simple recipe from scratch – this restaurant favorite is so easy to make at home!

It takes close to an hour, but half of that time is spent waiting for it to bake in the oven.

Not bad, huh? An amazing dinner and it’s easy to make! No one needs to know you didn’t spend the day stuck in the kitchen. It can be our little secret.

Vertical top-down image of an entree covered in tomato sauce with melted mozzarella and herb garnish on a black plate next to a fork and knife on a tan napkin.

While waiting for this delicious, crusty, cheesy, and oh-so-comforting meal to bake, go ahead and do some cleanup around the kitchen. Load that dishwasher and prep your salad because once you eat this hearty dinner, you will NOT want to get up and clean.

This meal is a sit-down-and-eat-together kind of meal. No multitasking over dinner tonight, everyone. Put away the phones and enjoy each other’s company, at least for a few moments before going back to your busy schedules!

Maybe pour a glass of merlot and put on some music. Dinner at home can be just as indulgent as a night out! And at a fraction of the price, too. What’s not to love about that?

Vertical image of a cooked fillet of meat topped with tomato sauce, melted mozzarella cheese, and herb garnish on a black plate.

If you want to go the extra mile to wow your crowd for a multi-course Italian dining experience, make our almond anise biscotti or our creamy tiramisu cups for dessert.

Both of these can be made ahead of time, and go perfectly with a cup of decaf coffee at the end of the evening.

Sounds like the perfect night in to me!

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Horizontal image of a breaded poultry breast topped with tomato sauce and melted mozzarella cheese on a black plate with herb garnish.

The Easiest, Tastiest Chicken Parmesan Bake


  • Author: Leslie Morrison
  • Total Time: 50 minutes
  • Yield: 5 servings 1x

Description

 

Do you need to feed the family fast on a busy weeknight? Craving some Italian comfort food? Cook this super easy chicken parmesan recipe.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
  • 2 teaspoons freshly cracked black pepper, divided
  • 1 cup plain breadcrumbs
  • 1/4 cup finely grated parmesan cheese
  • 1 teaspoon dried parsley
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 2 large eggs
  • 5 boneless skinless chicken breasts, pounded to 1/2-inch thickness
  • 3/4 cup canola oil
  • 24 ounces (3 cups) tomato sauce
  • 8 ounces fresh whole milk mozzarella, thinly sliced

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 450°F.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper. In a separate large bowl, whisk together the breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese, parsley, onion powder, garlic powder, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper. In a separate large bowl, beat together the 2 eggs.
  3. Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels. Working with one breast at a time, first dredge it in the flour mixture and gently shake off any excess. Then, dip it in the egg mixture and gently shake off any excess. Then, coat the breast evenly on both sides with the breadcrumb mixture. Place the breaded breast on a large plate and repeat with the remaining chicken.
  4. Pour the oil into a large, oven-safe skillet and heat on a medium-high setting. Carefully place the chicken breasts into the skillet and cook for 5-6 minutes on each side until crispy and lightly browned on the exterior. If needed, cook the breasts in batches to not overcrowd the pan.
  5. When browned, remove the chicken from the skillet and drain on a separate large plate lined with paper towels. Drain and dispose of any excess oil from the skillet.
  6. Return the chicken to the skillet and pour the tomato sauce over the breasts. Top with the slices of mozzarella. Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake for 30 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the sauce is bubbling.
  7. Remove the skillet from the oven and serve immediately.
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 40 minutes
  • Category: Chicken
  • Method: Stovetop/Baking
  • Cuisine: Italian

Keywords: chicken, parmesan, parm

Cooking by the Numbers…

Step 1 – Prep Ingredients and Breading Station

Preheat the oven to 450°F.

Horizontal image of glass dishes filled with measured ingredients next to a grater and a wedge of cheese.

Measure out the flour, breadcrumbs, dried parsley, onion powder, garlic powder, canola oil, salt, and black pepper – freshly cracked is our preference!

If you have a favorite tomato sauce recipe, definitely use it here. You’ll need 3 cups total. Try our homemade oven-roasted tomato sauce, or our golden tomato sauce for a gorgeous orange color.

But to save time, and we love a good time-saving hack, you can also use a store-bought version.

Freshly grate 1/4 cup of parmesan cheese using a Microplane. You can also use a store-bought version here, too.

Thinly slice the fresh mozzarella using a sturdy cutting board and sharp chef’s knife.

Set out the chicken breasts on a large cutting board. If they are very thick, pound them out with a meat mallet to about a 1/2-inch thickness.

Crack the eggs into a large bowl and vigorously whisk them together.

Whisk together the flour, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper in a separate large bowl. In another large bowl, whisk together the breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese, parsley, onion powder, garlic powder, and remaining salt and pepper.

In a straight line going from left to right, arrange the bowls of flour mixture, eggs, and breadcrumb mixture, respectively. This is your breading station – setting it up like this will make for the quickest, cleanest, and most streamlined prep process.

Step 2 – Coat in Flour

For the most organized process, work with one breast at a time for Steps 2 and 3.

Horizontal image of dredged raw meat fillets on a cutting board.

Pat the chicken breasts dry using paper towels – this helps to remove excess liquid, and will help the flour stick better to the surface of the breasts.

Place one breast in the flour mixture, and dredge them evenly on both sides. Shake off any excess.

Step 3 – Coat in Egg and Breadcrumb Mixtures

Dip the breast in the eggs, making sure to cover both sides with the egg. Shake off any excess.

Horizontal image of dredged and breaded raw meat fillets on a cutting board.

Then, place the breast in the bowl with the breadcrumb mixture. Gently press the breast into the breadcrumbs to evenly coat it. The eggs will help the breadcrumbs stick. Turn the breast over and coat the other side.

Set the breaded breast on a large plate, and repeat Steps 2 and 3 with the remaining pieces.

Step 4 – Sear in SKILLET

Add oil to a large skillet, and heat it over medium-high heat.

Horizontal image of searing breaded fillets in a large casserole dish on the stovetop.

A cast iron skillet works great for this recipe. If you aren’t using cast iron, be sure that the skillet you are using is safe to place in the oven.

Check the oil in your skillet to be sure it is hot. An easy way to tell if it is ready is to drop a little water in the skillet. If the oil splatters immediately, your oil is hot enough for cooking.

Place the breasts into the hot skillet and cook for about 5 to 6 minutes on each side, or until the exterior is lightly browned and crispy.

Do NOT add chicken to oil that is not hot! Adding any breaded food to a skillet before the oil is hot enough will cause the breading to absorb the oil, resulting in a mushy and greasy surface.

Avoid cooking with oil that is too hot, as well – if shimmering progresses to smoking, remove your pan from the heat and wait for it to cool down.

You also should not overcrowd your pan, since this will cause the temperature to drop and your food will become greasy. If needed, cook the breasts in batches. Just allow the oil to heat up again for a few minutes before adding another batch.

When the chicken is done cooking, transfer the breast from the skillet onto a large plate lined with paper towels. The paper towels will absorb any excess oil.

Step 5 – Assemble with Sauce and Cheese

Carefully dispose of any oil remaining in the skillet – you don’t need that extra greasiness! Return the meat to the skillet and pour the tomato sauce over the pieces.

Horizontal image of fillets topped with tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese slices in a casserole dish.

Top with slices of fresh mozzarella in an even layer.

Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven, and bake for 30 minutes. The cheese will melt, and the sauce will be hot and bubbly.

This time is also important to thoroughly cook the chicken breasts. For an extra precaution, you can insert a meat thermometer in the center of one breast – if it registers 165°F or above, the chicken is cooked to a safe internal temperature.

Step 6 – Cool and Serve

Remove the skillet from the oven. Serve while it’s still hot!

Horizontal image of a piece of meat topped with tomato sauce, melted mozzarella cheese, and herb garnish on a black plate.

You can pair your entree with a delicious salad or your favorite vegetables for a complete meal.

Dinner Is Served!

Schedule a family dinner as soon as possible, and be sure to let everyone know you are serving a made-from-scratch chicken parmesan.

Everyone will come running to the table, mouths salivating and forks and knives at the ready!

Also, don’t be bashful about making your own alterations and substitutions.

Sneak in some nutrition by adding thinly sliced mushrooms or spinach with the tomato sauce. Garnish with fresh basil or parsley, or serve each piece on top of a pile of perfectly al-dente semolina pasta.

Horizontal image of a breaded poultry breast topped with tomato sauce and melted mozzarella cheese on a black plate with herb garnish.

If you live in a gluten-free household, you can still enjoy this delicious recipe by simply substituting the all-purpose flour for a gluten-free flour option, and the breadcrumbs with gluten-free breadcrumbs.

Do you have the perfect side for this meal? What changes do you think you’ll make to the recipe? Let us know by leaving a message in the comments, so we can try out your suggestions.

More cheese, please! You’ll love our entire collection of cheesy creations to make even more unforgettable dishes your family will request over and over again. Take a look at three more homemade recipes featuring the Italian flair of parmesan right now:

Photos by Leslie Morrison, © Ask the Experts, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. See our TOS for more details. Originally published August 14th, 2008 by Shanna Mallon. Last updated on October 15, 2023. With additional writing and editing by Nikki Cervone.

Nutritional information derived from a database of known generic and branded foods and ingredients and was not compiled by a registered dietitian or submitted for lab testing. It should be viewed as an approximation.

About Leslie Morrison

Leslie is a food photographer and writer. She enjoys spending time in her kitchen and behind the lens of her camera and working on her food blog, Deliciously Plated (deliciouslyplated.com). When she isn’t working, she is spending time with her son and her husband.

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