Chicken Parmesan is always one of those meals that can seem intimidating if you don’t cook often. It seems arduous and time consuming, but it isn’t when you take the appropriate shortcuts. One of the short cuts we like to take is getting the right cut of meat to start and then using the right combination for the breading.

We like to serve our chicken parm with buttered spaghetti or fettuccine noodles. We also like to only top it with sauce and cheese right before you’re going to eat it. That way, if you have leftovers that won’t be eaten, they are well-balanced to go on top of a salad or in a sandwich. This chicken parmesan makes great leftovers!

Be sure to stick with thin cut chicken breast, or you’ll need to beat it thin. That is what keeps the chicken quick cooking and moist.

Why you will come back to this Straightforward Chicken Parmesan

You will come back to this from-scratch chicken parmesan recipe because not only is it ready in under 30 minutes, it’ll become a house staple.

With a plain shortcut of using garlic butter croutons, the breaded chicken is packed with flavor without a lot of effort.

When it’s paired with your favorite pasta, it makes for an straightforward dinner on weeknights.

It’s an straightforward recipe like you’d get at your favorite Italian restaurant.

Chicken Parmesan Recipe Straightforward Ingredients

Thin cut chicken breast – you’ll need boneless skinless chicken breasts that are thin sliced (thin chicken cutlets) or pounded thin with a meat mallet to an even thickness. It’s important that they are thin so that they cook through by the time the breading has browned
Eggs
Garlic butter flavored croutons – the secret to an extra flavorful breadcrumb mixture. Rather than using garlic powder and Italian seasoning, the croutons have all of the seasoning you’ll need for the breading.
Panko bread crumbs – this recipe calls for panko breadcrumbs rather than Italian breadcrumbs for texture and crunch
Parmesan cheese
Olive oil – you can also cook these in avocado oil
Marinara sauce – you can use store-bought marinara sauce or your favorite from-scratch sauce
Shredded mozzarella cheese – freshly shredded mozzarella will melt quicker, but fresh mozzarella will give you a house favorite flavor.

How to make Crispy Chicken Parmesan

Place the croutons in a food processor and pulse until you reach a breadcrumb consistency.
Combine bread crumbs, croutons, and parmesan in a large shallow bowl (we like to use a pie plate), and stir to combine.
In a second bowl, add eggs and whisk.
Preheat a large skillet on medium heat and add enough olive oil to coat the bottom of the pan.
Take each chicken breast and dip it in the egg mixture first being sure to fully coat both sides.
Then dip the chicken in the crouton mixture, being sure to cover the entire piece.
Place the chicken in the heated skillet and cook until golden brown (about 2-3 minutes on each side).
Cook one piece at a time to avoid overcrowding and bringing the oil temperature down.
Remove each piece and place it on a paper towel-lined plate.
Once completed, add 2 tablespoons of marinara sauce to the top of each piece followed by 2 tbsp of mozzarella.
Either place it back in the skillet with a lid and heat until the cheese melts or pop it into a casserole baking dish (or on a sheet pan)and under the broiler for a minute or so until it’s bubbly and melted.
Serve it up over a big pile of buttered pasta! Enjoy!

Straightforward chicken parmesan tips & tricks

Place the sauce and cheese on the top of the chicken right before you’re going to eat it. That way, if you have leftovers that won’t be eaten, they stay crispy when reheated.
Leftover chicken parmesan is great on top of a salad or in a sandwich.
Be sure to stick with thin cut chicken breast, or you’ll need to beat it thin. That is what keeps the chicken quick cooking and moist.
Many grocery stores sell boneless chicken breasts that are already thin sliced. You can save time by buying these.
A house favorite chicken parmesan has a crispy, golden brown exterior and soft, juicy interior. Make sure your internal temperature is 165ºF without going over.
Don’t overcomplicate the sauce. Whether you use a from-scratch tomato sauce or a store-bought sauce, use the one your family loves.

What to serve with Chicken Parmesan

Chicken parmesan is best served over pasta with extra sauce, but it’s great alongside other things as well including:

Zucchini noodles
Topped with fresh basil
Plain green salad
Brussels sprouts
Roasted broccoli
Garlic bread
Roasted spaghetti squash

How to store this recipe for Chicken Parmesan

It’s important to allow the chicken parmesan to cool completely to room temperature. Place the chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

When stored properly, it will last up to 3 days in the refrigerator.

It’s best to store leftovers of this chicken parm recipe without the pasta sauce or cheese and add them when serving.

For a house favorite results when reheating, we recommend using the air fryer or toaster oven. Once they’ve been heated through, they will remain crispy and you can add the sauce and cheese.

Chicken Parmesan Recipe Straightforward FAQs

Makes 4

Ingredients

4 thin cut chicken breast
2 eggs
1 package garlic butter flavored croutons
1/3 cup panko bread crumbs
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
olive oil
1/2 cup marinara sauce
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella

Method

Place croutons in a food processor and pulse until you reach a bread crumb consistency.
Combine parmesan, croutons, and panko in a shallow dish (we like to use a pie plate), and stir to combine.
In another shallow dish, add eggs and whisk.
Preheat a skillet on medium heat and add enough olive oil to coat the bottom of the pan.
Take each chicken breast and dip in the eggs first being sure to fully coat both sides.
Then dip the chicken in the crouton mixture, being sure to cover the entire piece.
Place the chicken in the heated skilled and cook until browned (about 2-3 minutes each side).
Cook one piece at a time to avoid over crowding and bringing the oil temperature down.
Remove each piece and place on a paper towel lined plate.
Once completed, add 2 tablespoons of marinara sauce to the top of each piece followed by 2 tbsp of mozzarella.
Either place back in the skillet with a lid and heat until the cheese is melted, or pop into a casserole dish and under the broiler for a minute or so until it’s bubbly and melted.
Serve it up over a big pile of buttered pasta! Enjoy!

Straightforward Chicken Parmesan and Pasta