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With its tender, juicy yet crispy, golden breaded chicken, bottled rich marinara sauce, and gooey melted mozzarella, this dish is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.

One of my all-time favorite Italian dishes is Chicken Parmesan! I didn’t discover this delectable dish until I was sitting in the dentist’s office one day skimming through a magazine, obviously long before Wi-Fi, waiting to be tortured!

Right there in the middle of one of those wonderful foodie magazines was a shake-n-bake recipe for easy Chicken Parmesan! (WAIT! What was that loud noise?!! Oh… just the sound of a million Italians rolling over in their graves. I did just use the words Shake-n-bake and Chicken Parmesan in the same sentence. It was bound to happen!)

I do apologize to the entire country of Italy for the offense. (There is a point to this story…hang in there with me!)

I digress…back to my point. Any who… It turned out pretty darn good! However, what if I made my own coating, fried it in a pan, and then followed the other steps listed in the recipe? I bet it would be even better…and it was!

So… if you’re craving a comforting, homemade Italian-inspired dish without spending hours in the kitchen? This Easy Chicken Parmesan recipe is the perfect solution!

Norine’s Top Tips

• You can use frozen breaded chicken patties baked in your air-fryer to make this recipe even easier!
• Any jar of marinara sauce will work in this recipe. You can make your own too. For ease I use my favorite bottled sauce.
• You can use “Shake-n-bake” for the coating and follow the regular baking instructions for a simplified version of this recipe. However, I prefer making my own coating and frying the cutlets myself for added depth of flavor.

Ingredients to gather

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breast – note you can substitute with 8 chicken tenders.
• 1 (24 ounce) pasta sauce – My favorite is Bertolli olive oil and garlic.
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1½ cups plain bread crumbs
• ½ cup finely grated Kraft Parmesan Cheese
• 1 teaspoon garlic salt
• ¼ teaspoon coarse black pepper
• 1½ teaspoons Italian seasonings
• 1 Tablespoon of dried parsley
• 4 Tablespoons of Olive Oil for frying
• 1½ cups Mozzarella cheese, shredded
• Pasta of your choice – We love Angel Hair Pasta, but any pasta will do.

How to Make Easy Chicken Parmesan

Preheat the oven to 350° (F). Spray a 9×13 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray and set aside.

If using whole chicken breasts, carefully fillet each breast in half using a sharp knife.

Place each chicken breast fillet between two sheets of plastic wrap, and using a meat tenderizer, take out all your frustrations on that poor little chicken breast! Seriously, pound each breast to about ¼ inch thick.

In a separate bowl, or dredging dishes, place the beaten eggs in one shallow dish, and in the other dish add the bread crumbs, parsley, garlic salt, black pepper, Italian seasoning, and Parmesan cheese. Mix well to combine.

In a large skillet, preheat your olive oil over medium heat. You can add 1–2 tablespoons of butter to the olive oil for added flavor, but it isn’t necessary.

TIP: Be careful not to overheat your oil or your chicken will burn before it cooks!

Preparing the Chicken

Prepare the chicken by dipping a tenderized chicken fillet into the egg wash and then the bread crumb mixture. Be sure to coat both sides.

Place the coated chicken breast into the preheated skillet by carefully laying the chicken AWAY from you, so that no oil splatters up onto you! Cook until golden brown and the edges begin to get crispy. About 8–10 minutes per side.

Using tongs, turn each chicken breast and cook the other side. Do NOT worry if the chicken is not completely cooked through. It will finish baking in the oven!

Remove the cooked chicken and place it in a large prepared 9 x 13 baking dish, while you cook the remaining chicken breasts.

TIP: You may need to add additional olive oil to the pan to finish cooking the coated chicken breast.

Finishing and Baking Instructions

Now for the “easy” part of this recipe. I cheat! I use bottled sauce.

That’s right… I just crack open my favorite bottle of red sauce and pour it over the top of the chicken.

TIP: You can certainly make sauce from scratch. However, I love the convenience of using bottled sauce for this recipe. (I know! I know! More grave rolling! Sorry!) I’m not too sorry though! This is a busy Mom’s version of Chicken Parmesan and it’s a wonderful dish!

Once your chicken is covered with the sauce of your choice, top it with grated mozzarella cheese and a sprinkle of dried parsley!

It’s ready to go into the oven!

Bake in your preheated 350° oven for about 45 minutes. Until the cheese is bubbly and melted, and chicken juices are running clear.

Serving Ideas

While the chicken is baking, it’s a great time to cook your pasta. I like to serve my Chicken Parmesan on a bed of angel hair pasta. You can use any pasta of your choice.

Follow the cooking instructions on the back of the bag.

Tip: When your pasta is done cooking, drain and add 1 tablespoon of butter, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese, and toss gently to coat. This will keep the noodles from sticking together and also gives them more flavor.

Easy Chicken Parmesan that’s bursting with flavor, yet simple enough to make any night of the week. I love to pair it with a crisp green salad and some garlic bread for a complete meal that leaves everyone asking for seconds.

Whether you’re whipping up a quick weeknight meal or impressing guests at a dinner party, this recipe is simple, delicious, and uses ingredients you likely already have on hand. Get ready to bring a taste of Italy to your table in just under 30 minutes!

Other Favorite Italian Recipes

• Spaghetti with Ground Beef Sauce
• Meat lovers Baked Spaghetti
• Brooklyn Chicken Penne Pasta
• Pesto Stuffed Grilled Chicken Breasts
• Stuffed Pasta Shells with Meat Sauce
• Creamy Garlic Pasta from AllRecipes.com

Don’t forget to save it and share the love with friends and family! Buon appetito!

Hugs from my Nest to Yours!

Printable Recipe Card

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