Easy Crispy Baked Chicken Parmesan
Easy Crispy Baked Chicken Parmesan is a better-than-takeout dinner ready in just 30 minutes. After making this many times, I’ve discovered the trick to perfectly crispy, golden chicken every time. Jump to the recipe card or keep reading for my best tips. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy The Best Baked Chicken Bacon Ranch Tacos and Honey Mustard BLT Chicken Sliders.
Why This Easy Crispy Baked Chicken Parmesan Is Pure Comfort
- Crispy golden breading
- Melty, bubbly cheese
- Tangy, homemade marinara
- Easy, better than takeout
What You'll Need for Easy Crispy Baked Chicken Parmesan
Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.
- boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- breadcrumbs
- parmesan cheese
- marinara sauce
- eggs
- all-purpose flour
- olive oil
- garlic powder
- onion powder
- salt
- pepper
- Italian seasoning
- Optional: fresh basil
- Optional: red pepper flakes
- Optional: grated parmesan cheese
📝 Ingredient Notes
- breadcrumbs: Use plain or Italian-seasoned breadcrumbs. Panko works well too.
- marinara sauce: Homemade or store-bought is fine. Use your favorite brand.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Food processor — Quickly pulse breadcrumbs for even texture. Pays for itself vs buying pre-made breadcrumbs. → See on Amazon
- Baking sheet — Heavy-duty sheets ensure even baking and easy cleanup. Pays for itself vs takeout. → See on Amazon
How to Make Easy Crispy Baked Chicken Parmesan
- Prepare chicken: Pound chicken breasts to 1/2-inch thickness. Season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder.
- : Set up dredging station: flour, beaten eggs, and breadcrumb mixture (breadcrumbs, parmesan, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper). Coat chicken in flour, then eggs, then breadcrumbs, pressing gently to adhere.
- : Heat olive oil in a large oven-safe skillet over medium heat. Add chicken and cook until golden, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer skillet to preheated 450°F oven and bake for 10-15 minutes, until chicken is cooked through and breading is crispy.
- : Remove skillet from oven. Top each chicken breast with 1/4 cup marinara sauce and 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella. Return to oven and bake for 5-10 minutes, until cheese is melted and bubbly. Garnish with fresh basil and serve.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Easy Crispy Baked Chicken Parmesan
- Common mistake and fix: Don't overcrowd the skillet when cooking chicken. Cook in batches if needed to prevent steaming and ensure crispy breading.
- Pro tip: Use a meat mallet to pound chicken breasts evenly. This helps the chicken cook evenly and ensures crispy breading.
- Pro tip: For extra crispy breading, refrigerate the breaded chicken for 30 minutes before cooking. This helps the breading adhere better.
- Pro tip: Make your own marinara sauce for extra flavor. It's easy and freezes well for future use.
Storing & Reheating Easy Crispy Baked Chicken Parmesan
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Make-ahead tip: Prepare breaded chicken up to 1 day ahead. Store in the fridge until ready to cook.
Freezing Easy Crispy Baked Chicken Parmesan
Freeze cooked chicken parmesan for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat in a 350°F oven for 15-20 minutes, until heated through. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes, until heated through. Cover with a damp paper towel to prevent drying out.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For a spicy kick, add red pepper flakes to the breadcrumb mixture or sprinkle on top before serving.
- Best substitution: Substitute panko breadcrumbs for a crispier texture.
- Make-ahead: Prepare marinara sauce up to 3 days ahead. Store in the fridge until ready to use.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled to serve a crowd.
- Troubleshooting: If chicken breasts are not cooking evenly, use an instant-read thermometer to check for doneness. Chicken is done when it reaches 165°F.
Want to level up this recipe?
Meat mallet — Pounding chicken breasts ensures even cooking and helps breading adhere. Pays for itself vs buying pre-made breaded chicken. → Check price on Amazon
Easy Crispy Baked Chicken Parmesan
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- breadcrumbs
- parmesan cheese
- marinara sauce
- eggs
- all-purpose flour
- olive oil
Seasonings
- garlic powder
- onion powder
- salt
- pepper
- Italian seasoning
Optional Toppings
- fresh basil
- red pepper flakes
- grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Prepare chicken: Pound chicken breasts to 1/2-inch thickness. Season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder.
- : Set up dredging station: flour, beaten eggs, and breadcrumb mixture (breadcrumbs, parmesan, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper). Coat chicken in flour, then eggs, then breadcrumbs, pressing gently to adhere.
- : Heat olive oil in a large oven-safe skillet over medium heat. Add chicken and cook until golden, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer skillet to preheated 450°F oven and bake for 10-15 minutes, until chicken is cooked through and breading is crispy.
- : Remove skillet from oven. Top each chicken breast with 1/4 cup marinara sauce and 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella. Return to oven and bake for 5-10 minutes, until cheese is melted and bubbly. Garnish with fresh basil and serve.
Notes
- Chef tip: For a spicy kick, add red pepper flakes to the breadcrumb mixture or sprinkle on top before serving.
- Best substitution: Substitute panko breadcrumbs for a crispier texture.
- Make-ahead: Prepare marinara sauce up to 3 days ahead. Store in the fridge until ready to use.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or tripled to serve a crowd.
- Troubleshooting: If chicken breasts are not cooking evenly, use an instant-read thermometer to check for doneness. Chicken is done when it reaches 165°F.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- Freezer: Freeze cooked chicken parmesan for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
- Oven reheat: Reheat in a 350°F oven for 15-20 minutes, until heated through.
- Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes, until heated through. Cover with a damp paper towel to prevent drying out.
- Make ahead: Prepare breaded chicken up to 1 day ahead. Store in the fridge until ready to cook.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 520
- Protein: 46g
- Fat: 22g
- Carbs: 34g
- Fiber: 2g
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 900mg
- Cholesterol: 130mg
- Sat. Fat: 9g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Easy Crispy Baked Chicken Parmesan FAQs
Overcooking is the most common reason for dry chicken parmesan. To prevent this, use an instant-read thermometer to check for doneness. Chicken is done when it reaches 165°F.
Yes, you can prepare breaded chicken up to 1 day ahead. Store in the fridge until ready to cook. You can also assemble the entire dish up to 24 hours ahead, but add the cheese just before baking to prevent soggy breading.
Serve with garlic bread, side salad, or roasted vegetables for a complete meal.
Yes, freeze cooked chicken parmesan for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
Reheat in a 350°F oven for 15-20 minutes, until heated through. This helps maintain the crispy breading. You can also reheat in the microwave, but cover with a damp paper towel to prevent drying out.
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try Easy Crispy Baked Chicken Parmesan and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!
