Is there really anything better than a chicken parmesan dinner on a cool winter evening? Chicken Parm is one of those classic comfort foods that will never disappoint. It's tasty, cozy and hearty.
Chicken parm consists of a few simple steps that will result in a cozy and delicious italian meal. The first step is to pound the chicken breast. This ensures that the meat is extra tender. The chicken cutlets are then breaded in flour, egg and italian breadcrumbs to create a crispy crust. The dredged chicken cutlets are then pan fried in olive oil until perfectly crisp before marinara sauce is lathered over the top. Fresh mozzarella slices carefully placed on top each piece of chicken and then the dish gets baked in the oven until the cheese is golden brown and bubbly. Absolutely heavenly. Freshly grated parmigiano and julienned basil make for the perfect garnish.
Chicken parmesan is a wonderful dish for hosting. It can be made ahead and simply baked just before serving. I love serving this dish with a ceasar salad or my all time favourite tuscan kale salad with a lemon vinaigrette. Pasta is always a classic side dish for chicken parmesan. Lastly, garlic bread rounds out this perfect meal. A big glass of red wine and you are set for a cozy meal in.
Serves: 2 - 4 people
Total Time: 45 minutes
INGREDIENTS:
½ cup flour
½ cup italian breadcrumbs
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon italian seasoning
1 egg
2 large chicken breasts
2 tablespoon olive oil
1 cup marinara
½ a ball of fresh mozzarella, 1 large slice per chicken cutlet
Basil for garnish
Parmigiana reggiano for garnish
INSTRUCTIONS:
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees fahrenheit; lightly grease a baking dish with olive oil and set aside.
Slice your chicken in half, parallel to the breast and open up the chicken like a book. Slice down the middle to separate the two halves. You will be left with two thinner chicken cutlets. Repeat with the second chicken breast until you have four cutlets
Line the chicken cutlets on a cutting board and cover with saran wrap. Using a meat pounder, lightly pound the chicken to tenderize it. Do not pound it too thin or it will overcook in the oven
For the dredging station: In a bowl, crack the egg and whisk with a pinch of salt and pepper. Add the flour to a plate. Add the breadcrumbs, garlic powder and italian seasoning to another plate and stir to combine.
Dredge each chicken cutlet, starting with the flour, then egg and finally the breadcrumbs. Ensure you shake off any remaining flour, egg and breadcrumbs in between. Continue with the remaining chicken and set aside.
In a large skillet, heat your olive oil and place the chicken into the skillet to brown on each side. Roughly 3-4 minutes a side. You may need to do this in batches, depending on the size of your skillet. Your chicken will finish cooking in the oven, so no need to ensure that it is cooked through
Place the chicken in the greased baking dish and evenly distribute the marinara over top.
Add a generous amount of mozzarella on each piece of chicken.
Bake for 15 - 17 minutes until the cheese is golden brown and bubbly.
Top with julienned basil and fresh parmigiana and enjoy!
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