This Chicken Parmesan recipe has crispy breaded chicken breasts that are tender on the inside and baked to melty, cheesy perfection with mozzarella cheese over a layer of marinara sauce.

Looking for something even easier? Try my Chicken Milanese or Parmesan Crusted Chicken!

chicken parmesan on a plate with spaghetti tossed with marinara sauce and fresh basil and parmesan grated on top

Why you'll love it

Chicken Parmesan (or Chicken Parmigiana as it's also known) is an Italian-American comfort food staple that's a fixture in restaurants across North America! My version has really crispy breading (a combination of panko breadcrumbs and grated parmesan cheese), just enough Marinara Sauce on top, and plenty of melted mozzarella cheese.

This simple chicken parm recipe will give you the confidence to replicate it in your own home. There's no need to be intimidated when making this restaurant-quality dish that's ready in no time. You can also try my Chicken Parmesan Meatballs for a fun twist with these classic flavors!

What you'll need

Chicken breasts - tender pan fried chicken is the foundation of this recipe
Garlic powder - my not-so-secret ingredient to jazz up the flavor even more
Flour - for dredging the cutlets
Eggs - the egg wash ensures everything binds together
Panko breadcrumbs, parmesan, Italian seasoning - this mixture makes the best breading
Olive oil - for frying the cutlets to golden perfection
Marinara sauce - you can use your favorite sauce from a jar or homemade. We're not using as much on the chicken itself compared to other recipes out there to keep the breading extra crispy!
Mozzarella cheese - that signature cheesy, melty topping
Fresh basil - completely optional but gives a burst of freshness to top it all off

close-up of chicken parmesan in a skillet

Easy shortcuts

You don't need to spend time pounding the chicken breasts; here they're simply cut in half lengthwise to make thinner cutlets.
To make clean-up even easier, this entire recipe is made in the same skillet from start to finish. No transferring to a baking sheet necessary!

How to make Chicken Parmesan

This is an overview with step-by-step photos. Full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below.

ingredient prep bowls and chicken on a cutting board to make easy parmesan chicken

Preheat your oven to 400F, and prep all your ingredients. Start boiling the pasta if serving with it. Cut the chicken breasts lengthwise into 4 thinner cutlets and season on both sides with garlic powder and salt & pepper.

dredging chicken in flour and then an egg wash for chicken parmesan

Coat the cutlets in flour, and then dip into the egg mixture. Meanwhile, warm the marinara sauce in a saucepan over low heat.

adding the panko breadcrumb coating to chicken for chicken parmesan recipe

Shaking off any excess of the egg mixture, dip the chicken pieces into the breadcrumbs. Transfer cutlets to a plate.

frying breaded chicken and then adding marinara sauce for the best chicken parmesan

Cooking the chicken in two batches, add cutlets to an oven-proof skillet with olive oil over medium heat. When golden brown, transfer to plate. Add all four cutlets back into the skillet (or transfer to a baking dish if you don't have an oven-proof skillet), and bake in the oven for 5 minutes. Spoon on the marinara sauce.

adding mozzarella cheese to chicken parmesan in a skillet

Finally, top the chicken with mozzarella, and broil until bubbly and golden! Toss the remaining marinara sauce with the pasta. Add basil if desired.

Helpful tips

Make sure that you dry off the chicken before getting started. Just pat it with paper towel.
During each step of the dredging process (flour, egg, breadcrumbs), be sure to shake off any excess.
Be generous with the coating. You want to ensure the cutlets are fully coated. Don't skimp.
When you're frying, don't overcrowd the pan. I do two pieces at a time and give them plenty of room. Be sure to let the pan heat up prior to adding the chicken.
Don't move the chicken around the pan. Once it's in there, leave it alone until it's time to flip it. When you're ready to flip, gently lift an edge up and check it's nicely golden brown.

Leftovers and storage

It'll last for a few days in the fridge in an airtight container, but the breading will soften up the longer you leave it. Eat it right away if you can!
If you're wondering how to reheat Chicken Parmesan, preheat oven to 400F. Let the chicken warm up on your counter. Place a wire rack on a baking sheet. Add the chicken on top, and bake for 15 minutes or until heated through. Broil it for a few minutes at the end if you wish. This method encourages air circulation so the breading will be less soggy (covering the breaded chicken with foil will make it steam and go soft, so I don't recommend that method).
You can try freezing it, but I can't guarantee it'll be as crispy. I haven't personally tried this, but the general process is to freeze the breaded & fried chicken separately from the marinara sauce and cheese. You then let it thaw in the fridge (preferably overnight), reheat in the oven (see my instructions below), and then add the cheese and sauce and broil.

Tools for this recipe

Chicken is cooked when an instant read thermometer reads 165F. I highly recommend buying one since it's much easier (and safer) than guessing if chicken is done. And overcooked chicken is not good either!
I used an oven-safe skillet for this recipe (my Le Creuset 10.25" one). It's handy for so many recipes. I also love my Lodge cast iron skillet (a more economical choice). If you don't own one, simply transfer the chicken after frying it to a baking dish or baking sheet for the oven steps.
Cooking tongs are one of my most-used kitchen items, and they make flipping the cutlets a lot easier.
I prefer to grate my own parmesan cheese using this grater. It melts and tastes better than the pre-grated kind!

What to serve with Chicken Parmesan

I prefer spaghetti tossed in marinara sauce, but you could try any other kind of pasta, Mashed Potatoes, or Gnocchi.
You can't go wrong with a big slice of Cheesy Garlic Bread.
Try a Caesar salad with my homemade Caesar Dressing or this Olive Garden Salad Dressing!

More delicious recipes to try

I hope you will love this easy Chicken Parmesan recipe! Questions? Ask me in the comments below! As always, tag me #saltandlavender on Instagram so I can see your creations.

Chicken Parmesan