This parmesan crusted chicken recipe is a comfort food classic with tender chicken breasts nestled inside crispy breading. Easy & delicious!
I got the idea for this recipe when I was doing multiple tests for my Chicken Parmesan. The chicken itself is delicious (without extra marinara sauce or cheese), so I figured I'd add it on here as a standalone recipe. People Google this recipe a lot, so I'm happy to provide it!
If you've never breaded chicken, it's a good skill to add to your cooking repertoire. I am one of those people who likes to jazz up chicken breasts (I find them boring otherwise), and this is the perfect way to do it. The chicken stays nice and juicy, and it's just plain tasty.
How to make parmesan crusted chicken
It's a simple process... first we cut the chicken breasts in half lengthwise so there's 4 thinner pieces. They cook faster and more evenly (and stay tender) this way. Then we move onto the dredging process where each piece of chicken is coated in flour, followed by the egg, and finally the breadcrumb mixture. The chicken pieces are then fried quickly until golden and finished off in the oven. (Full ingredients and instructions are in the recipe card below).
Recipe notes & tips:
- I like using panko breadcrumbs to get it extra crispy. If you can find Italian seasoned ones, no need to add the extra Italian seasoning. You can make this with regular breadcrumbs if that's all you've got on hand.
- Breading tips: breading chicken is easy and reliable as long as you follow a few simple rules:
- Make sure that you dry off the chicken before getting started (I just pat it with paper towel).
- During each step of the dredging process (flour, egg, breadcrumbs), be sure to shake off any excess, and make sure the chicken pieces are fully coated for each step.
- Don't add all the chicken to the skillet at once. I do two pieces at a time and give them plenty of room. Make sure the pan is hot prior to adding the chicken.
- Don't move the chicken around the skillet. Once it's in there, resist the urge to touch it until it's time to flip it over (tongs make this easy).
- This recipe uses an oven-proof skillet. It's something that I think every cook should own. They're very versatile and come in a range of price points. For this recipe I used my 10.25" Le Creuset (you can see it was a little small since I happened to buy rather large pieces of chicken, but a little overlap for the last part of the recipe is fine). I also love my Lodge cast iron (a more affordable option).
- If you don't own an oven-proof skillet, transfer the chicken to a baking dish for the last step.
- Use an instant read meat thermometer to quickly check if chicken is done.
What to serve with parmesan crusted chicken breasts?
Try fettuccine with Alfredo sauce, mashed potatoes, potato salad, pesto gnocchi, a salad, and/or a side of veggies (I used broccolini in one of the photos).
Other tasty chicken recipes to try:
- Santa Fe Chicken Skillet
- Cheesy Mozzarella Chicken Bake
- Lemon Parmesan Chicken Alfredo Recipe
- Creamy Garlic Parmesan Chicken
Questions about this parmesan crusted chicken recipe? Let me know in the comments below!
Parmesan Crusted Chicken
Ingredients
- 2 large chicken breasts cut in half lengthwise
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt & pepper to taste
- 1/4 cup flour
- 2 eggs beaten
- 2/3 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- 1/2 heaping teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 3 tablespoons olive oil divided
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400F. Position the rack in the top third of the oven.
- Cut the chicken in half lengthwise so you have 4 thinner pieces. Pat the chicken dry with paper towel. Sprinkle it with the garlic powder and some salt & pepper on both sides.
- Prepare 3 bowls: one with the flour, one with the eggs (beat them with a fork), and the third with the panko/parmesan/Italian seasoning (mix it all together)
- Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil to a skillet over medium heat. Let the pan heat up while you're working on the chicken in the next step.
- Meanwhile, coat the chicken pieces in the flour. You will then dip each piece in the egg, followed by the breadcrumb mixture (shake off any excess at each of the 3 steps). Pro tip: do the dipping with one hand and leave the other one free to make this process easier. You may need to gently press the chicken into the breadcrumbs to make them stick.
- Add 2 of the chicken pieces to the skillet and cook for around 2-3 minutes/side until golden. I use tongs to easily flip the chicken. Transfer the chicken to a plate, and for the second batch, add the remaining tablespoon of olive oil to the skillet. Once you've fried all the chicken, take the skillet off the heat and arrange all 4 pieces inside. Transfer the skillet to the oven and cook for 5 minutes or until cooked through (chicken is done when an instant read thermometer reads 165F).
- Serve immediately.
Notes
- I recommend reading the blog post for tips if you've never breaded chicken before.
- Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy only and should be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. Ingredients can vary and Salt & Lavender makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information.
Deb Guglielmo says
I made this chicken dish tonight for my son and daughter-in-law. It was delicious, with seconds for all! It was much easier to make than I anticipated, also very crispy and tender. I served it with mashed potatoes, gravy and asparagus. Thanks so much for this recipe!! Deb
Natasha says
That's wonderful!! Thank you for letting me know, Deb. 😀
Cindy says
Made this tonight with chicken tenderloins. Absolutely delicious! The whole family raved. (Half hour later one of my kids is already eating the leftovers.) Also made mashed potatoes along with gravy from another of your chicken recipes. Amazing meal! Thank you!
Natasha says
I'm so glad that it was a hit!! 🙂 Thanks, Cindy!
Gail says
I made this tonight but since only the two of us, I just used one breast sliced in half and cut all the ingredients in half. I forgot the parmesan cheese and they still were wonderful! Easy to make and I served them with your Brussel Sprouts and Bacon recipe. A little bit of microwave mashed potatoes and we were in heaven. Looking at some more of your recipes to try!
Thank you Natasha!
Natasha says
I'm so glad it worked out! Thanks so much for taking the time to comment and try out some of my recipes... really appreciate you following along. XO
Charlotte Jennings says
This recipe is absolutely delicious 😍 the steps were super easy to follow and it was so easy and quick. The chicken turned out so crunchy and juicy and yummy. You could eat it with practically anything!
Natasha says
Yay!! I'm so happy you enjoyed it, Charlotte! Thanks for commenting! 😀
Natasha says
What is that yummy looking pasta in the picture??? I want that recipe please.
Natasha says
Hi! It's my Alfredo sauce... it's linked in the post (it's under the "what to serve with" section). 🙂
Gloria mellyn says
As always looking forward on making these recipes.
Wishing you a great week.
Natasha says
Thanks so much, Gloria! 🙂 I hope you have a great week too!
Alexa says
Have you found a good substitute for egg when breading the chicken? My daughter has an egg allergy and you seem so knowledgeable with replacements. Thank you.
Natasha says
Hi Alexa! Unfortunately, I haven't ever tested one. I did a quick search and I saw buttermilk as a suggestion. Maybe you could try that? Let me know if you do.
Victorya says
I have an egg allergy. I use JustEgg as an egg substitute in all recipes, whether breading or meatballs and it turns out perfectly every time. I also fry it up just like regular eggs. Changed my life. I also now use Hellman’s Vegan mayo and the family never even noticed the switch.
Natasha says
Thanks for the tip!
Carol Brusa says
This looks delicious. I appreciate the hits regarding breading chicken pieces. We will make.
Natasha says
You're welcome! Let me know how it goes, Carol! 🙂