Chicken Parmesan Recipe
This easy chicken parmesan recipe is a homemade recreation of the American-Italian breaded chicken dish, commonly served in Italian-inspired restaurants such as Olive Garden. Chicken breasts are breaded in a crispy coating, fried until golden, topped with homemade marinara and cheese then baked until the cheese melts!

The recipe looks more complex than it is. It calls for simple ingredients, so you likely won’t need to run to the grocery store!
- Chicken- boneless skinless chicken breasts work best in this recipe. Just be sure to butterfly the chicken breast for even cooking.
- Cheese- you’ll need provolone and parmesan cheese for the recipe. Provolone for topping the breaded breasts, and parmesan to mix in with the breading.
- Breading- the bread crumb mixture consists of flour, salt, and black pepper. The final coating for the chicken is made of breadcrumbs, parmesan, flour, and homemade italian seasoning.
- Eggs- help to bind the breading to the chicken.
- Marinara- the homemade marinara sauce is made up of canned or fresh tomatoes, butter, chopped onion, and garlic; and it is seasoned simply with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
Chicken parmesan takes a few steps for a meal that is well worth the effort.
- Prepare marinara: Saute the onion with butter and oil in a skillet. Then add the garlic, tomatoes, and seasonings. Cook for 2-3 minutes. Puree the marinara with a hand blender, then return to the skillet and cover to keep warm while you cook the chicken.
- Prep the chicken: Cut the chicken breasts in halves lengthwise. Beat each half until even in thickness for even chicken cutlets.
- Prep the dipping bowls: In one bowl, mix together the flour, salt, and pepper. In a second bowl, whisk together two eggs. In the third bowl, mix together the flour, breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese, and italian seasoning.
- Dredge chicken: Dredge the chicken through the flour mixture, then dip the chicken in the eggs, and finally coat with the breadcrumb mixture.
- Cook chicken: In a large skillet, over medium-high heat, heat the oil, and carefully add the chicken. Cook for 3-4 minutes per side until cooked through. Transfer the cooked chicken to a baking sheet.
- Top and broil: Top each slice of chicken with marinara and sprinkle cheese. Cook until the cheese melts. Top with fresh basil and serve with your desired sides.
- Serve and enjoy, friends!
The chicken can be pan-fried or made completely in the oven or air fryer for even easier cleanup!
- Bake in the Oven: To completely cook the chicken in the oven, dredge the chicken and place it onto a baking sheet. Bake chicken parmesan at 400℉ for 15 minutes, or until golden. Then, top with marinara and cheese and cook until the cheese melts.
- Air-fryer Chicken Parmesan: To air-fry the chicken parm, follow the same steps for fried chicken, through step 4. Once you’ve dredged the chicken, add it to your air fryer basket. Spray lightly with cooking spray or drizzle some oil for a golden crust. Air fry the chicken at 400℉ for 10 minutes, turning once halfway through. After 10 minutes, add marinara and cheese and cook for another 3-5 minutes until the cheese is melted.
The chicken parmesan can be altered to fit your personal taste preferences.
- Store-bought marinara: For a shortcut to the recipe, skip a step and use your favorite store-bought marinara.
- Different cheese: Chicken parmesan can be made with provolone, mozzarella cheese, and parmesan, depending on what you have in your fridge.
- Regular breadcrumbs: Substitute regular breadcrumbs instead of panko breadcrumbs if that is what you have on hand.
There is a side option for every palate for chicken parmesan, so make the sides your family will love. Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Pasta: A classic way to serve the chicken parmesan is with spaghetti or angel hair pasta.
- Salad: Make a classic caesar salad, crave-worthy caprese bruschetta on toast, or a tomato burrata salad to serve on the side.
- Sandwich: Repurpose leftovers into a chicken parmesan sandwich on toasted buns or French baguettes.
- Garlic bread: Serve the chicken parmesan with a side of homemade breadsticks or garlic bread.
Easy Chicken Parmesan Recipe

4.92 from 25 votes
Chicken parmesan is a classic, Italian-inspired dish that is a restaurant favorite. It’s easy to recreate at home and can be served with a variety of side dishes as an at-home date night meal, to impress guests, or just for a family dinner.
Prep Time: 15minutes minutes
Cook Time: 15minutes minutes
Total Time: 30minutes minutes
Servings: 4 servingsCook Mode
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Ingredients
- 2 large chicken breasts boneless skinless
- 6 slices provolone cheese
- 3 Tbsp fresh basil optional
- 3 Tbsp olive oil more if needed
bowl 1-
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ tsp salt
- dash of pepper
bowl 2-
- 2 large eggs beaten
bowl 3-
- 3 Tbsp all-purpose flour
- 2/3 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 2/3 cup parmesan cheese grated
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp ground paprika
- ½ tsp italian seasoning
homemade marinara recipe-
- 1 Tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 tsp olive oil
- 1/2 small onion finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 14.5 oz cubed tomatoes
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ¼ tsp salt
- ⅛ tsp ground black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to broil at step 5 when cooking the chicken. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Prepare the homemade marinara sauce:
- In a saucepan, sauté the finely chopped onion with 1 tbsp of butter and 1 tsp oil until softened, stirring occasionally to prevent burning.
- Add the minced garlic, cubed tomatoes, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper. Cook the mixture for 2-3 minutes.
- Puree the tomatoes with a hand-held blender until smooth.
- Pour the pureed marinara back into the saucepan and simmer on low heat until reheated.
chicken-
- Cut the chicken breasts in half lengthwise. Lightly beat each half with a meat mallet until even in thickness and tenderized.
- In 3 separate bowls, combine the ingredients for bowl 1, bowl 2, and bowl 3, respectively.
- Dredge the chicken into the flour mixture, then into the second bowl into the egg mixture, and finally into bowl 3 the breadcrumb mixture, coating the chicken generously.
- In a large skillet, heat 3 Tbsp of oil over med/high. Once the skillet is hot, carefully add the chicken. (Don’t overcrowd the pan to ensure a good sear, cook in two batches if needed.)
- Cook the chicken until it is crispy and fully cooked, or about 2-3 minutes per side. Meanwhile, preheat the oven.
- Add the chicken breast to a baking sheet. Top each piece of chicken with marinara and the cheese.
- Bake the chicken for 4-6 minutes, or until the cheese is fully melted.
- Generously garnish the chicken with fresh basil.
- Serve and enjoy, friends!
Notes
Air fry or bake: The chicken can be cooked completely in the oven or air fryer. Cook at 400℉ for 10 minutes in the air fryer, flipping halfway. Then, top with marinara and cheese and cook for a few minutes until the cheese has melted. To bake, preheat the oven to 400℉ and bake for 15 minutes, or until golden. Then, top with marinara and cheese and broil until melted and crisp.
Freeze: To freeze the chicken for future meals, saute the chicken and allow it to cool to room temperature. Freeze in freezer-safe bags. When ready to serve, thaw, add to a 425℉ preheated oven to crisp, then add marinara and cheese and cook until finished.
Nutrition
551kcal Calories21g Carbs43g Protein32g Fat