Easy Baked Chicken Parmesan Recipe

This Easy Baked Chicken Parmesan Recipe has a crispy panko bread crumbs Parmesan cheese coating topped with marinara sauce and melted mozzarella cheese. Serve this chicken Parm recipe with penne pasta for an easy weeknight meal the whole family will love!

Easy, cheesy chicken Parmesan, or chicken Parmigiana or, simply, chicken Parm is one of my family's favorite chicken recipes and definitely falls into the comfort food category! It's quick enough for weeknight dinners and elegant enough for birthdays and other special occasions.

My version of classic chicken Parmesan uses crispy seasoned panko breadcrumbs and no flour. The baked chicken breasts are then topped off with a little marinara sauce and plenty of gooey melted cheese. Serve with garlic bread, salad or green veggies!

I also make Skinny Chicken Parmesan without breadcrumbs, Chicken Parmesan Sandwiches and Skillet Chicken Parm. But the breaded version is hands-down my family's favorite!

If you're looking for easy chicken Parmesan with penne pasta recipes or any easy dinner recipe, you'll love this one!

Ingredients

You only need a few simple ingredients for easy baked chicken Parmesan. You can find them in your grocery store or online:

• Olive oil
• Chicken breasts -- boneless chicken breasts or cutlets
• Large egg 
• Panko bread crumbs
• Parmesan cheese 
• Italian seasoning
• Sea salt
• Garlic powder
• Ground black pepper
• Marinara sauce
• Mozzarella cheese or provolone cheese
• Olive oil spray

How to Make Oven Baked Chicken Parmesan with Penne Pasta

The easiest way to make breaded chicken is to have all of your ingredients measured out and ready to go.

Have one bowl for the egg, one shallow dish for the breadcrumbs/grated cheese and a lightly greased baking sheet set out -- kind of like an assembly line.

Also, use the thinnest chicken breasts or chicken cutlets you can find. Or, slice thick ones in half for faster, even baking.

First, dip the chicken breast into the beaten egg. You want a light coating here. If you don't want to use egg wash, use mayo, instead.

Next, dip the chicken into the seasoned bread crumbs/ grated Parm mixture. Press the chicken into the crumbs until it's lightly coated.

If you make the crumb layer too thick, it won't be crispy. You can throw a few more crumbs onto the chicken once it's on the baking sheet if you feel it needs more coating.

Then, place the chicken onto a baking sheet lightly greased with butter or cooking spray. I like to line the sheets with foil for easy clean-up.

If you don't like the idea of using foil, you can use parchment paper. Or, just skip lining the sheet pan completely!

Spray the chicken lightly with olive oil spray, like Pam. This helps give it a nice golden color. It's not necessary, but I recommend it!

Cooking Time

So, how long to bake chicken at 375? Bake the chicken breasts for 25 minutes or until the internal temperature is at least 165 degrees.

When the chicken is done, take it out of the oven, and spoon a little bit of marinara sauce over each chicken breast. The breaded chicken breasts should be golden brown and crispy.

I like to add some just in the center to keep the chicken crispy. You can use as much as you want, though. Then, top the chicken with mozzarella or provolone and additional Parmesan cheese, and broil until melted and bubbly. A little fresh basil on top adds the perfect splash of color!

I use a combination of either provolone cheese and Parmesan or Parmesan and mozzarella. But, you can stick with only mozzarella if you prefer.

Serve with Penne Pasta

You can serve this chicken Parmesan recipe with penne pasta. Or, serve it over spaghetti or your favorite type of pasta. We usually use penne pasta because my whole family loves it!

I like to cook pasta in my Instant Pot, stir in the leftover marinara sauce, and serve that with the chicken.

Easy peasy, and you don't have to boil pasta and mess up your stove. Plus, you can use the leftover pasta as a side for other dishes.

If you're looking for a different type of breaded chicken recipe, try our Ritz Cracker Chicken. It's another family favorite and super easy!

Variations

To vary your baked chicken parmesan, use plain or Italian bread crumbs, or a bread crumb mixture, instead of panko. Or, don't add any breadcrumbs at all if you prefer chicken without breading.

If you're trying to cut down on pasta, serve the parmesan chicken with vegetables, such as broccoli, green beans, or your favorite side salad. There's also veggie noodles--I like zoodles (zucchini noodles) with this recipe!

Flavor the top of the chicken Parmesan pasta with whatever pasta sauce you like best. Homemade marinara sauce, store bought marinara sauce, or the specialty recipe of your favorite local Italian restaurant are all great--it's just a matter of preference!

This recipe calls for marinara sauce, but you can also use spaghetti sauce or your favorite tomato sauce if you'd like.

You don't have to bake the chicken, either. This parmigiana works just as well in the skillet, and Air Fryer chicken parmesan is super easy as well!

How to Store

Store any leftover chicken parmesan in an airtight container in the refrigerator, where it'll keep for 3 to 4 days. For longer storage, store chicken Parm pasta in the freezer in a freezer safe container.

You can reheat individual portions of chicken Parmigiana in the microwave, but I prefer to reheat any leftovers in the oven or Air Fryer, to keep the best texture.

Recipe published in 2020 and updated in 2021

I hope you enjoy this easy chicken Parmesan recipe! For more easy recipe ideas and family favorite chicken meals, be sure to subscribe to the newsletter!