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    Meals » Recipes » Main Dishes

    Easy Baked Chicken Parmesan Recipe

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please see disclosure for more information. Published: Dec 2, 2021 by Dee

    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! via @meamel

    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!

    Jump to Recipe -
    panko coated baked chicken Parmesan with melted mozzarella cheese over penne pasta

    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.

    dip chicken breast into egg

    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.

    dip chicken breast into panko bread crumbs

    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!

    parmesan panko coated chicken breasts on baking sheet

    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.

    panko coated chicken breast with marinara and melted cheese on a plate with penne pasta and salad

    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!

    baked chicken Parmesan breast with melted cheese on the table

    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

    baked chicken Parmesan with penne pasta on a red and white plate

    Easy Baked Chicken Parmesan Recipe

    Published by Dee
    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!
    5 from 10 votes
    Print Recipe Share by Text Share by Email
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Prep Time 15 minutes mins
    Cook Time 30 minutes mins
    Total Time 45 minutes mins
    Course Main
    Cuisine Italian
    Servings 6
    Calories 273 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 4 chicken breasts or 6 small
    • 1 large egg beaten
    • 1½ cups panko bread crumbs
    • ½ cup Parmesan cheese grated
    • 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
    • 1 teaspoon sea salt
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
    • 1½ cups marinara sauce
    • 4 slices provolone cheese or mozzarella cheese
    • Additional Parmesan cheese optional
    • olive oil spray optional

    Instructions
     

    • Preheat oven to 375°, and grease a baking sheet with olive oil
    • Combine the panko bread crumbs with Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, salt, garlic powder and pepper
    • Dip each chicken breast lightly in egg
    • Press chicken lightly into the seasoned breadcrumb/cheese mixture, shake off excess, and place on prepared baking sheet
    • Spritz lightly with olive oil spray, if desired
    • Bake for 25 minutes or until internal temperature is 165° according to a meat thermometer
    • Top chicken with marinara sauce, then a slice of cheese and additional shredded Parm, if desired
    • Broil until cheese is melted, then serve

    Notes

    This recipe makes enough for 4 medium chicken breasts or 6 small, thin ones.
    You can use your favorite marinara sauce and provolone or mozzarella cheese.

    Nutrition information is estimated. Please do your own calculation to fit special diets.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 273kcalCarbohydrates: 16gProtein: 26gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 94mgSodium: 1163mgPotassium: 562mgFiber: 2gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 521IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 249mgIron: 2mg
    Tried this recipe? Please comment and rate it! Show me your dish on Instagram!Mention @meatloafandmelodrama or tag #meatloafandmelodrama!

    Recipe published in 2020 and updated in 2021

    baked chicken parmesan over penne on a plate

    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!

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    Reader Interactions

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Patrick says

      December 04, 2021 at 10:36 am

      Made this for dinner last night! What a hit! Easy and turns out like you worked forever to get it done! Definitely a new favorite!5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        December 05, 2021 at 7:53 pm

        Thank you so much for the kind review!

    2. Jim says

      December 11, 2020 at 5:08 pm

      Tried this for dinner last night. Went over great, everyone loved it. A new family favorite.5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        December 13, 2020 at 8:30 pm

        That's wonderful, Jim! So glad you liked it -- thanks!

    3. Kevin says

      December 10, 2020 at 8:57 am

      This is seriously the perfect chicken dish! 5 stars

      Reply
    4. Beth says

      December 05, 2020 at 10:54 am

      This baked chicken parmesan was absolutely delicious! I will be making it again and again. Thank you!5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        December 05, 2020 at 9:26 pm

        I'm so glad you liked the chicken! Thank you!

    5. katerina @ diethood says

      December 05, 2020 at 10:53 am

      Such a fantastic meal!! My family loved it!!5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        December 05, 2020 at 9:31 pm

        So happy to hear this! Thanks!

    6. Catalina says

      December 04, 2020 at 3:57 pm

      Now i know what I will make for dinner tonight! Looks amazingly delicious!5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        December 05, 2020 at 9:22 pm

        Thanks! I hope you liked the chicken.

    7. Beth says

      December 04, 2020 at 12:25 pm

      This looks so delicious and yummy! I can't wait to give this a try! My family is going to love this!5 stars

      Reply
    8. Toni Dash says

      December 04, 2020 at 11:53 am

      This is such a delicious weeknight meal! Everyone at my house loved it!5 stars

      Reply
      • Dee says

        December 05, 2020 at 9:23 pm

        Thanks so much, Toni. Glad you liked it!

    9. Erin says

      December 03, 2020 at 10:09 pm

      I know for sure this Baked Chicken Parmesan would be a huge hit in my house!5 stars

      Reply
    10. Amanda says

      December 03, 2020 at 4:38 pm

      Fantastic meal, perfect for through the week or anytime!5 stars

      Reply

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    I’m the blogger, cookbook author, chief cook, recipe developer and photographer behind Meatloaf and Melodrama. I absolutely love to create easy, budget-friendly, homemade meals and treats for my family. I also love to think of new ways to repurpose leftovers so that my family will actually eat them!

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