A fresh take on the classic Parmesan Chicken Recipe with truly crispy chicken and the best marinara and cheese topping. Easy and weeknight friendly.
Author’s Notes
Viral Trick, Real Results
Sometimes the classic recipes take me the longest to share here. Like my lasagna that was about 10 years in the making or my Shepherd’s Pie that took over 6 years to publish. I want classic recipes to truly earn their spot on the internet. With millions of versions already out there, I only share one when it is the very best I have tried after testing dozens or unique enough to be worth making over your current favorite.
This Parmesan Chicken Recipe is a mix of both.
It is hands down the best chicken parm I have ever had in a lighter, less heavy way. It is also the easiest chicken parm I have ever made.
After seeing the broiled marinara and cheese topping go viral on TikTok, where the sauce and cheese are broiled first and then added to the chicken, I knew I had to try it. The result is perfectly crispy chicken every single time with no soggy breading. Total game changer.
This is one of those classics that truly earned its place here and I hope you get to try it soon!
Parmesan Chicken Recipe Ingredients
| Ingredient Group | Tip |
|---|---|
| Chicken breasts | Pound to even thickness so each piece cooks quickly and stays juicy with crisp edges. Boneless, skinless thighs will also work here. |
| Flour and seasonings | Mix well so every bite is evenly seasoned and the coating browns evenly. |
| Parmesan cheese | Fresh grated Parmesan gives better flavor and helps the coating crisp up. Skip the shelf stable kind (it’s not even real cheese)! |
| Marinara sauce | A high quality marinara makes a huge difference here. Rao’s is my favorite. |
| Mozzarella and extra Parmesan | Grate the cheese fresh so it melts smoothly and tastes better. |
How To Make This Parmesan Chicken Recipe
- Prep the Chicken: Cut, pound to even thickness, lightly oil, and coat in the seasoned mixture.
- Pan Cook: Sear in a hot skillet until golden and cooked through, then keep warm.
- Broil the Topping: Broil the sauce and cheese in a small oven safe pan until bubbly and deeply golden.
- Top the Chicken: Slide the hot sauce and cheese over the crispy chicken.
- Serve: Garnish if desired and serve right away while hot and crispy.
What to Serve Chicken Parm Over
Parmesan Chicken Recipes are most commonly served over spaghetti, but there are a few other classic options too:
- Spaghetti: The most traditional choice.
- Angel hair: Lighter and cooks even quicker than spaghetti.
- No pasta at all: Served with bread and salad instead, which is also very common
Sides That Go Well With This Parmesan Chicken Recipe
- Garlic Bread: Crisp, buttery, and perfect for scooping extra sauce!
- Garden Salad: Light and fresh with a simple dressing.
- Caesar Salad: Classic and always a hit with chicken parm!
- Roasted Broccoli: Tender with lightly charred edges–this is such a good side!
More Amazing Chicken Dinners:
Parmesan Chicken Recipe
Video
Equipment
- Large nonstick pan
- Small oven-safe pan
Ingredients
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into 6 pieces (2 breasts)
- 1/4 cup flour
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese sandy texture, see note 1
- 1/2 teaspoon salt plus more as needed
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 3 tablespoons olive oil divided, plus more as needed
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter plus more as needed
- 1 (24-ounce) jar Rao's marinara
- 1 cup Freshly shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese see note 2
- Fresh basil thinly sliced, optional for topping
Instructions
- Move the oven rack to the upper center position. Turn the broiler to high and let it fully preheat.
- In a shallow bowl, mix flour, Parmesan, salt, pepper, paprika, and garlic powder.
- Cut each chicken breast into 3 pieces. Place between two sheets of plastic wrap and pound to about 1/4-inch thick. Rub both sides with 1 tablespoon olive oil total. Coat each piece evenly in the flour mixture.
- Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once butter is melted, add half the chicken and cook 3-4 minutes on the first side until golden. Flip and cook 1-2 minutes more. Transfer to a cooling rack and sprinkle lightly with salt. Repeat with remaining chicken, wiping out the pan and adding more oil and butter as needed.
- Meanwhile, prepare the cheesy topping. For each serving, spoon about 3/4 cup marinara into a small oven safe pan. Sprinkle 3 tablespoons mozzarella evenly in the center and finish with a light sprinkle of Parmesan. Broil for 2-4 minutes, watching closely, until melted and deeply golden.
- Divide cooked chicken pieces evenly among 3 plates. Working carefully and quickly, tilt the hot pan so the sauce and bubbly cheese slide over the chicken on a plate. Repeat for remaining servings and serve immediately.
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
