🍗 Crispy Chicken Parmesan
Ingredients
- 4 chicken cutlets
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- 2 eggs
- 24 oz marinara
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella
- Parmesan
- 12 oz spaghetti
- 1/2 cup flour (pantry staple)
- 2 tbsp olive oil (pantry staple)
- Salt & pepper (pantry staple)
Instructions
- Bread cutlets: flour → beaten egg → breadcrumbs + parmesan.
- Pan-fry until golden, 3 min per side.
- Top with marinara and mozzarella; broil to melt. Serve over spaghetti.
Tips
- Press the breadcrumbs on firmly, then let the breaded cutlets rest 10 minutes before frying. The coating hydrates and grips instead of sliding off in the pan.
- Sauce goes on after frying, and only on top. Sauce underneath turns the crust you just built back into soggy bread.
- Broil only until the mozzarella melts and blisters, 2–3 minutes. Any longer and the chicken overcooks under the cheese.
Substitutions
- Chicken cutlets
- Slice two large breasts horizontally into four, or pound them to ½ inch. Thin and even matters more than the cut.
- Breadcrumbs
- Panko gives a lighter, crunchier crust. For gluten-free, use gluten-free panko or crushed rice crackers and swap the pasta too.
- Mozzarella
- Low-moisture block melts best. Fresh mozzarella tastes better but releases water — pat it dry and slice it thin.
- Marinara
- Any tomato pasta sauce. If it tastes flat, simmer it 10 minutes with a garlic clove and a pinch of sugar.
Storage & reheating
Best eaten immediately — the crust softens as it sits. Leftovers keep 3 days; reheat uncovered in a 375°F oven or air fryer for about 10 minutes to bring the crust back. The microwave makes it rubbery. Breaded but un-fried cutlets freeze flat for 3 months.
Common questions
Can I bake it instead of pan-frying?
Yes. Bake breaded cutlets at 425°F for 20 minutes on a wire rack, spraying both sides with oil first. Less rich than fried but still crisp — the rack matters, it stops the underside steaming.
Why did my breading fall off?
Usually wet chicken or a skipped rest. Pat the cutlets completely dry before flouring, and let them sit 10 minutes after breading so the coating sets.
What's the difference between chicken parmesan and chicken milanese?
Milanese is the fried breaded cutlet served on its own, usually with lemon and a salad. Chicken parmesan adds tomato sauce and melted cheese on top.