Description
Parmesan Crusted Chicken is a crispy, flavorful dish featuring tender chicken breasts coated in a crunchy panko and parmesan crust with Italian seasoning. Pan-fried to a golden brown and finished in the oven, this easy recipe delivers a savory, satisfying meal perfect for a weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Chicken
- 2 large chicken breasts
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt & pepper to taste
Breading
- 1/4 cup flour
- 2 eggs
- 2/3 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- 1/2 heaping teaspoon Italian seasoning
Cooking
- 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 400°F (204°C) and position the rack in the top third of the oven to prepare for finishing the chicken.
- Prepare Chicken: Cut each chicken breast lengthwise into two thinner pieces to make 4 in total. Pat the chicken pieces dry with a paper towel to remove moisture, then season both sides with garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Set Up Breading Stations: Prepare three separate bowls: one with the flour, one with the beaten eggs, and one with the mixture of panko breadcrumbs, freshly grated parmesan cheese, and Italian seasoning. Mix breadcrumbs, parmesan, and seasoning well.
- Heat Skillet: Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil to an oven-proof skillet and heat over medium heat, allowing it to warm up while you bread the chicken.
- Bread the Chicken: Coat each chicken piece first in flour shaking off the excess, then dip into the beaten eggs, and finally press into the breadcrumb mixture ensuring a good crust sticks. Use one hand for dry ingredients and the other for wet to keep it neat.
- Pan-fry Chicken: Place 2 pieces of chicken in the hot skillet and cook for 2-3 minutes on each side until golden brown. Use tongs to flip the pieces gently. Remove cooked pieces to a plate.
- Cook Remaining Chicken: Add the remaining tablespoon of olive oil to the skillet and repeat the frying process with the last 2 pieces of chicken until golden on both sides.
- Oven Finish: Remove the skillet from heat, arrange all 4 chicken pieces evenly in the skillet, and transfer it to the preheated oven. Bake for 5 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C), ensuring the chicken is fully cooked and juicy.
- Serve: Serve the parmesan crusted chicken immediately while hot and crispy for best flavor and texture.
Notes
- Use an instant read thermometer to check chicken doneness at 165°F to ensure safety and juiciness.
- If you don’t have an oven-proof skillet, transfer the chicken to a baking dish after frying for oven finishing.
- You can substitute Italian seasoning with a mix of dried basil, oregano, and thyme if desired.
- For extra crispiness, let the breaded chicken rest for 10 minutes before frying to help the coating adhere better.
- If cooking for fewer servings, the recipe scales well by halving ingredients.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 piece (approximately 150g)
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 19g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 15g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 110mg
