Chicken Parmesan
A classic Italian-American dish featuring crispy chicken fillets coated in breadcrumbs, topped with marinara sauce and melted mozzarella cheese. Perfect for family dinners or special occasions.
Ingredients
For the Marinara Sauce
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 large onion (peeled and finely diced)
- 1 clove garlic (minced)
- 400 g passata
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp sugar
For the Chicken
- 2 large chicken breasts sliced in half through the middle to make 4 fillets
- 3 tbsp plain (all-purpose) flour
- 2 large eggs whisked
- 75 g panko breadcrumbs can substitute with regular breadcrumbs
- 1 tsp paprika optional for color
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 75 g finely grated parmesan cheese divided
- 2 tbsp olive oil for coating
- 1 ball mozzarella (sliced) approximately 125 g
- 1/4 tsp dried oregano for topping
- Cooked spaghetti to serve
- 2 tbsp sliced fresh basil for garnish
Instructions
Preparation
- Preheat the oven to 200C/400F (fan) and set aside a large baking dish.
- Heat olive oil in a medium-sized saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and cook for 5-6 minutes, stirring often until softened.
- Add garlic and cook for a further minute.
- Add passata, oregano, and sugar. Stir and bring to a boil, then simmer gently for 10 minutes. Turn off the heat.
- Slice the chicken breasts in half to make 4 thin fillets. Dust both sides with the flour.
- In a bowl, whisk the eggs.
- In another bowl, mix panko, paprika, salt, pepper, half of the parmesan, and olive oil until panko is coated.
- Dip each chicken fillet in egg, then coat in breadcrumbs on both sides, placing them in a single layer in the baking dish.
Cooking
- Bake the chicken for 10 minutes until breadcrumbs are lightly browned.
- Pour 3/4 of the marinara sauce around the chicken. Lift each piece slightly to let the sauce spread underneath.
- Top the chicken with the remaining marinara sauce. Arrange mozzarella slices on top and sprinkle with remaining parmesan and dried oregano.
- Bake for another 15-20 minutes until the chicken is golden and cooked through.
- Serve hot with cooked spaghetti and sprinkle fresh basil before serving.
Notes
For extra flavor, marinate the chicken in olive oil, lemon juice, and spices before breading. Using fresh mozzarella enhances texture and flavor. You can adapt the recipe by adding spinach or other vegetables to the marinara sauce.