This chicken parm…nom nom nom

Although there is absolutely zero Italian blood running through my veins, I have adopted the country….and the food as my own. I love, love, love Italian and everything it represents. Also, cheese.

This recipe will be a crowd favorite and it’s one of my more simple go to dishes.

Need to impress that date….or shine at a family dinner? This is a sure thing.

Ingredients

  • 4 large chicken breasts (halved)

  • 1/2 cup olive oil

  • 3 large garlic cloves (minced)

  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder

  • 4 tablespoons fresh parsley (chopped)

  • 2 ounces fresh basil

  • 1 1/2 cup Panko bread crumbs

  • 1 1/2 cup Italian bread crumbs

  • 3 large eggs

  • 1 cup grated parmesan

  • Penzey’s Revolution seasoning

  • Salt & pepper

  • 8 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese

  • 24.5 ounces Mezzetta Marinara Sauce

Directions

  • Cut the chicken breasts into halves. Using a mallet, pound the breasts until they are about 1 inch thick.
  • Combine the eggs, 2 tablespoons chopped parsley, minced garlic, salt & pepper & a dash of the revolution seasoning. Stir well. Dip the chicken where it coats both sides of the breasts and add to a large gallon ziploc bag. Cover the chicken with the mixture & let marinate at least 3-4 hours.
  • Preheat the oven at 425
  • Once the chicken has marinated and is ready to cook, combine the panko breadcrumbs, Italian breadcrumbs, garlic powder, 1 1/2 teaspoons of Penzey’s Revolution seasoning, dash of salt & pepper and mix well. Dip the chicken into the mixture covering completely on each side.
  • Heat the olive oil in a skillet (I love my old cast iron skillet). Once hot, over high to medium heat, fry the chicken about 4 minutes on each side. You’ll want it golden brown and crispy.
  • Add a thin layer of the marinara sauce to the bottom of the dish. Add a spoonful of marinara to the top of each piece of chicken. Add a slice of fresh mozzarella cheese, fresh basil on each piece of chicken. Add the remainder of the chopped parsley and sprinkle the grated parmesan cheese over the entire dish.
  • Baked uncovered for 15 minutes then broil on high 3-5 until cheese on top is nice and bubbly and the cheese is slightly charred.
  • I serve the chicken over a bed of angel hair pasta but you can serve it over spaghetti, with a side veggie (broccoli is a hit with my crew) or mashed potatoes. Also, This recipe is the easier version as I cheat and don’t make the marinara sauce. You can certainly make your own but if you don’t want to, the marinara I note above is my favorite!