Chicken Parmesan with Homemade Marinara Sauce

5 from 1 vote

Chicken Parmesan with Homemade Marinara Sauce

In the realm of comfort food classics, few dishes rival the timeless appeal of Chicken Parmesan. This Italian-American delicacy boasts a perfect marriage of tender chicken, rich marinara sauce, gooey cheese, and aromatic herbs, all layered to perfection. Its popularity transcends borders, gracing dinner tables from New York to Naples with its irresistible charm. Join me as we delve into the delightful world of Chicken Parmesan, exploring its origins, ingredients, and the art of crafting this culinary masterpiece.

Prep Time15

Cook Time25

Total Time40

Course: Chicken Recipes, Main Course, Pasta

Cuisine: Italian

Servings: people

Author: Matt Price

Equipment

1 Meat Mallet or preferred hard object
1 Mr. Make It Happen Chef Knife or preferred kitchen knife
1 Baking Sheet
1 Sheet of Aluminum Foil
1 Wire Rack
1 Mr. Make It Happen Skillet or preferred frying pan

Ingredients

Chicken Parmesan Ingredients:

Protein

2 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts

Dry Ingredients

1 lb spaghetti noodles
1 cup Panko bread crumbs
2 cups Flour
½ cup grated parmesan cheese
Fresh Mozzarella specialty cheese section

Wet Ingredients

2 eggs
1-2 cups cooking oil for frying
1 jar of your favorite brand marinara sauce or from scratch - below

Seasonings

Salt
Pepper
Onion Powder
Italian Seasoning

Produce

Fresh basil
Fresh oregano optional

Sauce Ingredients:

1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
3-4 cloves minced garlic
½ diced onion
2 tbsps tomato paste
salt to taste
pepper to taste
onion powder to taste
italian seasoning to taste
sugar to taste - balance natural acidity of tomatoes

Instructions

I always like to begin by prepping the chicken. This gives a little time for the seasoning to penetrate the meat - preventing a bland end product (the trademark of mediocre chicken parm).
To get started, lay your chicken breast out on a cutting board and butterfly the breast with a sharp knife.
Once the chicken is prepped, season it generously with your desired flavors. Today, I chose my All Purpose, Chicken Bouillon Powder, and Italian Seasoning.
Homemade Marinara Sauce from Scratch:
For the sauce, we are going to use some fresh garlic, basil, and 1-2 diced shallots
Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat.
Add the minced garlic to the hot oil and sauté for about 1 minute, or until fragrant. Be careful not to burn the garlic.
Pour in the crushed tomatoes and stir to combine with the garlic.
Add the dried oregano, basil, thyme, and crushed red pepper flakes (if using). Stir to incorporate the herbs into the sauce.
Season the sauce with salt and pepper to taste. Remember, you can always adjust the seasoning later, so start with a small amount and add more if needed.
If using tomato paste for extra richness, add it to the sauce and stir until fully combined.
If you find the sauce too acidic, you can add a teaspoon or two of sugar to balance the flavors. Taste and adjust as necessary.
Bring the sauce to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low. Let the sauce simmer gently for about 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally, to allow the flavors to meld and the sauce to thicken.
Once the sauce has reached your desired consistency, taste it again and adjust the seasoning if needed.
Remove the sauce from the heat and use it immediately, or let it cool completely before storing it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.
Once your sauce is complete, it’s time to fry the chicken. Setup your frying station with 3 bowls.
Bowl 1 needs to contain 2-3 beaten eggs.
Bowl 2 contains seasoned all purpose flour, and
bowl 3 contains panko or Italian bread crumbs with freshly grated parmesan cheese (mixed to combine.
Add your chicken breast to the flour, then egg wash, then bread crumbs. Now it’s time to fry!
Preheat your fryer to 350 degrees and preheat your oven to 400 degrees
Once it’s fresh out of the oil (fry at 350 degrees) - I like to hit it with a fresh topping of grated parmesan cheese before the fresh mozzarella.
Place this in a 400 degree oven to finish (if using smaller chicken breasts, you can just place this under the broiler to brown the cheese rather than continuing to cook the chicken.
Chicken breast should be cooked to 165 degrees internal temp.
Chicken Parmesan is best enjoyed hot and fresh out of the oven, paired with a side of spaghetti or crusty garlic bread. Its comforting flavors and satisfying texture make it a crowd-pleaser for family dinners, casual gatherings, or romantic date nights alike.

Notes

Oil for frying should be at 350 degrees and preheat your oven to 400 degrees.

Nutrition