Tender chicken breasts are covered in a delicious cheesy coating and oven baked to perfection. This golden, crispy Parmesan Crusted Chicken is a total crowd-pleaser! It’s easy to make for dinner any time!
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What’s in Baked Parmesan Crusted Chicken?
Thin chicken breasts are coated with tangy Parmesan, deliciously breaded, and cooked until crispy. Here’s a rundown of the ingredients:
- Butter: Unsalted butter helps the breadcrumbs, cheese, and seasonings to adhere to the chicken breasts. You could use salted butter, but I would recommend reducing the amount of kosher salt used in the recipe.
- Seasonings: Garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper give these chicken breasts a classic Italian flavor. For a different flavor profile, you could use ranch seasoning, chicken seasoning, or creole seasoning!
- Panko Breadcrumbs: Panko breadcrumbs are Japanese-style breadcrumbs that are extra crunchy and crispy. Unlike classic breadcrumbs, Panko breadcrumbs stay crunchy when used in coatings.
- Parmesan Cheese: Parmesan cheese adds a great, tangy flavor to the chicken without adding too much moisture. Freshly-shredded cheese works best here. If you’re not a Parmesan fan, try Asiago, Pecorino Romano, or Grana Padano.
- Chicken: I love boneless, skinless chicken breasts, as they’re easy to pound thin. If using chicken thighs, you will need to pound your fillets to half an inch thickness. Also, make sure the surface on both sides is flat. Chicken thighs will need longer to cook, whereas chicken breasts cook faster.
Pro Tip: To give this chicken a little kick, add a pinch of cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes to the breadcrumb mixture in step 3.
Making Parmesan Crusted Chicken Gluten-Free
To make baked Parmesan chicken gluten-free, replace the Panko breadcrumbs with gluten-free breadcrumbs. The coating might not be as crunchy, but it will still be delicious.
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I recommend using boneless, skinless chicken breasts (or thighs) for this parmesan chicken recipe. Pound them thin before coating.
Place the chicken breasts between 2 pieces of plastic wrap or into a Ziplock bag and use a meat mallet to pound the chicken until it becomes thin. If you don’t have a meat mallet, use a rolling pin or a skillet.
If using frozen chicken breasts, let them thaw in the refrigerator before using in this recipe.
Parmesan crusted chicken takes about 20 minutes to bake at 400°F. Chicken is cooked through when the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
How to Store and Reheat Parmesan Chicken
Store Parmesan crusted chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in a 350°F oven for 10-15 minutes, until warmed through.
How to Freeze Parmesan Crusted Chicken
Freeze Parmesan crusted chicken in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
What to Serve with Parmesan Breaded Chicken
You can make this meal light or more substantial with a variety of tasty sides. For a rich, filling meal, try air fryer potato wedges, instant pot green bean casserole, fondant potatoes, or jalapeno popper pasta salad. For a lighter meal, use the chicken as a topper for a fresh green goddess salad or serve it with a side of roasted vegetables. This easy weeknight recipe will become an instant favorite in your house!
More Breaded and Baked Chicken Recipes We Love
- Cheddar Bacon Ranch Chicken Tenders
- Crispy Baked Chicken Fingers
- Baked Chicken Nuggets
- Panko Chicken
- Crispy Ranch Chicken
- Baked Chicken Parmesan
- Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wings
Parmesan Crusted Chicken Recipe
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Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter melted (1 stick)
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¾ cup Panko breadcrumbs
- ¾ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning store-bought or homemade
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts pounded thin
Recommended Equipment
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
- In a shallow bowl, whisk the melted butter, garlic powder, and onion powder together.½ cup unsalted butter, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- In another shallow bowl, combine the breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.¾ cup Panko breadcrumbs, ¾ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- Dip each chicken breast in the butter mixture and dredge in the breadcrumb mixture, coating both sides.1½ pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Place the coated chicken breasts onto the prepared baking sheet. If desired, top each chicken breast with extra breadcrumb topping.
- Bake for 20 minutes, or until the chicken is golden brown and crispy. The internal temperature of the chicken should be at least 165°F. Slice and serve.
Last step! Don’t forget to show me a pic of what you made! Upload an image or tag me @thecookierookie on Instagram!
Becky’s tips
- If using thighs If using chicken thighs, you will need to pound your fillets to half an inch thickness. Also, make sure the surface on both sides is flat. Chicken Thighs will need longer to cook, whereas chicken breasts cook faster.
- Be sure to use a preheated oven.
- Allow the chicken to rest for 5 mins before slicing and serving. this allows the chicken to become juicier.
Nutrition Information
