Homemade Chicken Parmesan: A Beginner’s Guide

When it comes to home cooking, you can’t go wrong with a good ol’ chicken parmesan!

When it comes to home cooking, you can’t go wrong with a good ol’ homemade chicken parmesan! This recipe keeps it warm and comforting like mom’s chicken parm, but places an emphasis on healthier ingredients and cooking methods.

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The Appeal of a Good Homemade Chicken Parmesan

Chicken parmesan can be made for just about any occasion. From weeknight meals to potlucks, and family gatherings to holiday dinners, it always hits the spot. Plus, it’s quick to make, is super filling, has a wonderful flavor, and is perfect for families. Our chicken parmesan recipe uses a secret weapon; mayonnaise! This makes sure your chicken stays super moist and tasty, and the panko crumbs help the chicken become extra crispy!

Leftover chicken parm makes great fillings for sandwiches and wraps, or toppings for pasta and salads – helping you save time and money instead of having to take a trip to the store. You can store leftover chicken parmesan and eat it when you’re short on dinner ideas during the week. Homemade cooking is far more economical than eating out. It saves you money and often provides more than one meal!

Takeout often contains additives and other unhealthy ingredients. With homemade cooking, you can switch up flavors, improve dishes, and change ingredients to fit your taste and diet preferences, whereas with takeout you are limited to what the restaurant offers. Preparing your meals yourself allows you to use leaner cuts of meat, cut down on sodium, avoid fat-heavy frying, and so much more!

What Ingredients Do I Need for this Chicken Parm?

The first thing you’ll need to do is to prep your ingredients. Here’s what you need to prepare this homemade chicken parmesan:

• 4 skinless chicken breast filets
• ½ cup of mayonnaise
• ¾ cup of shredded parmesan cheese
• 1 ½ cups of Panko bread crumbs
• 1 teaspoon of ground oregano
• 1 teaspoon of ground basil
• 1 cup of marinara sauce
• ½ cup of shredded mozzarella cheese

If you want to swap or add anything, we have some suggestions below. Once that’s done, let’s start cooking!

Looking for Ingredient Substitutions or Ideas?

Sometimes less is more, and sometimes changing out ingredients is better. Everyone has a unique taste, and food is obviously no exception! So if you find yourself wanting to change up the dish or make it more “you”, we’ve got some potential ingredient swaps to help you get started!

Super Cheesy – Instead of plain old Mozzarella, why not try a sharper provolone, another mild but savory cheese like fontina, or combine the mozzarella with Pecorino Romano for a combination of a mild creamy cheese with an earthy, salty taste?

Healthier Sauce – Jarred sauces often contain higher sodium and other unnecessary additives. If you’re cautious about using marinara, try using a lighter mixture of olive oil, lemon for acidity, and garlic for a burst of flavor, or, try a lemon butter sauce for the perfect blend of tangy lemon and rich butter. You can also just search for a low-sodium marinara or make your own!

Skip the Mayo – Not a fan of mayo? no biggie. Swap the mayo for a couple beaten eggs. Not only will it cut down on fat, but it will increase the protein a bit, too!

Vegetarian Options – For our vegetarian fam, we’ve some great substitutions for you: portobello mushrooms or eggplant instead of chicken! Don’t worry about the crumb, it’ll stick and work the same way.

Gluten-Free Options – The coating for the chicken can be made gluten-free very simply by using gluten-free breadcrumbs or crushed gluten-free crackers.

Savory Sandwiches and Wraps – Chicken pieces should be served whole in a sandwich or wrap. You can also add some pesto or sun-dried tomatoes for extra flavor.

Comforting Pasta – This chicken goes great on top of a simple pasta like spaghetti or penne. Try it with our Easy Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta.

Yummy Salads – To boost your protein intake, cut the chicken into bite-size pieces and add it to a salad. Adding mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, and a balsamic vinaigrette dressing will make a refreshing meal.

Alternative Ways to Cook Homemade Chicken Parmesan

While ingredients are usually the biggest factor when it comes to healthy cooking, the method you use also plays a part. Our homemade chicken parmesan recipe cuts down on unhealthy fats by skipping the frying process of typical chicken parms. That said, here are some other ways to prepare this yummy chicken dinner.

Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan

By now everyone and their grandma should have an air fryer in their kitchen. Simple, healthier, easier, quicker, etc. What more can we say? Let’s guide you through cooking homemade chicken parmesan in the air fryer:

• First, preheat your air fryer to 375°F (190°C).
• Then, follow steps 2 through 5 to coat your chicken. After spraying with olive oil, place them in the air fryer basket in a single layer.
• Let it cook for 12 to 15 minutes, keeping in mind to flip halfway through. The chicken should be golden brown and fully cooked.
• Add your marinara sauce and cheese during the last few minutes of cooking to get that perfect cheese melt.
• Lastly, plate up and enjoy!

Grilled Chicken Parmesan

For that smoky chicken flavor and fewer carbs (this option is breadcrumb-free), a grill works best! This method of cooking is also perfect for cookouts and parties. Here’s how we do it:

• Season your chicken breasts with salt, pepper, dried oregano, and dried basil before grilling.
• Next, grill the chicken breasts on an outdoor grill, or indoor grill pan to get that smokiness going. Cook the breasts over medium-high heat for 6-8 minutes per side until it’s cooked through.
• For the last few minutes of grilling, top each chicken breast with marinara sauce and your mozzarella and parmesan cheese, closing the lid to let that cheese melt.
• Once it’s all gooey and cheesy, plate it up and let it cool for a few minutes before serving.

Stove Top Chicken Parmesan

If all else fails, the stove works perfectly too! Nothing wrong with a classic stovetop dinner! Let’s guide you through this quick method:

• Break out the pan and pan-fry the already breaded chicken in a skillet with a small amount (no bigger than a dime) of olive oil.
• Let the chicken cook for 4 to 5 minutes per side, or until golden brown and cooked through.
• Once the chicken is done, remove it from the skillet. Then, top it with your marinara sauce and cheese, cover it, and let that baby melt.
• Serve that saucy and cheesy chicken parm after it’s cooled a bit.

And with that, you’re all set to make some sweet homemade chicken parmesan any way you like, happy cooking!

Meal-Prep and Storage Tips

If you’ve got a busy schedule, you’re gonna want to keep some prepped or leftover chicken parmesan handy for more homemade goodness later on in the week!

Cool and store – Follow the cooking instructions all the way through step 6. Let the baked chicken cool completely before storing them. Bust out some airtight containers and store them in the fridge for up to four days.

Portioning our sauce and cheese  – Get some smaller containers or zip-lock bags and keep the sauces and cheese separate from the chicken. You want to do this instead because the sauce and cheese will make our chicken soggy and that’s no bueno!

Reheating – Once you’re ready to chow down on your baked chicken parmesan, reheat the chicken in the microwave or oven until it’s all warmed up. Once it’s warm enough, break out the marinara and shredded Mozzarella cheese and put them on top of each breast. Return them to the oven or microwave until our cheese is melted and bubbly.

The Perfect Side Dishes

Serve this main up with a side or two to make it a full meal. A gorgeous pasta, some salad, or even some hearty roasted veggies will spice it up (try using some leftover seasoning for your veggies). Here are some great side dish ideas:

Now that we’ve got the low-down on how to make this amazing homemade chicken parmesan, go ahead and try it for yourself! You’ll be sure to impress your squad, family, and even those picky potluck eaters.

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