This Skillet Chicken Parmesan is a delicious one-pan twist on traditional chicken parmesan. Perfectly crispy, pan-fried chicken breasts team up with a quick and easy basil-infused tomato sauce, melty mozzarella, and a sprinkle of parmesan for a mouthwatering meal the whole family is sure to love!
Why You’ll Love This Skillet Chicken Parmesan Recipe
- Quick and Easy: This easy skillet chicken parmesan is perfect for busy weeknights! With easy-to-follow steps and simple ingredients, you can have a delicious meal on the table in just over 30 minutes.
- Classic Comfort Food: Chicken Parmesan is a beloved dish that combines crispy chicken, rich tomato sauce, and gooey cheese – what’s not to love? It’s a favorite for both kids and adults alike!
- Versatile: This one-skillet meal can be served with various sides such as pasta, salad, or veggies, making it a versatile option for dinnertime.
Ingredients
- Eggs: Help the breadcrumbs stick to the chicken.
- Italian Seasoned Breadcrumbs: Give the chicken a crispy, flavorful coating. You can use plain breadcrumbs and season them to your liking, if preferred.
- Chicken Breasts: Use boneless, skinless chicken breast fillets for best results.
- Olive Oil: Used for frying the chicken. I recommend a high-quality extra virgin olive oil for the best flavor, but you can use avocado oil instead if that’s what you’ve got on hand.
- Sauce: I’m using a simple sauce made from canned crushed tomatoes, garlic, and fresh basil. Feel free to use your favorite jarred pasta sauce instead such as Rao’s marinara sauce.
- Cheese: I’m using a combination of mozzarella cheese and parmesan cheese to melt over the chicken, plus a little extra parmesan for serving.
See the recipe card below for the full recipe and ingredient measurements.
How to Make Chicken Parmesan in a Skillet
Prep the Eggs and Breadcrumbs: Get started by beating the eggs in a shallow bowl and adding the breadcrumbs to another shallow bowl.
Coat the chicken: Dip each piece of chicken into the beaten egg. Then coat evenly with the breadcrumbs.
Cook the Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken and cook until golden brown, about 7-8 minutes per side depending on thickness. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
Make the Sauce: Add the garlic to the skillet and cook until fragrant. Then add the crushed tomatoes and stir in the fresh basil. Cover and cook until the sauce is hot and bubbling.
Melt the Cheese: Add the chicken back to the skillet and top with the mozzarella and parmesan cheeses. Cover and cook until the cheese has melted.
Enjoy: Serve with some of the pan sauce on top and sprinkle on more parmesan.
Variations & Substitutions
- Gluten-Free: For a gluten-free version, use your favorite seasoned gluten-free breadcrumbs.
- Dairy-Free: To make this recipe dairy-free, use non-dairy mozzarella and parmesan.
- Change up the Cheese: Feel free to experiment with the cheese. One deli slice of provolone per chicken breast is a good alternative to the shredded mozzarella. You can also use Romano or asiago cheeses instead of the parmesan or a combination of the three.
Expert Tips
- Be sure to use chicken breast fillets. These have already been cut and trimmed from a larger chicken breast and are ready for cooking. If you have whole chicken breasts, you will need to cut them into fillets and trim them yourself. You can also use chicken cutlets, but note that these will take less time to cook (about 4-5 minutes per side) as they are thinner.
- Use a deep enough skillet. Ensure your skillet is deep enough, so that the sauce does not overflow.
- Lower the heat if needed. If the breading looks like it is starting to burn during cooking, turn the heat down to medium-low.
- Use a meat thermometer. The chicken is done when a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part reaches an internal temperature of 165° F. Note that cooking times may vary depending on the thickness of your chicken.
Serving Suggestions
- Pasta: Serve this delicious skillet chicken parmesan over a bed of spaghetti or your favorite pasta (gluten-free if needed) along with the rest of the pan sauce.
- Garlic Bread: Pair with warm, buttery garlic bread, which is also great for soaking up any extra sauce.
- Salad: A fresh green salad can balance the richness of the chicken parm. I recommend a simple Caesar salad or a mixed greens salad with a basic balsamic vinaigrette like the one I used in this arugula salad.
- Veggies: Steamed or roasted vegetables, such as broccoli, green beans, or asparagus, make a perfect accompaniment to this dish.
- Mashed Potatoes: For a comforting twist, serve the chicken parmesan alongside creamy mashed potatoes. The smooth texture complements the crispy chicken.
- Risotto: A creamy risotto can be an elegant side dish, enhancing the Italian theme of the meal. Try a simple parmesan risotto or a tomato-basil risotto.
- Polenta: Serve the chicken on a bed of creamy polenta for a hearty and satisfying meal.
FAQ
Use an oven-safe skillet or cast iron skillet and cook the chicken as directed. After adding the sauce and basil, skip cooking the sauce and add the chicken back to the pan. Top with the cheese and transfer skillet to a 425° F oven. Bake until the cheese has melted and the sauce is hot and bubbling. If you don’t have an oven-safe or cast iron skillet, cook the chicken as directed and remove from the pan. Cook the minced garlic until fragrant. Instead of pouring the sauce into the skillet, add it to a baking dish and stir in the garlic and basil. Then then add the cooked chicken breasts. Top with cheese and bake in a 425° F oven until the cheese melts and the sauce is hot and bubbling.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Leftovers are best reheated in a skillet or in the oven. I don’t recommend microwaving as it will make the chicken too tough and chewy.
Skillet Chicken Parmesan
Ingredients
- 2 eggs
- 3/4 cup Italian seasoned breadcrumbs
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breast fillets
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons fresh chopped basil
- 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 2 tablespoons shredded parmesan cheese plus more for serving
Instructions
- Beat the eggs in a shallow bowl and then add the breadcrumbs to another shallow bowl.
- Dip one chicken breast fillet at a time into the beaten egg followed by the breadcrumbs.
- Heat olive oil in a large, deep non-stick skillet with a lid over medium heat.
- Add chicken and cook until the internal temperature reaches 165° F (approximately 7-8 minutes per side, depending on thickness). If the breading is getting too brown during cooking, you can lower the heat to medium-low.
- Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
- Add the garlic to the skillet and cook over medium heat until fragrant, stirring constantly, about 30 seconds to a minute.
- Add the crushed tomatoes to the skillet and then stir in the basil
- Cover and cook over medium heat until bubbling and hot (approximately 5 minutes).
- Return the chicken to the skillet and top with the shredded cheeses.
- Cover and cook over medium heat until cheese is melted (approximately 5 minutes).
- Serve with some of the sauce from the skillet on top along with some more parmesan.
Notes
- Be sure to use chicken breast fillets. These have already been cut and trimmed from a larger chicken breast and are ready for cooking. If you have whole chicken breasts, you will need to cut them into fillets and trim them yourself. You can also use chicken cutlets, but note that these will take less time to cook (about 4-5 minutes per side) as they are thinner.
- Use a deep enough skillet. Ensure your skillet is deep enough, so that the sauce does not overflow.
- Lower the heat if needed. If the breading looks like it is starting to burn during cooking, turn the heat down to medium-low.
- Use a meat thermometer. The chicken is done when a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part reaches an internal temperature of 165° F. Note that cooking times may vary depending on the thickness of your chicken.
Nutrition
The nutrition information shown is an estimate provided by an online calculator. Accuracy is not guaranteed.