Easy Parmesan Crusted Chicken Breast

Name: Easy Parmesan Crusted Chicken Breast
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: 3 Chicken Breasts (, Sliced into 6 thin cutlets); 1 tsp Dried parsley; 1 cup Parmesan (, grated); 1/2 cup Breadcrumbs; 1/2 tsp Salt; 1/4 tsp Ground black pepper; 1/2 tsp Garlic powder; 1/2 cup Plain yoghurt; Juice of half a lemon; 3 tbsp Cooking oil; 2 Eggs (, whisked)

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This easy Parmesan crusted chicken breast is made with tender chicken breasts dredged in parmesan cheese and breadcrumb mixture and cooked on a skillet until golden and crispy.

This recipe is a simple yet elegant dish that one can prepare in just 15 minutes and serve for a family dinner. It is so crunchy and cheesy on the outside, yet when you take a bigger bite, the inside is meaty and juicy.

This dish tastes like all the combinations of ingredients put together to create a delicious and satisfying dish. Also, it is freezer friendly and can be made ahead of time.

There are two ways one can make parmesan crusted chicken breast, either through frying or baking with an oven. Both options have the same outcome, a crispy and juicy dish. Yet, in this recipe, parmesan crusted chicken breast is done by pan-frying.

The dish includes seasonings such as salt, ground black pepper, garlic powder, and dried parsley, along with lemon juice. Hence, one can expect a burst of flavor in each bite.

This recipe offers tips on how to make a parmesan crusted chicken Breast easily. There are suggestions on what to pair the dish with for dinner, along with answered questions about the Parmesan Crusted Chicken Breast.

The Origin of Parmesan Crusted Chicken Breast

In Europe, particularly Italy, they call parmesan crusted chicken “Chicken Parmigiana.” The original version of this dish consists of a breaded chicken similar to what we know now. The difference is that Chicken Parmigiana is covered in tomato sauce and mozzarella and parmesan cheese to have a cheesier and saucy texture and taste.

Melissa Clark wrote in 2015 for The New York Times that chicken parmesan or chicken parmigiana originated in the 20th century in Italy. Before the use of chicken in this dish, it was speculated that fried eggplant was used instead.

Today, restaurants and households serve chicken parmesan as their usual main course for dinner. The dish became known worldwide, and many variations and alterations of the recipe eventually emerged.

Why Does This Recipe Works?

There are many ways you can prepare parmesan crusted chicken breast. Recipes for this dish are all over the internet, from hands-on mommies to Italian chefs. Yet, this particular recipe works because it has more reasons for the whole food to come out perfectly good.

The following are just some of the reasons why trying put this recipe is a must:

It is easy to make, especially for a quick and unannounced family dinner.
The ingredients are not hard to come by and aren't even that costly as well.
Children and adults will love this dish.
You can pair parmesan crusted chicken breast with almost anything from vegetables to pasta.

What's in This Recipe?

Chicken Breast: Boneless and skinless chicken breast is the best choice for this parmesan crusted chicken breast. Chicken breasts are also lean and low in fat; hence suitable for this recipe and good for the health. It is also tender and soft, which makes it a perfect chicken part for breading and frying.
Parmesan Cheese: Use freshly grated or store-bought shredded parmesan cheese to provide the cheesy crust that it requires to have. Parmesan cheese has a powerful umami characteristic or savory taste that helps in elevating the other flavor in the recipe.
Breadcrumbs: Breadcrumbs will serve as a crunchy coating for the parmesan crusted chicken breast. You can use Panko breadcrumbs since it is light, crispy, and great for pan-fried foods.
Eggs: Eggs will help the parmesan and bread crumbs to stick together when the chicken is already frying in the pan.
Plain Yogurt: Perfectly marinating the chicken is done with plain yogurt since yogurt helps tender the meat of the chicken breast.
Lemon Juice: Lemon juice is also a good component in marinating the chicken breast since it will add flavor to the meat as time goes by.
Cooking oil: There are many types of cooking oil one can use in making this dish. It is your choice whether you prefer using vegetable oil, olive oil, or others. However, olive oil seems to be the best; use refined olive oil to withstand the chicken's high temperature.
Seasonings: A good dish is never a good dish without the magic of herbs. Add salt, ground black pepper, garlic powder, and dried parsley for better flavorings!

How to Make Easy Parmesan Crusted Chicken Breast?

wash the thin cutlets well and pat dry with a paper towel.

Preparing the chicken: Slice the chicken breast into six thin cutlets, wash them well and pat dry with a paper towel.

Marinating the chicken breast: In a ziplock bag, mix yoghurt and lemon juice, then add the chicken (make sure to coat the chicken well with the yoghurt mixture), seal the bag and keep in the fridge overnight.

Preparing the eggs: Crack the eggs in a small bowl and whisk well using a fork.

Breading: On a plate, mix parmesan, breadcrumbs, salt, pepper, garlic powder and dried parsley.

Now, remove the chicken from the yoghurt, shaking off any excess yoghurt and dip in the eggs, then into the parmesan mixture, patting the mixture on the chicken, then place on a plate, repeat with the other chicken cutlets.

Cooking the chicken: Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat and add the chicken breast (you can cook them in two batches if you like).

Fry the chicken for 3 minutes on each side until they are fully cooked and become golden brown and crispy. Try not to move the chicken while cooking; otherwise, the parmesan cheese may slide off the surface.

Turn off the heat and serve immediately.

Top Tips!

Cut the chicken thin so that it will cook faster!
Finely shred the parmesan cheese to coat the chicken more evenly and melts more evenly.

Recipe Variations

You can serve this dish with mayonnaise and spicy sauce for a mixed flavor.
You may add all-purpose flour for a crispier outcome.
Use seasoned Italian bread crumbs like Progresso to complete the Italian aesthetic of the dish.

Serving Suggestions

There are many ways one can serve parmesan crusted chicken breast. It can be sandwiched between hotdog buns or as a side dish for a vegetable salad. But the best way to eat this is to do it with good pasta for dinner, a perfect Italian combo! Cheesy and creamy pasta with crunchy and juicy chicken parmesan is best paired with an excellent red wine too!

Recipe FAQs

Are there any other seasonings to add to crusted chicken breast?

A group of seasoning called Italian seasoning is a good addition. It consists of basil, oregano, thyme, and marjoram. These are all herbs that will give the dish an extra spice and flavor. Plus, it indeed complements the whole Italian facade of the food that everyone will surely love.

How can I make baked parmesan crusted chicken breast?

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees, follow the exact instructions in preparing the chicken and then place the chicken on a wire rack. Coat the chicken pieces with olive oil, too, then wait for it to cook for at least15 minutes. It is better to fry parmesan crusted chicken breast. Baking the chicken will not give it a golden brown appearance, nor would the taste be as flavorful.

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