Lately I’ve been on an eat-healthier-workout-more kick and having embarked on a great many of these phases over the past few years, I can tell you that I don’t know exactly what “works” but I do know what doesn’t work for me: eating “diet” food. No matter how much low-fat this, fat-free that I try to buy, it just doesn’t get eaten. Or it gets eaten but it’s unsatisfying and three days later I”m all like “pass the triple creme brie please…and does anyone else want French fries?”
Don’t pretend you haven’t done the same thing.
That’s where this dish comes in. Chicken Parmigiana is easily one of my favorite meals, as cliche as that may well be, but it has to be good chicken parmigiana or else it’s hardly worth the calories. There are a lot of chicken parm recipes floating around online – not to mention in the stacks of cookbooks some of you probably have at home.
Nonetheless, I think mine is great so here are the my tips on how to make perfect chicken parm:
- Use real mozzarella cheese. Buy a container of fresh mozzarella cheese from Whole Foods or your local market. It’s going to cost you rougly $4.00-6.00 but I promise, it will make all the difference in the world for your finished dish.
- Use real olive oil to coat your pan. And be generous with it. I have tried this recipe with both PAM spray and genuine olive oil, the former to cut down on calories and fat. What I’ve found is that if you opt for the spray, your breading will stick to the bottom of the pan and you’ll be left with dry chicken and a glob of burned breadcrumbs. And if you don’t have a dishwasher, that’s clearly a real tragedy.
- Use whole wheat bread crumbs. If you like Italian-seasoned breadcrumbs, add your own basil, oregano, etc. but I find whole wheat breadcrumbs to be the tastiest – and it doesn’t hurt that you’re getting a little extra fiber too.
- 1 cups marinara sauce (homemade or store-bought)
- 1 pound (16 ounces) boneless, skinless chicken breasts, pounded thin with a meat mallet or heavy-bottomed frying pan
- 1 egg
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup whole wheat bread crumbs
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 8 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese, shredded (about 1 cup of shredded cheese)
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spread 1 cup marinara sauce on the bottom of a glass or enameled cast iron baking dish. Set aside.
- Place the flour in a shallow bowl or platter and in a wide bowl, beat the egg whites with a fork until frothy - as soon as it looks like there are soap bubbles in the egg whites, you're done. In a small bowl, mix the Parmesan cheese and the whole wheat bread crumbs. Arrange the three dishes on the counter or cooking surface, assembly-line style.
- Heat ¼ cup olive oil over medium-high flame in a large skillet. While the oil is heating up, lightly dredge [aka: drag] both sides of the chicken cutlets in the flour, then the egg [let any excess drip off before proceeding] and finally in the bread crumbs.
- When the oil is nice and hot add the chicken and fry for 4-6 minutes on each side [cook time will depend on how thick they are] until pieces are golden and crusty, turning once. Place chicken in the baking dish atop the marinara sauce.
- Top the chicken with the remaining cup of marinara sauce and top with the mozzarella cheese. Cover the dish with aluminum foil and let bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil and let bake for an additional 5-8 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly and chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees.
- Serve with your favorite pasta or fresh, wilted spinach.
45 Comments
Six Recipes that Anyone Can Cook for Dinner or Breakfast
February 9, 2017 at 4:31 pm[…] in cheese and marinara sauce, chicken parmigianaΒ is one of my all-time favorite meals. It’s my favorite thing to order at an old-school, red […]
Maria @ Scandifoodie
May 3, 2011 at 5:51 pmMy partner would adore this dish, I think I’ll have to treat him with this soon! π
Kate@Diethood.com
May 3, 2011 at 6:42 pmMaris, I love your chicken parm!! I never used just the egg whites and whole wheat bread crumbs… I need to take note of that. Thank you for sharing!
NancyC
May 3, 2011 at 6:00 pmThat looks so good! I’ve never made chicken parmigiana before, so I will have to try this out
Georgia @ The Comfort of Cooking
May 3, 2011 at 5:32 pmMaris, I love that you made this chicken parmigiana so simple, quick and easy. We should all be able to enjoy warm, hearty and comforting meals on weeknights and thanks to recipes like yours, we can! Thanks for sharing. Have a great day! π
Georgia @ The Comfort of Cooking
May 3, 2011 at 4:15 pmThis is comfort food at its finest, and I love that you made it so easy. We should all be able to indulge in meals like this on weeknights, and with a recipe like this, it’s simple to do. Thanks for sharing, Maris! Even though it’s spring, we all still crave warm, hearty meals like this – and I’m no exception! π
Kelly
May 3, 2011 at 3:42 pmHealthier eating (for me) is all about give and take. I’ll gladly buy low fat (and rarely) fat free products if I cannot tell the difference or the taste change is minimal, but if it’s a huge compromise I’d rather splurge and go with the real thing.
Beth @ DiningAndDishing
May 3, 2011 at 3:28 pmgot to agree with you – i’d rather eat a little of the good stuff than a lot of the diet junk!! this looks delish :).
Lucy @ The Sweet Touch
May 3, 2011 at 2:13 pmI agree, if you’re gonna make it, you might as well make it with the real stuff! I haven’t had chicken parm in ages – thanks for reminding me of this delish dish!
Kalynskitchen
May 3, 2011 at 2:09 pmLooks good! This would definitely work for me.
Mary
May 3, 2011 at 2:07 pmWhat a lovely dish. It has always been one of my favorites and your recipe for it is wonderful. I hope you have a great day. Blessings…Mary
Peggy
May 3, 2011 at 1:51 pmYeah, I gave up the low-cal, fat free stuff a long time ago (there’s a few things out there that still taste good, but not many). Eat in moderation. Eat what you like. And get active. I seem to be real happy with that regimen =)
And this chicken parm sounds out of this world! Definitely going to try this soon (and I love the tips!)
Rosa
May 3, 2011 at 1:09 pmEasy, but mighty delicious nonetheless! A great idea.
Cheers,
Rosa
Alexandra (Veggin' Out in the Kitchen)
May 3, 2011 at 11:42 amThanks for the awesome recipe!! I really want to try this! Maybe I can sub eggplant for the chicken π
<3
Nami @ Just One Cookbook
May 3, 2011 at 9:55 amHi Maris! Thank you for leaving a comment on my website! It’s nice to meet you and your blog! You have a wonderful blog here and I’m excited to follow you on facebook and twitter. Your chicken parmigiana looks fantastic!
chopinandmysaucepan
May 3, 2011 at 7:13 amI’ve never ever eaten diet food. If we know what we are cooking with, then there should not be a problem with calories and your chicken looks pretty awesome! I love simple yet tasty recipes! Thanks for sharing this.
Simply Life
May 3, 2011 at 12:47 amthis meal is so good any time of year, with company, alone, etc!
Bee
May 3, 2011 at 4:47 amLOVE chicken parm! Will keep this recipe on hand, as I’ve been searching for a healthier version π
Laura @ SweetSavoryPlanet
May 3, 2011 at 3:56 amadd a nice healthy salad and it all balances out! looks delicious.
yummychunklet
May 3, 2011 at 3:55 amThis definitely looks tasty and simple to prepare. Thanks for the tips!
Kerry (newlywedcooks)
May 3, 2011 at 3:07 amThis looks delicious! I will have to try this soon. Yummm chicken parm.
Angela
May 3, 2011 at 2:49 amYum! This is one of my favorites, too.
Autumn @ Good Eats Girl
May 3, 2011 at 1:38 amThis chicken parm looks great! And I totally agree with you….I can’t do the “diet” food route either. It just doesn’t work for me!
leslie
May 3, 2011 at 1:17 ammmm. I love me a good chicken pram!
sheila @ Elements
May 3, 2011 at 12:56 amHow is it possible that I’m Italian and have never made this before? Where have I been? Yours looks wonderful and your pictures make me want to try making this myself. Looks so good!
And by the way, I’m with you about the diet food. π
Tanvi@SinfullySpicy
May 3, 2011 at 12:49 amThis is what I always order at Italian restaurants! Now I have the recipe :)Looks yum!
Kate (What Kate is Cooking)
May 3, 2011 at 12:48 amOooh, all that melty cheese is making me drool!
Lydia (The Perfect Pantry)
May 2, 2011 at 11:18 pmI don’t think I’ve made chicken parm since my college days, when it was a real favorite among my friends as we were learning to cook for ourselves. I just might have to try it again….
Juliana
May 2, 2011 at 9:10 pmYummie, chicken parmegiana…I haven’t had it for ages…yours look delicious…very inviting. Have a great week ahead Maris π
Gen
May 2, 2011 at 9:01 pmAwesome recipe and food philosophy! π Thanks for sharing!
Susan
May 2, 2011 at 8:17 pmI just used whole wheat bread crumbs for the first time when I made my garbanzo burgers. This sounds so good and great tips!
5 Star foodie
May 2, 2011 at 12:32 pmYour chicken parmigiana looks excellent, great tips on how to make it perfect!
brandi@BranAppetit
May 2, 2011 at 3:24 pmso funny – i’ve had chicken parm on the brain lately! this looks great.
Nicole@HeatOvenTo350
May 2, 2011 at 2:52 pmAmen! I have the same philosophy when it comes to food. I like making favorite foods healthier, but I also know there are times when a substitution just won’t work. This looks delicious.
Ruth
May 2, 2011 at 9:37 amThis looks really good. It’s the kind of dish I rarely cook, but makes my other half very happy when I do. I’ll bookmark it for a weeknight soon!
Sommer@ASpicyPerspective
May 2, 2011 at 2:25 pmThat looks so satisfying! Great tips!
Carol @ There's Always Thyme to Cook
May 2, 2011 at 2:13 pmLooks fantastic, now you just gave me a craving. Love chicken parm, love it cold next day for leftovers, too!. Now I have to have some, definitely worth the calories!
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella
May 2, 2011 at 1:11 pmThat parmigiana looks like it is worth every single calorie! You’re so right, it has to be very good otherwise I just won’t eat it! π
Kate
May 2, 2011 at 1:02 pmMaris, this looks delicious! I am definitely bookmarking this recipe to make in the near future..possibly over some orzo or spaghetti!
Sophia @ Raven Waves
May 2, 2011 at 11:56 amSounds delicious! I’ve never made chicken parm before. It’s one of those dishes that I always order out but am too nervous to try at home!
Candace
May 2, 2011 at 11:43 amThis looks absolutely delicious. We love chicken parmigiana around here. I love your fresh and healthy take on this classic recipe. I’m all for using “real” foods myself. I think they are much healthier than they “lite” and “low fat” versions. Thank you for sharing your recipe!
alyssa - fashion fitness foodie
May 2, 2011 at 11:30 amI’m a huge fan of not eating diet foods… Just healthifying our normal meals! This looks SO amazing!
Jessica
May 2, 2011 at 11:27 amLove Love Love parmigiana and this looks amazing. I think it is such a warm and inviting meal and one i make for guests all the time because it is so dang yummy! Your version sounds incredible and I will be trying it next time around
Erica
May 2, 2011 at 8:42 amVery nice! Looks gorgeous. I make a healthier chicken parm that I also bake, and instead of using egg to dip the chicken in, I dip it in a lemon juice/water combo- still makes everything stick! Very cool π Hope your week is off to a good start
Daryl
May 2, 2011 at 8:28 amI had to chuckle at this because I know exactly what you mean! This is a gem of a recipe for me because I l also love chicken parm. Bookmarked!