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Baked chicken parmesan is one of the easiest dinner ideas you’ll ever try!! It’s covered with melted cheese and great served over pasta!

This chicken parmesan dish is one of our new favorite dinner recipes. This recipe is the most classic version, but we also love Chicken Parmigiana and this lighter Skinny Chicken Parmesan.

Baked Chicken Parmesan served over orzo pasta on a white plate.

A Dinner Recipe Everyone Loves

I LOVE chicken recipes! I’m sure you could have guessed that if you’ve been to the site before and have tried one of the many chicken dinner recipes I have on the blog.

Chicken is something we have every week, so I like to change things up a bit and keep it interesting. One of our favorites that we’ve tried recently is baked chicken parmesan.

Let me tell youโ€”it was SO easy and SO delicious!! We’ve actually had it twice since then because my family loved it so much. The best part? It takes just a few minutes of prep time!! I think I can speak for everyone when I say that delicious recipes that require little work are always the best.

Raw chicken breast being breaded in panko.

How to make chicken parmesan

As I mentioned, this baked chicken parmesan recipe is very simple, AND not too many ingredients are needed here. Just a few steps are required to make this delicious dish.

PREP. Preheat oven to 400ยฐF.

Place panko, parmesan, and salt in a gallon-size Ziploc bag or in a small pan. Set aside.

COAT. Melt butter in a medium bowl. Dip each chicken breast into the melted butter until well coated and place in Ziploc bag. Shake until coated and place in a greased 9×13 pan. Repeat this process for each chicken breast.

BAKE. Spray chicken lightly with olive oil spray and bake for 25-30 minutes.

PASTA. While chicken is baking, cook pasta as directed on box.

COOK. When chicken is done, pour about ยผ cup of Ragรบ Sauce onto each chicken breast along with ยผ cup shredded mozzarella cheese and a little bit of basil.

Cook an additional 4-6 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly.

Serve over warm pasta.

Using an Air Fryer

You can use an air fryer if you like, however, the air fryer basket isn’t very large and you’ll have to fry the chicken in batches.

PREP. Heat your air fryer to 400ยฐF. Spray the basket and chicken with cooking spray and place the chicken in a single layer in the basket. Make sure the chicken is not touching.

BAKE. Fry for 12 minutes or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165ยฐF. Sprinkle on some cheese, and fry for a few seconds until melted. Top with warm Ragu sauce.

Baked breaded chicken topped with Ragรบ sauce.

Recipe Tips

Chicken parm is a simple dish. Just be sure to prep to make it run smoothly.

Prepping the chicken. You will want to use tender chicken cutlets to make chicken parmesan. You can often find them precut at the grocery store or you can use 2 larger chicken breasts and cut them in half.

  1. Lay the larger chicken breast flat on the cutting board.
  2. Use one hand to gently hold down the chicken while using a chef knife or boning knife cut horizontally through the center of the chicken. Start on the thicker side and avoid sawing as it can cause jagged edges.
  3. Place the cutlet in between two pieces of plastic and using a meat mallet gently but firmly pound the cutlet to an even ยผ inch thickness throughout. If you pound too vigorously it will cause the chicken to shred.

Breadcrumb mixture. I like the crispy texture of Panko bread crumbs, but regular breadcrumbs and even gluten-free crumbs can also be used. For added flavor, you can season the panko with salt, black pepper, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder.

Other toppings. Once the sauce and cheese have been added, you can also add a layer of cooked bacon bits or ham. You can also change things up by replacing the mozzarella with provolone cheese. Fresh basil would make a great topping!

Serving + Storage Info

Easy baked chicken parmesan is hearty and delicious, but here are some tasty ideas for pairing with your main dish!

Serving suggestions:

STORE. Keep leftover easy chicken parmesan in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.

FREEZE. To freeze, place completely cooled crispy chicken parmesan in a freezer-safe airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge before reheating.

To reheat chicken parmesan, preheat the oven to 350ยฐF, place the chicken in an oven-safe baking dish, and cover. Bake for 15-20 minutes, remove the foil, and bake for another 5 minutes to crisp up the coating. 

Making a freezer meal. Coat the chicken pieces as directed, but do not bake. Instead, place them all on a baking sheet and then into the freezer. Once solid place the amount of chicken for the different meals in different freezer Ziploc bags. Measure out 1 cup of sauce and pour it into its own freezer bag and then insert it in the same bag as the chicken pieces.

Label and freeze for 2-3 months. When you’re ready to bake place the frozen pieces of chicken on a baking dish and place the Ragu sauce on the counter and let them thaw for 1-2 hours before baking.

Easy Baked Chicken Parmesan on top of orzo pasta on a white plate.

Recipe FAQ

Does baked chicken parmesan make a good freezer meal?

I love when I come across a recipe that can be used as a freezer meal and this is one of them. Youโ€™ll want to double or triple the ingredients needed that way you can create 2-3 freezer meals in one sitting. See above for more details.

Why didn’t my chicken parmesan cook through all way?

The thickness of the chicken pieces can affect the baking time. Be sure that you are using 4 thinly sliced pieces of chicken otherwise thicker pieces will not be cooked all the way through (see above for chicken tips). You also want to make sure that your oven temperature is accurate.

What do I serve under my baked chicken parmesan?

My recipe serves each piece of chicken on top of a bed of Orzo pasta, but you can choose other types of pasta. You can even use zucchini noodles or Spaghetti Squash.

For More Baked Chicken Recipes, Try:

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5 from 21 votes

Baked Chicken Parmesan Recipe

By: Lil’ Luna
Baked chicken parmesan is one of the easiest dinner ideas you'll ever try!! It's covered with melted cheese and great served over pasta!
Servings: 4 people
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 25 minutes
Total: 35 minutes

Ingredients 

  • 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts thin
  • 1 cup panko crumbs
  • ยผ cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 teaspoon garlic salt (with parsley flakes)
  • ยฝ cup butter
  • olive oil spray
  • 1 cup Traditional Ragรน Sauce (divided)
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (divided)
  • basil
  • orzo pasta

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 400ยฐF.
  • Place panko, parmesan, and salt in a gallon-size Ziploc bag or in a small pan. Set aside.
  • Melt butter in a medium bowl. Dip each chicken breast into the melted butter until well coated and place in Ziploc bag. Shake until coated and place in a greased 9×13 pan. Repeat this process for each chicken breast.
  • Spray chicken lightly with olive oil spray and bake for 25-30 minutes.
  • While chicken is baking, cook pasta as directed on box.
  • When chicken is done, pour about ยผ cup of Ragรบ Sauce onto each chicken breast along with ยผ cup shredded mozzarella cheese and a little bit of basil.
  • Cook an additional 4-6 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly.
  • Serve over warm pasta.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 524kcal, Carbohydrates: 14g, Protein: 35g, Fat: 35g, Saturated Fat: 20g, Cholesterol: 160mg, Sodium: 1413mg, Potassium: 568mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 3g, Vitamin A: 1175IU, Vitamin C: 2.9mg, Calcium: 261mg, Iron: 1.5mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

For even more delicious Ragรบ recipes be sure to check out their Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter.

About Kristyn

My name is Kristyn and Iโ€™m the mom of SIX stinkinโ€™ cute kids and the wife to my smokinโ€™ hot hubby, Lo. My momโ€™s maiden name is Luna, and Iโ€™m one of the many crafty โ€œLilโ€™ Lunasโ€ in the fam. On this site I like to share all things creative - from recipes to home decor to gifts and home decor ideas. Welcome!

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5 from 21 votes (4 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




41 Comments

  1. Betsy says:

    5 stars
    How fun to use orzo pasta instead of traditional spaghetti! I usually use angel hair with this dish, but now you’ve got me thinking…maybe I’ll change it up and use orechetti! Perfect chicken! Wonderfully tender and crispy all at the same time!

  2. Beth says:

    5 stars
    This looks so delicious and perfect for my family! I can’t wait to give this a try! So excited!

  3. Melanie Bennett says:

    5 stars
    A staple in our house, this is in our dinner rotation menu!

  4. Reilly says:

    5 stars
    I make a lot of chIcken dishEs for myself My wife And my two boys but this was the first time that i made chicken parm without egg or flour. Dipping the cutlets in butter made All the differEncE. The chickEn came out perfect and the kids Ate it wll up. No leftoverS. Awesome and easy!

    1. Kristyn Merkley says:

      I am so happy you tried this recipe! Thank you so much for letting me know what you thought!

      1. Ruth Taylor says:

        5 stars
        This chicken parm is so easy and it was a huge hit with all the members of my family! It has made its way into my menu rotation! Definitely a keeper!

  5. Shannon says:

    5 stars
    DELICIOUS and very easy!!

    1. Kristyn Merkley says:

      I am so glad you think so ๐Ÿ™‚ Thank you for letting me know!

  6. Krissy Allori says:

    5 stars
    Oh my goodness, this sounds great and so easy to make. I love chicken parm. I’m adding this to my dinner lineup. I also like the idea of adding other things on top. Bacon!

    1. Mary says:

      5 stars
      It was terrific. My husband and I loved it.

      1. Kristyn Merkley says:

        So glad you both liked it! Thank you so much for letting me know!

  7. marie johson says:

    5 stars
    THESE LOOK SO GOOD, I HAVE TO TRY NOT TO DROOL. I AM DEFINITELY MAKING THESE ASAP- MAYBE TONIGHT IF I GET STARTED SOON!

    1. Kristyn Merkley says:

      LOL!! I hope you do try this recipe..it’s so good! Thank you!

  8. Marie says:

    5 stars
    this makes the perfect dinner recipe! my family loves it!

  9. Olivia says:

    We make a lot of pasta dishes in our home. We donโ€™t typically go out and eat Italian food. So a lot of it is done in house. Which makes this a favorite. When I have the time I like to make my own sauce.

  10. Kristi R says:

    5 stars
    I’m always looking for more ways to serve chicken. This was an easy recipe and my 4 kids + my hubby loved it.