You will make this delicious chicken dish so often, you will want to keep the recipe handy. It perfectly breaded and fried on the outside and tender and moist on the inside.
4 thin, boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 c. all-purpose flour
1 t. salt
1/4 t. pepper
2 large eggs
1 c. panko bread crumbs
1 c. Italian style bread crumbs
1 t. garlic powder
3/4 c. freshly grated Parmesan cheese, divided
1/4 c. olive oil
1/4 c. butter
1 c. marinara sauce
8 oz. fresh sliced Mozzarella
1/4 c. chopped fresh basil
Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Lightly grease a 9x13 baking dish; set aside.
Get out 3 shallow dishes. Fill the first one with flour, salt and pepper; stir together. In the second one, whisk the eggs. In the third dish, stir together both bread crumbs, garlic powder and 1/2 c. grated Parmesan cheese.
Coat each chicken breast, first in the flour mixture, then dip and coat in the egg mixture, lastly roll in the bread crumb mixture until well coated; set aside.
Into a heavy skillet, pour in olive oil; add butter over medium high heat. Once butter has melted, add chicken; fry for 2-3 minutes per side until chicken is browned. Transfer chicken to the prepared baking dish.
Spread marinara sauce on top of each breast; top each chicken breast with 2 slices of Mozzarella cheese; sprinkle on remaining Parmesan cheese.
Bake until cheese is bubbly and browned and chicken is cooked through, about 15-20 minutes.
Serve immediately with freshly chopped basil.
4 servings.
*To give the Chicken Parmesan the ultimate crisp, wait to put the marinara sauce on until just before serving. You will need to melt the Mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses directly onto the fried chicken breasts. Also, warm the marinara sauce before saucing the chicken.