Easy Chicken Parmesan Recipe (2024)

Published: Apr 27, 2015 · Modified: May 19, 2021 by Colleen 31 Comments

Chicken Parmesan is one of my all-time favourite Italian meals. I love the real thing. I really, really love it. Honestly, if an Italian chef would come to my house and make it once a week I would be in for that. But then I would also need a personal trainer to get my butt moving so that I could work off all the (delicious, worth every bite) calories. Clearly, my in-house chef is not a very realistic option, so I decided to come up with a quick and easy, one-skillet version of my favourite Italian recipe.

Quick & Easy Classic Chicken Parmesan

The real Chicken Parmesan, called Parmigiana, is an amazingly delicious dish with a somewhat complicated prep process that requires us to first bread, and then brown the chicken before transferring to a baking dish to cook in a lovely tomato sauce and Parmesan cheese. Now, if you have the time -- go for it! I have re-created this classic Italian recipe on more than one occasion in my own kitchen, and it's totally manageable. There really is nothing like a perfectly cooked chicken Parmesan.

However, like we've realized, I personally need a quick and easy at-home version that I can throw together whenever my craving hits on a random weeknight. So, I have re-created this classic Italian recipe and turned it into a quick and easy one pan, weekday dinner. And guess what? It still gave me the delicious satisfaction of a chicken Parmigiana!

This easy chicken Parmesan recipe comes together quickly in just one skillet -- no muss or fuss. You get the rich and cheesy taste of chicken Parmesan without the effort, clean up, or calories. What's not to love?

Pro Tips for Making This Your Favorite Dish

Lightened Up Chicken Parmesan

This version is a scaled-down chicken Parmesan, all cooked in one skillet. So, I'm taking a few shortcuts. Like, I'm not breading the chicken (bye-bye carbs). You know what though, it's still crazy delicious, and the bonus is, that you can throw it together quickly. I'm also adding fresh spinach to give it some extra nutrient kick.

A Tip for Evenly Cooked Chicken Breasts

Boneless, skinless chicken breasts don't come in even thickness. They are usually very thick in the middle. Because of this uneven shape, the thinner half can end up dry and overcooked. One way to make sure that your chicken breasts cook evenly and more quickly is to pound them so they are all the same thickness. Put them in a zip lock bag on a cutting board, and use the flat end of a meat mallet to pound them all to about a one-inch thickness.

Here's What You Need to Make this Chicken Parmesan Recipe

• • Three boneless skinless chicken breasts
  • Flour
  • Salt & pepper
  • Olive oil
  • Diced tomatoes
  • No salt added tomato paste
  • Baby spinach leaves
  • Dried basil
  • Dried Oregano
  • Garlic
  • Grated Parmesan cheese

How to Make Easy Chicken Parmesan, Step By Step

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Heat an ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat with oil.
3. Season Chicken Breasts with salt & pepper on each side.
4. Put chicken breasts, laid flat, in a zip lock bag, with air expressed, and zipped up.
5. Using the flat side of a meat mallet, pound chicken breasts to an even thickness, starting in the thickest parts and working out.
6. Pound to about one inch even thickness.
7. Open ziplock bag and add flour. close up again and shake bag to coat chicken breasts.
8. In a bowl, whisk together diced tomatoes, tomato paste, and basil.
9. Transfer chicken breasts to the heated skillet. Sear on each side for 2-3 minutes until crusty and golden on either side. Turn heat off skillet. Distribute spinach leaves over the chicken. Pour tomato mixture over the chicken.
10. Evenly divide Parmesan cheese over each chicken breast.
11. Put the skillet in the center of the oven and bake for 20 minutes or until chicken is cooked through, and cheese is melted and golden.
12. Serve with hot pasta.

Make It a Meal

Pair your chicken Parmesan with steamed broccoli, green beans, or one of my favourite side dish recipes for a perfect healthy dinner.

• Sautéed Beet Greens Recipe
• Red Lentil Soup Recipe
• Mashed Roasted Butternut Squash

Want more easy skillet recipes? Try this Sweet Potato Mushroom Skillet, Easy Thai Peach Chicken or this delicious Rosemary Skillet Chicken.

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