Parmesan Crusted Chicken
Parmesan Crusted Chicken is a quick, easy, and delicious recipe to make for dinner. Thin chicken cutlets are coated in parmesan, egg, and panko bread crumbs, and pan fried until crispy!
Odds are you’re familiar with parmesan crusted chicken as a dish, and maybe it’s even something you already make.
It’s certainly one of those classic staple recipes that I find myself making from time to time.
It’s major merit is that it’s one of the fastest meals you can prepare, because the thinly cut chicken breasts (aka chicken cutlets) cook up lightning fast.
Oh, and it’s golden brown crispy delicious.
That helps too.
But there are a couple of things that I like to do differently for this classic dish, to take it to the next level.
The first thing I like to do is whip out a zester (not a grater), and zest my parmesan cheese:
By zesting instead of grating the cheese, it gives you a texture that’s lighter than snow, so it sticks to the bare chicken cutlets very well.
My next trick is to add fresh minced rosemary to the egg dip.
Since there are so few ingredients in this dish, adding a fresh herb like rosemary or thyme makes a HUGE difference in flavor and really makes the recipe pop:
So now we can proceed as usual, and first dip a seasoned chicken cutlet in the zested parmesan:
Then into the rosemary egg wash:
And finally, into some crispy Panko bread crumbs:
Once your chicken cutlets are breaded, you can pan fry them in olive oil, for about 4-5 minutes each side:
Once they’re crispy and golden, you can zest a little more parmesan on top, and serve!
And by the way, you can totally do this with pork chops too! Enjoy.
Parmesan Crusted Chicken
Parmesan Crusted Chicken is a quick, easy, and delicious recipe to make for dinner. Thin chicken cutlets are coated in parmesan, egg, and panko bread crumbs, and pan fried until crispy!
Ingredients:
- 1.25 lbs thinly cut chicken breast (aka chicken cutlets)
- salt and pepper
- 1 sprig fresh rosemary
- 1 cup zested parmesan cheese
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup panko bread crumbs
- olive oil, for frying
Directions:
- Lay the chicken breasts out on a cutting board and season them generously on both sides with salt and pepper. Set aside.
- Next it’s time to set up your breading station. Set out three bowls, and in the first bowl add the zested parmesan cheese, then the eggs in the second bowl, and the panko bread crumbs in the third. Strip the leaves from the fresh rosemary sprig and mince them finely with a knife. Add the minced rosemary to the egg bowl, then whisk the eggs and rosemary together until combined.
- Heat up a large skillet over medium heat, and let it heat up while you bread the chicken. First dip each chicken cutlet into the parmesan, shake off the excess, then dip into the egg, then let the excess drip off, then finally dip into the panko bread crumbs (by the way, the reason we shake off the excess during each step is to prevent our breading from falling off later).
- When the pan is nice and hot, add enough olive oil to coat the bottom of the pan, about 2-3 tbsp. Add 2 or 3 chicken cutlets to the hot oil (do not crowd the chicken cutlets), and cook for 4-5 minutes on each side, until golden and crispy. If the bread crumbs are browning too quickly, you can turn the heat down. Repeat with the remaining cutlets, and enjoy!
Nutrition Information
Yield: Serves 3-4, Serving Size: 1 chicken cutlet
- Amount Per Serving:
- Calories: 465
- Total Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Cholesterol: 198mg
- Sodium: 490mg
- Carbohydrates: 12g
- Fiber: 1g
- Sugar: 1g
- Protein: 45g
More Chicken Dinner Recipes:
One Pan Prosciutto Wrapped Chicken with Asparagus
Chicken Roulade with Sundried Tomato Pesto
Crispy Indian Spice Rubbed Chicken Thighs
Sauteed Chicken Breast with Sage and Mustard Cream Sauce
This looks awesome, Joann! Simple and easy. I love your tips for zesting the cheese. Is that a micro-plane zester? Adding fresh rosemary to the egg wash is such a great idea! I might have to put this on the menu for next week. 🙂
Hi Crystal, thanks! The zester is made by OXO. I prefer theirs to the microplane, to be honest! The OXO one has held up better over time.
Love this so much!! I zest my parmesan sometimes too! 🙂
Parmesan crusted chicken is in my regular meal rotation because the family likes it so much. But I’m going to use your method next time. I usually mix the cheese with the bread crumbs. I coat the cutlets lightly in flour, dip into the egg wash, and then coat them in the cheesy bread crumbs. Hurray for skipping the flour layer. Sometimes, rather than frying the cutlets, I spray on some butter flavored “Pam” and bake them.
Hi Nancy, glad that this is a staple in your family’s meals! Hope you like my version. I prefer to separate the cheese and bread crumbs because they have different textures and I find it sticks better that way. Happy cooking!
I’ve used this method with chicken breasts but tried stuffing them with brie and caramelized onions. I served them with a port wine and cream sauce. I like your chicken because it’s heaps quicker and still delicious.
Oh Maureen that sounds DELICIOUS! Do you have that recipe up on your blog? I love brie with chicken and that sounds right up my alley!
Why yes, yes I do. 🙂
http://www.orgasmicchef.com/mains/stuffed-macadamia-chicken-with-sage-and-port-cream-sauce/
Wow, that chicken looks so good! I love how simple it is!
This is the ultimate chicken dish! So delicious and simple!
Such a classic!
This is literally my absolute favorite chicken. I make it all the time. Gorgeous and classic!
Looking forward to getting great recipes Bill
I just made this for supper using boneless pork chops. It turned out great! My husband commented, “There’s not much better than a fried pork chop.” The breading stayed on well, which I’ve had trouble with in other “crusted” recipes. Thanks for your work!
Really happy to hear that Heather! The pork chops sound great.
Trying today!
As a single father I find your recipes excellent to follow. Thanks for being here for me.
Hi Bill, I commend you for cooking, especially as a single father. My dad raised me and my brothers for the 2nd half of my childhood so I know a little bit about the demands it has. If you have any recipe requests, sometimes people send me those and I do my best to post recipes!
I was wondering with this Parmesan crusted chicken what do you serve with it ? pasta with what sauce I would like to make this for a special dinner party for Saturday
thank you so much
Hi Tina, it depends if you want to go heavy or light. Sometimes I do an arugula salad or quinoa for something light, or if I’m wanting to have a more filling meal, I’ll do roasted potatoes or root vegetables.
absolutely amazing! I made this for dinner over the weekend and everyone wanted seconds! Great recipe! Easy to follow directions yield a great product! Thank you!
So happy to hear this, Suzanne!!!
I am excited to see this recipe. It is one of my husbands favorite chicken dishes. I also am excited to see I have all the ingredients needed on hand.
Dear Joann.
I am just beginning my cooking adventure and would love to try the crispy parmezanem crusted chicken. This may be the most basic question but how do I cut the chicken to get these very thin pieces?
I wish you happy, healthy, and joyful Christmas and a happy New Year!
Ewa.
Hi Ewa, I purchase them as the cut “chicken cutlets.” Or, you can slice a chicken breast through the middle like a book to open it up. It’s easier to understand if you watch it on a video. Hope that helps!
Just made this for my husband and he loved it! Made me a happy wife! I wish I could show you pictures. 😀 Thank you, Joanne!
My go to dish for a quick and delicious dinner and for company. Serve with a side of marinara sauce and garlic mashed potatoes, Scrumptious!! Have gotten many compliments.
Im going to make these today for chicken burgers, but im struggling to think of some kind of spicy spread to go on the buns. Up to now all i can think of that will work well is mayonnaise with chili flakes and cayenne pepper – maybe some finely chopped celery too. Thanks for the recipe, i never considered using Parmesan in this way before. My mouth is watering already and i have 3 hours to wait until dinner 🙁