If chicken parm is your love language, this skillet chicken parmesan is about to earn a permanent spot on your dinner rotation. Juicy breaded chicken, fresh melty cheese, and thick marinara sauce all comes together in one cast iron skillet because who wants extra dishes? Not me.
This is not only a fun way to do chicken parmesan, but it way less messy. Sure, the breading and frying may take some time, but it's all done in just one pan, and comes together perfectly. Make your fav side of pasta and you're all set.
TL; DR Summary - Skillet Chicken Parmesan
- 👩🏼🍳 Cook Level: Easy/Beginner
- ⏱️ Cook Time: ~30 minutes
- 📖 Dietary Info - Gluten, dairy
- 😋 Taste: Savory, salty, cheesy, hearty, umami.
- 💖 Why You'll Love: It's a great one pot dinner that tastes like it was takeout. Minimal mess, easier clean up!
- 🍽️ Best Paired With: This pairs lovely with a side of herby and crusty garlic bread or a side of garlicky sautéed broccoli rabe, a side of brown butter pappardelle pasta, and with a classic Italian Tiramisu after dinner for dessert.
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Trusted Tips and Key Reminders
- Don't overfill the skillet with marinara sauce as it will take away from the flavor of the chicken and drown it.
- Use thinly sliced mozzarella cheese so that it melts evenly. When the cheese is fully melted, turn the oven to broil to get the cheese bubbly and golden brown like you were making a cheesy baked ziti in the oven.
- In order to make the chicken extra tender and juicy, use a meat tenderizer or mallet to pound the chicken in order to loose up the muscle of the chicken breast.
The Main Ingredients
- Chicken breasts - Lean and quick-cooking, they hold up well in the skillet and pair easily with sauce and cheese. My recipe for pan fried chicken cutlets is excellent for this parmesan skillet.
- Egg - Helps the breadcrumbs adhere evenly to the chicken for consistent coverage.
- Breadcrumbs - Adds texture and structure, giving the chicken a light crust.
- Marinara sauce - Provides moisture and tomato flavor, keeping the chicken from drying out.
- Fresh mozzarella cheese - Melts smoothly over the chicken without overpowering the sauce.
- Fresh basil - Adds freshness and balance and finishes the dish with a clean flavor.
Recipe Swaps and Substitution
- Swap out the marinara for a homemade vodka sauce for a fun twist on chicken parm.
- Use your favorite dairy-free cheese instead of fresh mozzarella cheese.
- Instead of using breadcrumbs, opt for panko or your favorite gluten free bread crumb like my baked honey mustard panko chicken breasts.
How to make skillet chicken parmesan
Step 1: Prep the chicken breasts by filleting into 4 thinly sliced chicken breasts if not already filleted. Use a meat tenderizer to pound out the chicken. Sprinkle the chicken with salt and pepper. Dip the chicken into the egg wash, then directly into the breadcrumbs. Repeat for all chicken until evenly coated. Set aside.
Step 2: Prepare a large cast iron frying pan with olive oil on a medium to medium high heat, then fry the chicken cutlets 2 at a time. Cook on each side for 2-3 minutes or until the sides begin to brown and get golden.
Step 3: Once all the chicken has been fried, turn the heat off, and drain the olive oil from the skillet. Preheat the oven to 425º. Pour in the marinara sauce and add the chicken cutlets back in.
Step 4: Top the chicken with sliced fresh mozzarella cheese. Add to the oven and cook for 15-20 minutes until the cheese gets melty and bubbly. Remove and top with fresh chopped basil and serve with your favorite pasta.
Mistakes I Made (to avoid)
- I would absolutely remember to pour out most of the oil after you pan fry the chicken, as in my first go round the sauce became way too oily because I forgot to take out the extra frying oil.
- In one of my tests, I baked this at a way too low temperature, and felt that the higher the temp, the faster it'll burn but that was not the case. The temp SHOULD be high so that the cheese gets bubbly and the chicken becomes super fork tender.
Chicken Parmesan Skillet FAQs
You can add any leftover to an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. If you are making pasta with it as a side, store the pasta separately.
Yes, you can prepare the entire recipe and store in a freezer-safe container or dish and store in the freezer for up to 2-3 months. Be sure to store it so that there is no air inside the container so it does not become freezer burnt.
No, you can simply pan sear or even grill the chicken and add to the marinara in the skillet if you'd prefer to make this a little on the lighter and healthier side, think of it like a grilled chicken caprese but with mariniara.
I highly suggest a cast iron pan that is enameled and can go both on the stove and in the oven. I typically use the largest cast iron skillet and those can usually be found pretty easily at most home stores. I typically use this durable cast iron skillet for most of my cooking.
Here's some other super easy skillet recipes
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One-Pan Chicken Parmesan Skillet
Equipment
- cast iron skillet
- tongs
- spatula
- measuring cups and spoons
Ingredients
- 4 Chicken Breasts thinly sliced and pounded
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- ½ teaspoon Pepper
- 1 ½ cups Breadcrumbs
- 2 Eggs
- 3 tablespoon Olive Oil
- 2 cups Marinara Sauce
- 8 slices Fresh Mozzarella Cheese
- Fresh basil finely chopped
Instructions
- Prep the chicken breasts by filleting into 4 thinly sliced chicken breasts if not already filleted. Use a meat tenderizer to pound the chicken. Sprinkle the chicken with salt and pepper.
- Dip the chicken into the eggwash, then directly into the breadcrumbs. Repeat for all chicken until evenly coated. Set aside.
- Prepare a large cast iron skillet with olive oil on a medium to medium high heat, then fry the chicken cutlets 2 at a time. Cook on each side for 2-3 minutes or until the sides begin to brown and get golden.
- Once all the chicken has been fried, turn the heat off, and drain the olive oil from the skillet. Preheat the oven to 425º. Pour in the marinara sauce, and add the chicken cutlets back in.
- Top the chicken with two slices of fresh mozzarella cheese per chicken breast. Add to the oven and cook for 15-20 minutes until the cheese gets melty and bubbly. Remove and top with fresh chopped basil and serve with your favorite pasta.
Sha Peace says
this recipe was easy and delicious and because of the one skillet cooking clean up was a breeze