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Crispy Baked Chicken with Mozzarella and Marinara

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A quick and easy baked chicken parmesan recipe featuring a crispy breadcrumb coating, melty mozzarella, and tangy marinara sauce. Perfect for a comforting weeknight dinner with less mess than frying.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1.5 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, pounded to 1/2 inch thickness
  • 1 cup Italian-style seasoned breadcrumbs (or panko for extra crunch)
  • 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning (blend of dried basil, oregano, rosemary, thyme)
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • Salt and black pepper, to taste
  • 2 large eggs, beaten
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 8 ounces fresh or shredded low-moisture mozzarella cheese
  • 1 to 1 1/2 cups marinara sauce
  • Olive oil or cooking spray, for greasing the baking sheet
  • Optional: pinch of red pepper flakes for breadcrumb mixture

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C).
  2. Pat chicken breasts dry and pound to an even thickness of 1/2 inch.
  3. Set up three shallow bowls: one with flour seasoned with salt and pepper, one with beaten eggs, and one with breadcrumb mixture (breadcrumbs, Parmesan, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, and optional red pepper flakes).
  4. Dredge each chicken breast in flour, shaking off excess, then dip in egg, letting excess drip off, and press firmly into breadcrumb mixture to coat evenly.
  5. Lightly grease a rimmed baking sheet with olive oil or cooking spray. Place a wire rack on the sheet if available, then arrange chicken on top.
  6. Bake chicken for 20 minutes until coating is golden and crisp and chicken is almost cooked through. If not using a wire rack, flip chicken halfway through baking.
  7. Remove from oven. Spoon about 2 tablespoons marinara sauce over each chicken breast, then top with about 2 ounces mozzarella cheese.
  8. Return to oven and bake for another 5-7 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly. Watch carefully to avoid overbrowning.
  9. Let chicken rest for 3-5 minutes before serving.

Notes

Use a wire rack for crispier coating or flip chicken halfway through baking if no rack is available. Dab fresh mozzarella dry before topping to avoid soggy chicken. Leftover breadcrumb mix can be saved for other uses. For gluten-free, substitute flour and breadcrumbs with almond flour or gluten-free panko. Dairy-free mozzarella and marinara can be used for dairy-free version.

Nutrition

Keywords: baked chicken, chicken parmesan, crispy chicken, mozzarella, marinara, easy dinner, weeknight meal, comfort food

Find it online: https://larameals.com/crispy-baked-chicken-with-mozzarella-and-marinara-easy-recipe-for-perfect-dinner/