1-Step 1: Prepare Your Workspace and Oven Preheat your oven to 450°F (230°C). This high temperature ensures the cheese melts beautifully while the chicken finishes cooking through. While the oven heats, gather all your ingredients and set up your breading station with three shallow bowls for an organized workflow.

2-Step 2: Butterfly the Chicken Breasts Place each boneless, skinless chicken breast on a clean cutting board. Using a sharp chef’s knife, cut horizontally through the thickest part of each breast, stopping about 1/4 inch from the opposite edge. Open the breast like a book to create two thinner cutlets. This technique, called butterflying, ensures even cooking throughout. Pat each chicken piece dry with paper towels and season both sides generously with salt and pepper. Drying the meat helps the breading adhere properly and promotes better browning.

3-Step 3: Set Up Your Breading Station Creating an efficient breading station makes the process smooth and mess-free. Arrange three shallow bowls in a row: Beat the eggs in the first shallow bowl until well combined. In the second bowl, combine your breadcrumbs or panko with 1/4 cup of the grated Parmesan cheese and the garlic powder. Mix thoroughly so the garlic and cheese are evenly distributed throughout the crumbs.

4-Step 4: Bread the Chicken Cutlets Working with one piece at a time, dip each chicken cutlet into the beaten eggs, allowing any excess to drip off. Then press the chicken firmly into the breadcrumb mixture, ensuring both sides are completely coated. For the best results, press the crumbs gently into the meat so they adhere well during cooking. Place each breaded cutlet on a clean plate or wire rack. Letting the breaded chicken rest for about 5 minutes before cooking helps the coating set and reduces the chance of it falling off during frying.

5-Step 5: Sear the Chicken Heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. The oil should be hot enough that a breadcrumb dropped in sizzles immediately. Carefully add the breaded chicken pieces to the pan, being careful not to overcrowd. Work in batches if necessary. Brown the chicken for exactly 2 minutes per side. The goal here is to create a golden, crispy exterior, not to cook the chicken through. The high oven temperature will finish the cooking process while melting the cheese. Transfer each browned piece to a paper towel-lined plate to drain briefly.

6-Step 6: Assemble and Bake Spoon a thin layer of your marinara sauce into the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish. This prevents the chicken from sticking and adds moisture from the bottom up. Arrange the browned chicken pieces in the dish, leaving a small space between each for even heating. Top each piece of chicken with a generous spoonful of marinara sauce, spreading it slightly but not covering the crispy edges completely. Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese over the sauce, dividing it evenly among all six portions. Finish by sprinkling the remaining 1/4 cup of grated Parmesan over the top.

7-Step 7: Finish and Serve Bake the assembled Chicken Parmesan for 10-15 minutes. You’ll know it’s done when the cheese has completely melted and begun to bubble, and the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165°F (74°C). For an extra-golden cheese topping, switch your oven to broil for the final 1-2 minutes, watching carefully to prevent burning. Remove from the oven and let the dish rest for 5 minutes. This brief rest allows the juices to redistribute throughout the meat. Garnish generously with fresh chopped basil just before serving for a pop of color and fresh flavor. Serve your Chicken Parmesan over hot cooked spaghetti with extra warmed marinara sauce on the side. A simple green salad and crusty garlic bread complete the meal perfectly. For another delicious chicken dinner idea, try this crispy baked parmesan chicken recipe that’s equally satisfying.