Chicken Parmigiana Olive Garden
Chicken Parmigiana is a classic Italian-American dish made with breaded and fried chicken cutlets, marinara sauce, and mozzarella cheese. Here is a recipe that you can try at home to recreate the Olive Garden version of Chicken Parmigiana.
Servings 5
Ingredients
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 1 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Olive oil, for frying
- 1 cup marinara sauce
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F.
- Pound the chicken breasts to an even thickness with a meat tenderizer.
- Set up a breading station with three shallow bowls. In the first bowl, place the flour and season with salt and pepper. In the second bowl, place the beaten eggs. In the third bowl, mix together the breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese.
- Coat each chicken breast in the flour mixture, shaking off any excess. Dip the chicken into the eggs, allowing any excess to drip off. Finally, coat the chicken in the breadcrumb mixture, pressing gently to help it adhere.
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add enough olive oil to cover the bottom of the pan. When the oil is hot, carefully add the breaded chicken breasts to the pan. Cook for 3-4 minutes on each side, or until the chicken is golden brown and cooked through.
- Transfer the chicken to a baking dish and top each piece with marinara sauce and shredded mozzarella cheese.
- Bake the chicken in the preheated oven for 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Serve the Chicken Parmigiana hot, garnished with additional Parmesan cheese and fresh basil, if desired.
Notes
- Use good-quality chicken breasts that are evenly shaped and not too thick. This will make it easier to bread and cook them evenly.
- Be sure to pound the chicken breasts to an even thickness before breading and frying them. This will help them cook more evenly and quickly.
- Use a combination of breadcrumbs and grated Parmesan cheese in the breading mixture for added flavor and texture.
- Don't skimp on the marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese when assembling the dish. These are key components of the classic Chicken Parmigiana flavor and texture.
- If you have time, let the breaded chicken breasts sit in the fridge for a few hours or overnight before cooking them. This will help the breading adhere better and give you a crisper, more evenly cooked result.
- Be sure to use a large, deep skillet or a Dutch oven for frying the chicken. This will give you plenty of room to work and ensure that the chicken cooks evenly.
- When frying the chicken, be sure to use a thermometer to check the oil temperature. It should be between 350-375°F for optimal frying.