Description
This Chicken Parmesan recipe features juicy boneless chicken breasts stuffed with a creamy blend of cream cheese, mozzarella, Parmesan, and Italian seasonings. Coated in flour, egg, and Italian breadcrumbs, then seared for a golden crust and finished in the oven with marinara sauce and extra Parmesan, this dish combines rich flavors and satisfying textures for a comforting Italian-American main course.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Filling
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for topping
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Breading and Cooking
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 1 cup Italian-style breadcrumbs
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 cup marinara sauce
Garnish
- Chopped fresh parsley (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and lightly grease a baking dish to prevent sticking.
- Make Chicken Pockets: Carefully slice a pocket lengthwise into each chicken breast, ensuring not to cut all the way through to hold the filling inside.
- Prepare Filling: In a small bowl, combine softened cream cheese, mozzarella, Parmesan, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Mix until smooth and well combined.
- Stuff Chicken: Spoon the cream cheese mixture evenly into the pocket of each chicken breast. Secure the opening with toothpicks if necessary to keep the filling inside during cooking.
- Set Up Breading Stations: Place the flour, beaten eggs, and Italian-style breadcrumbs into three separate shallow bowls for the breading process.
- Bread the Chicken: Coat each stuffed chicken breast first in flour, shaking off excess, then dip into the eggs, and finally dredge evenly in breadcrumbs to fully coat.
- Sear Chicken: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the breaded chicken breasts and sear each side for 2 to 3 minutes until golden brown, enhancing flavor and texture.
- Bake with Sauce: Transfer the seared chicken breasts to the prepared baking dish. Spoon marinara sauce generously over each one and sprinkle with additional Parmesan cheese for a flavorful crust.
- Oven Cook: Bake in the preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes or until the chicken is fully cooked and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
- Serve: Remove toothpicks before serving. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley if desired for a fresh, vibrant finish.
Notes
- For extra crispiness, lightly spray the breaded chicken with cooking spray before baking.
- You can substitute provolone cheese for the mozzarella for a different flavor profile.
- Using seasoned panko breadcrumbs can add more crunch to the crust.
