The Best Three-Cheese Chicken Parmesan Recipe to Feed Your Family (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between chicken parmigiana and chicken parmesan? ›

Chicken Parmesan and chicken Parmigiana are just different names for the same exact recipe. And, with a name like “chicken Parmigiana”, you might assume that this recipe is Italian. While it has roots in Italy (in a way), chicken Parmesan is all-American.

A thicker, stout pasta shape, like a ridged rigatoni, works well with chicken parmesan because it matches the heft and satisfying texture of the protein. The sauce is also able to cling to the ridges on the surface of the pasta and become a vehicle for aromatics, like crushed garlic and fresh herbs.

If you can't find the thinly sliced cutlets at your grocery store, buy three regular chicken breasts, slice them into cutlets so you have six pieces, then pound them out as thin as possible. You can use vegetable or canola oil here. Olive oil is possible too and I made it like this for years, but I prefer canola.

Other Ways You Can Avoid Soggy Chicken Parm

Using the right pureed vegetable, for instance, can add an earthy richness to your sauce while also thickening the texture, meaning less moisture can seep into the cutlet. Another way of reducing moisture is to alter the crust.

Eggplant parmesan is a lot healthier for you than chicken, but it comes at the cost of being a lot less filling.

You see, in Italy, Parmesan cheese is reserved for pasta dishes with tomato-based sauces, cream sauces, and meat-based dishes. Adding Parmesan cheese to a seafood-based dish, like spaghetti with clams, is a big no-no. It's like adding ketchup to a steak or pineapple on a pizza – it just doesn't belong!

It's utterly delicious and served with a mixed leaf salad dressed with Ina's simple lemon vinaigrette with shavings of Parmesan it was perfection.

Olive Oil: I prefer to use extra-virgin olive oil to cook the onion and garlic in, while I use a more neutral oil to fry the chicken. Use your favorite olive oil here, or check out our list of the best olive oil brands.

Lightly brush a baking dish, large enough to place the chicken in a single layer, with olive oil. Cover the bottom of the baking dish with half of the marinara sauce and arrange the chicken over the sauce. Cover with the remaining sauce. Scatter the Parmesan and the mozzarella on top.

Is it better to fry chicken cutlets in olive oil or vegetable oil? ›

What's the best oil to fry chicken cutlets in? You can fry chicken cutlets in either high heat vegetable oil or olive oil. Just note that olive oil has a lower smoke point and is more likely to burn, so you need to keep a close eye on them as they cook and adjust the heat as needed.

You Don't Start Dry

The first step to breading chicken is crucial; make sure the chicken is completely dry before starting the dredging process. Using a paper towel, pat the meat dry on all sides. Excess moisture will cause the flour to get soggy and thus will not adhere properly to the chicken.

To maximize crispiness, I use panko breadcrumbs and fry the chicken in a little more oil (about an inch) than you might normally use when making parm. As soon as the cutlets are nicely browned and cooked all the way though, drain them on a rack or paper towels. They're crunchy; this will help them stay that way.

The cheese we know as parmigiana—or parmesan—is named after the city of Parma in the northern Italian region of Emilia-Romagna, where the delicate cheese was first produced.

North America

The dish, also known as "chicken parm", originated in the northeast United States from Italian immigrants, and became a popular staple in restaurants serving Italian-American cuisine by the 1950s. Home versions also grew in popularity.

Some believe that it was created in Parma, hence the name. Others believe it comes from a Sicilian word that means slabs on a roof, referring to the thin slices of chicken covered in the sauce.

Pollo alla parmigiana in Italian, but affectionately referred by Aussies as Parma, Parmi or “a schnitty with tomato sauce and cheese”, you'll love this homemade recipe with extra crispy schnitzel, best ever parmigiana sauce and juicy marinated chicken. Abbreviate the name as much as you want.