Skillet Chicken Parmesan

This quick and easy Skillet Chicken Parmesan is a rustic, Italian one-pot recipe that goes from stovetop to oven to table in 30 minutes.

This post was originally published on July 8, 2013. It has been updated with new images.

You might think of Chicken Parmesan as a meal best left for weekends when you have more time to spend in the kitchen. I used to think that too. But since I refuse to contain my desire for this dish to weekends, I’ve simplified things a bit.

This version is an easy, one-pot recipe you can easily pull together on a busy weeknight. Precisely the type of recipe we all need to get through the busy holiday season.

Most of the work is completed in one skillet right on your stove and then it takes a quick turn in the oven to finish things off. I’ve taken a few shortcuts with this Skillet Chicken Parmesan to save time and effort but the end result is fabulous.

How to Make Skillet Chicken Parmesan

Like so many of my recipes, the key to the flavor in this dish is a combination of dried herbs. I love the punch dried herbs add to a recipe but feel free to substitute fresh herbs if you happen to have them on hand. Just be sure to double or even triple the amounts called for if using fresh.

Combine sea salt, freshly ground black pepper, rosemary, thyme, and oregano in a small bowl.

In a separate bowl combine some Italian-style panko bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, and 1 tablespoon of olive oil.

Start with the Right Cut of Chicken

You’ll need 4 thin-sliced boneless, skinless chicken breasts for this recipe. If your chicken breasts are not the thin-sliced variety you can slice thicker breasts in half, right through the center. Continue the cut through until you have two thin pieces. Check out this article on Serious Eats to see this process in action. Thinner slices of chicken will cook quickly and be more tender at the end of the quick cooking process.

This recipe calls for 4 pieces but you could easily throw in a another piece or two if you’ve got a big skillet and more people to feed.

From Stovetop to Oven

Add a couple tablespoons olive oil to a large, deep, ovenproof skillet and place it over medium-high heat.

When the oil is nice and hot, carefully add the chicken. Cook for about three minutes on each side, sprinkling both sides with the dry seasoning mix as it cooks. We are only trying to get a nice golden brown sear on the chicken at this point, not completely cook it through.

Pour the marinara sauce around the chicken and ladle a little over each piece.

Add a slice of fresh mozzarella to each piece of chicken. I give you my permission to add more cheese if you’d like. More cheese is never a bad idea.

Time to sprinkle on the bread crumb and Parmesan cheese mixture and pop it in a really hot 475 degree oven for about 8 to 10 minutes. Watch the Skillet Chicken Parmesan closely and pull it out when the cheese has melted, the chicken is cooked throughout, and the bread crumbs are browned.

Transferring the skillet to a hot oven to finish the cooking process is the key to creating a nicely browned, crispy bread crumb topping.

What Pasta is Best with Chicken Parmesan?

I like to serve this Skillet Chicken Parmesan over a mound of rigatoni and sprinkled with a generous amount of grated Parmesan. A substantial pasta like rigatoni pairs well with this dish but any pasta you love or that you happen to have on hand will work.

Cook the pasta according to the package directions for al dente, toss it with a bit of olive oil to prevent it from sticking together, and toss it with some grated Parmesan cheese.

This is a gorgeous, mouthwatering dish that you can have on the table in under thirty minutes.

What to Serve with Chicken Parmesan

Looking for some simple side dish ideas? My Cheater Garlic Bread and Butter Lettuce Salad with Grapes and Gorgonzola would round out this meal in a delicious way!

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Skillet Chicken Parmesan

This Skillet Chicken Parmesan is a rustic, Italian one-pot recipe that goes from stovetop to oven to table in 30 minutes.

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Servings 4 servings

Change the number in the box above to adjust serving size. Please note that size of cookware and cook time may vary.

Print

5 from 1 vote

Ingredients

• 12 ounces dry pasta of your choice, prepared according to package directions for al dente
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon fine ground sea salt
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
• 1/2 cup Italian-style panko bread crumbs
• 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
• 1 1/2 pounds thin-sliced boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 24 ounce jar marinara sauce (I like Mezzetta brand)
• 4 ounces fresh mozzarella
• Additional olive oil and Parmesan cheese to toss with cooked pasta

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 475 degrees.
2. Prepare dry pasta according to package directions and allow it to boil while preparing the chicken.
3. In a small bowl combine salt, pepper, thyme, rosemary, and oregano. Set aside.
4. In a separate small bowl combine the Italian style bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese and 1 tablespoon olive oil. Set aside.
5. Coat the bottom of a large, deep, oven-proof skillet with about 2 tablespoons olive oil and place over medium high heat. Saute chicken till nicely browned on both sides but not cooked through, about 3 minutes per side. As chicken cooks, season each side with seasoning mixture. After chicken has browned, pour the marinara sauce in the pan around the chicken, ladling some of the sauce over the top of each piece. Top each piece of chicken with a thin slice of fresh mozzarella and sprinkle the bread crumb topping over the top.
6. Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven and bake uncovered for 5 to 10 minutes or till chicken is cooked through and no longer pink in center, cheese has melted, and bread crumb topping is browned.
7. Serve over your choice of prepared dry pasta that has been tossed with a little olive oil and Parmesan cheese.

Recipe Notes

I almost always use dried herbs but fresh herbs are wonderful if you have them on hand. Be sure to double the amounts called but otherwise follow as directed.

 

If your chicken is not thin-sliced use a sharp knife to slice each chicken breast right through the center and continue the cut all the way through to get 2 thin-sliced pieces.

 

Nutrition information was calculated for Chicken Parmesan only. Pasta was not included.

Nutrition

Calories: 440kcal

Fat: 24g

Saturated fat: 8g

Cholesterol: 139mg

Sodium: 850mg

Potassium: 676mg

Carbohydrates: 7g

Fiber: 1g

Sugar: 1g

Protein: 47g

Vitamin A: 315%

Vitamin C: 2%

Calcium: 271%

Iron: 2%

Course Main Course

Cuisine Italian

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