The crispy gluten-free seasoned breading on this Chicken Parmesan helps to keep it tender and juicy. The rich marinara and gooey cheeses on top make it an easy crowd-pleaser. This Chicken Parmesan has lots of flavor and texture within the layers without being overwhelming. There are a few steps to making it, but with several options for prepping ahead, it can be easy to make for a crowd.
Breading Station
Begin with the gluten-free flour in one bowl, beaten egg in another, and seasoned bread crumbs in the last. Each piece of chicken gets dusted with flour, dipped into the beaten egg, then coated with the seasoned breadcrumbs. This is one of the steps that can be done up to a day ahead.
Frying Station
Heat a large skillet with at least 1/2 inch of olive oil covering the bottom. This is more oil than usual for pan-frying, however the goal is closer to deep-frying the chicken. The sides of the chicken need to be submerged in the oil for the edges to be fried evenly.
When the oil begins to shimmer, add a small breadcrumb to the oil. If it begins to bubble and splatter a little right away, the oil is hot enough to begin cooking the chicken. Fry the chicken on both sides until browned. Approximately 3-4 minutes on each side, depending on thickness. Cook in batches if needed based on the size of your pan. The chicken doesn’t need to be fully cooked at this point.
The Chicken Parmesan can be made up to this step in advance as well. Since it will need to be re-heated, it is best that the chicken is just browned on the outside but not cooked through when you prepare it in advance. This will limit the chance of overcooking it. For a crispier crust, quickly fry the chicken breast again before moving on to the next step, or allow it to rest at room temp for an hour before baking. Placing very cold chicken in the oven makes it difficult to reheat without overcooking.
Make it Chicken Parmesan
With all of the fried chicken breasts on a sheet pan in a single layer, spread a few tablespoons of marinara on top of each piece. Then pile on a generous handful of shredded mozzarella cheese. Finally a heavy shower of parmesan cheese. Pop it in the oven for 10 minutes or longer if it needs to re-heat as well. Once the cheese is melted the way you like, simply remove it and serve.
More Gluten-Free Deliciousness
Chicken Parmesan
Ingredients
- 4 chicken breasts boneless, skinless
- ½ cup gluten-free flour blend
- 2 large eggs beaten well
- 1 cup gluten-free breadcrumbs
- 1 ½ tsp garlic powder
- 1 ½ tsp Italian Seasoning
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp ground black pepper
- ½ cup +/- olive oil for coating the pan
- 1 cup jarred marinara sauce
- 8 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese
- 4 ounces shredded parmesan cheese
- 2 tbsp fresh basil optional garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
- Combine gluten-free bread crumbs, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper in a shallow dish. In 2 more shallow dishes, place beaten eggs and gluten-free flour.
- Dust each piece of chicken with flour, then dip into the beaten egg. Then coat with the breadcrumb mixture. Set aside on a baking tray while heating a large high-sided skillet with about a half-inch to an inch of olive oil.
- Fry each piece of breaded chicken until golden brown on each side. You may need to cook in batches if your pan is too small to fit 4 at once.
- When all pieces have been fried nicely, place them in a single layer on a greased or lined baking tray. Spoon 2-3 tablespoons of marinara on top of each, then generously top with shredded mozzarella and parmesan cheese.
- Bake in the oven for 10-15 minutes until the cheese is melted and browned as you like it.