Chicken Parmigiana (or Chicken Parmesan) – the great pub favourite has finally landed! 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.
Aussies love good pub grub. But all too often, the standard pub Parmi comes with soggy crumbing, dry chicken, a sub-par tomato sauce and greasy melted cheese.
The first step is to make sure the chicken stays juicy after the double cook (fry + bake) because this essentially overcooks the chicken. Schnitzel-thin chicken take just 4 minutes to cook – we want to fry for 4 minutes THEN bake for 15 minutes to make that cheese molten!
So we’re using a simple dry brine that acts as a marinade to keep the chicken juicy. Dry brine is better than the typical liquid marinades because they will cause the chicken to leech liquid as it cooks, making the crumb soggy.
While the chicken is brining, make the sauce. I like to make the sauce extra flavourful with a splash of white wine (evaporated to remove alcohol and just leave flavour – no trace of winey taste at all) and chicken stock/broth.
Referred to as breading in the US – and given it’s called bread crumbs, I feel like both “crumbing” AND “breading” make sense!
Here’s what you need for the crumbing. It’s a classic schnitzel…but with extra flavour from the parmesan, herbs and garlic!
And there you have it. The best Chicken Parmigiana of your life, made in your very own kitchen!!
That moment when you cut through the molten melted cheese, then you see some tomato sauce squirting out the side, then your knife hits the chicken which you can instantly tell just by feel is so juicy, and that first bite……
How to make Chicken Parmigiana Sauce
Nothing ground breaking in the method, but it’s worth noting that the sauce is a thick saucy consistency, not a stodgy dry dolloping consistency (which kind of defeats the purpose of having delicious tomato sauce smothered on our Parmi!).
This is what the sauce should look like:
Referred to as breading in the US – and given it’s called bread crumbs, I feel like both “crumbing” AND “breading” make sense!
Here’s what you need for the crumbing. It’s a classic schnitzel…but with extra flavour from the parmesan, herbs and garlic!
- Flour – for dusting. This first followed by egg = strong glue for the breadcrumbs;
- Garlic and Italian dried herbs – to mix into the egg for extra subtle flavour. Layers upon layers of flavour, all throughout this parmi!
- Panko breadcrumbs – Panko breadcrumbs are larger than normal breadcrumbs so your schnitzel will be crispier. Find it next to ordinary breadcrumbs or in the Asian aisle (pro tip: cheaper at Asian markets!);
- Parmesan – I like using the sand-like store bought parmesan because the grains are bigger than grating your own which = more bold flavour. Parmesan in crumbing is a traditional Italian method for schnitzels. It adds sensational extra flavour into the schnitzel as well as making it more golden AND crispier. When parmesan is cooked, it is very crispy!
How to BAKE rather than fry
For the most impossibly golden and crunchy BAKED chicken schnitzel, toast the breadcrumbs first per the Crunchy Baked Chicken Tenders recipe. Then crumb per this Chicken Parmigiana recipe, spray with oil and bake at 200°C/390°F for 15 minutes. It will look like this (these are the Chicken Tenders – breast will look the same on the outside):
Alrighty – on the home stretch here!! Time to smother and bake:
- Sauce – Top with sauce, covering about 80% of the surface (leaving some crunchy exposed bits!). At this stage, I also like to sprinkle with a bit of fresh basil;
- Mozzarella AND parmesan – Pile mounds of mozzarella on top – I find that shredded melts more nicely than slices, but slices work too. Or fresh mozzarella (torn into pieces). Then sprinkle with parmesan (more flavour!) and drizzle with olive oil (to ensure parmesan melts nicely rather than crispy);
- BAKE for a mere 15 minutes, just so the cheese melts and you get some small brown spots. Do not bake further than you need to – this leads to dry chicken (though you can sit back smugly with the knowledge that yours is brined so it’s extra juicy) AND makes the crust totally soggy under the sauce (quick 15 minutes bake = crumbing under sauce is still a bit crispy which is unheard of!)
- Finish with a fresh sprinkle of basil then serve immediately!
And there you have it. The best Chicken Parmigiana of your life, made in your very own kitchen!!
That moment when you cut through the molten melted cheese, then you see some tomato sauce squirting out the side, then your knife hits the chicken which you can instantly tell just by feel is so juicy, and that first bite……
UGH! I’m torturing myself describing this!!
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FAQ
What does Parma have on it?
What is the original parmigiana?
What is classic Parma?
What’s on a Parma?
What to eat in Parma Italy?
The Parma area, also known as the “Food Valley”, is home to some of Italy’s most famous food products, including Parmigiano-Reggiano, Prosciutto di Parma, Culatello di Zibello, fresh, hand-made pasta, as well as other delicacies, such as Spalla Cotta di San Secondo and Borgotaro mushroom, perhaps less known abroad, but just as exquisite.
Is Parma a good place to eat in Italy?
The city of Parma and its eponymous province is one of Italy’s richest “mother lodes” of unforgettably delicious food, nicknamed Food Valley as it contains the greatest number of traditional Italian products with quality certifications. The local cuisine is best savored via a satisfying winter meal.
What is the Parma Food Valley?
The area surrounding Parma is known as the “Food Valley” because it is home to so many top Italian products, including Parmigiano Reggiano, Prosciutto di Parma, Culatello di Zibello, and other products. Similarly, Modena is known as the Motor Valley for all of the luxury car producers that are headquartered there.
What is Parma famous for?
Parma, home to exquisite prosciutto and the sumptuous Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, sits in the heart of the Italian Food Valley.