Why You’ll Love This this 30-Minute Crispy Chicken Parmesan
This chicken parmesan comes together in just 30 minutes, which means you can have crispy, golden chicken smothered in melty cheese on your dinner table faster than you can decide what to watch on Netflix.
The beauty lies in cooking everything in one skillet – the chicken gets perfectly tender while the sauce warms up right alongside it, creating this gorgeous, restaurant-worthy presentation without any fancy techniques or intimidating steps.
Plus, with angel hair pasta as your base, you’re getting that satisfying, comfort-food sensation that makes everyone at the table do that little happy wiggle in their chair.
Ingredients List
This crispy chicken parmesan needs just a handful of simple ingredients that you probably already have hanging around your kitchen.
- 1 (12 ounce) package angel hair pasta
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves
- 1 large egg, lightly beaten
- 1/2 cup Italian seasoned breadcrumbs
- 3 tablespoons butter or margarine
- 1 (14 ounce) jar spaghetti sauce
- 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1 tablespoon parmesan cheese (for sprinkling)
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley or basil sprig, chopped
A few things to keep in mind when it comes to making this dish a bit healthier:
- You can swap the butter for olive oil to cut down on saturated fat
- Using whole wheat angel hair pasta adds extra fiber and nutrients
- Look for low-sodium spaghetti sauce, or make your own if you’re feeling ambitious
- The chicken provides lean protein, which is always a win
- Fresh herbs like parsley and basil pack antioxidants and flavor without any extra calories
Step by Step Directions
This express chicken parmesan recipe delivers crispy, tender chicken with melted cheese and tangy marinara sauce served over angel hair pasta in under 30 minutes.
- Place chicken between two sheets of heavy-duty plastic wrap and flatten to 1/4 inch thickness using a meat mallet or rolling pin.
- Dip each chicken breast in the beaten egg, then coat thoroughly with Italian seasoned breadcrumbs.
- Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Add breaded chicken to skillet and cook for 8 minutes on each side until fork tender with no pink remaining.
- While chicken cooks, bring a large pot of water to boil for the pasta.
- Once chicken is fully cooked, pour spaghetti sauce around the chicken in the pan without covering the breasts.
- Turn heat to low and allow sauce to heat thoroughly.
- Cook angel hair pasta according to package directions until al dente.
- Drain pasta and arrange on a serving platter.
- Place cooked chicken breasts on top of the pasta.
- Pour the heated sauce over the chicken and pasta.
- Sprinkle shredded mozzarella and parmesan cheese over the top.
- Garnish with chopped fresh parsley or basil before serving.
For even more elevated results, consider using a premium Dutch oven instead of a regular skillet for superior heat retention and distribution.
Substitutions and Variations
• Make it lighter – Bake the breaded chicken at 400°F for about 20 minutes instead of pan-frying.
It won’t be quite as crispy, but your waistline might thank you later.
• Herb substitutions – Fresh oregano, thyme, or even dried Italian seasoning can replace the parsley or basil when your herb drawer is looking a little sad.
Additional Things to Serve With This Dish
This dish practically begs for some classic Italian sides that’ll make your dinner table look like something straight out of a inviting trattoria.
- Garlic bread – Because to be frank, you need something to soak up every last drop of that gorgeous marinara sauce, and plain bread just feels like you’re not trying hard enough.
- Caesar salad – The crisp romaine and tangy dressing cut through all that cheesy, saucy goodness perfectly, plus it makes you feel like you’re eating vegetables even though the lettuce is drowning in creamy dressing.
- Roasted vegetables – Zucchini, bell peppers, or broccoli tossed with olive oil and garlic give you those nice caramelized edges that pair beautifully with the crispy chicken coating.
- Simple green salad – Sometimes you just want something light and fresh to balance out the richness, and a basic mix of greens with balsamic vinaigrette does the trick without competing for attention.
- Steamed asparagus – It cooks quickly while you’re finishing up the chicken, and those tender spears add a pop of color that makes your plate look restaurant-worthy.
- Crusty Italian bread – For when regular garlic bread feels too fancy but you still need that carb component to make everything feel complete and satisfying.
Cooking Tips & Tricks (Chef’s Notes)
Getting this chicken parmesan just right comes down to a few key moves that’ll save you from soggy breading and overcooked pasta.
- Pound that chicken evenly – Seriously, don’t skip this step because thick spots will still be raw while thin edges turn into chicken jerky, and nobody wants to explain food poisoning to their dinner guests.
- Let the breaded chicken rest for 10 minutes – This gives the coating time to stick properly instead of sliding off into your pan like a sad, breadcrumb mess.
- Use a meat thermometer – Internal temp should hit 165°F, because guessing games with chicken safety are about as fun as they sound.
- Don’t flip the chicken too early – Wait until you can slide a spatula under it easily, otherwise you’ll just tear up that beautiful golden crust you worked so hard to create.
- Cook pasta slightly underdone – It’ll finish cooking when you toss it with the hot sauce, plus nobody likes mushy angel hair that falls apart when you twirl it.
- Warm your serving plates – Just pop them in a 200°F oven for a few minutes, because nothing kills the atmosphere like watching your carefully crafted dish go cold on cool plates.
- Save some pasta water – That starchy liquid is liquid gold for loosening up thick sauce or helping everything stick together better.
Nutritional Facts
Based on the Chicken Parmesan Express recipe, here are the key nutritional highlights per serving (serves 4):
- Calories: Approximately 650-700 per serving
- Protein: 45-50g from chicken breast and cheese – excellent for muscle maintenance and satiety
- Carbohydrates: 65-70g primarily from angel hair pasta and breadcrumbs
- Fat: 18-22g from butter, cheese, and egg
- Fiber: 3-4g from pasta and herbs
- Sodium: 800-900mg mainly from breadcrumbs, sauce, and cheese
- Calcium: 15-20% daily value from mozzarella and parmesan cheese
- Iron: 10-15% daily value from enriched pasta and chicken
- Vitamin A: 8-10% daily value from cheese and herbs
- Cholesterol: 120-140mg from chicken and egg
- Saturated Fat: 8-10g from butter and cheese
Fun “Did You Know?”
Did you know that Chicken Parmesan isn’t actually Italian? I was shocked when I uncovered this beloved dish is American-Italian!
Traditional Italians rarely pair chicken with cheese, and they’d never serve it over pasta. The dish evolved from Eggplant Parmigiana in Italian-American communities during the early 1900s.
Here’s another fun fact: angel hair pasta cooks in just 2-4 minutes, making it perfect for weeknight dinners. That’s why I chose it for this 30-minute recipe.
The thin strands also grab onto the marinara sauce beautifully, creating the perfect bite every time you twirl your fork.
