Why You’ll Love This this Parmesan-Garlic Chicken
This garlic chicken recipe is basically a foolproof way to make your kitchen smell like heaven while you wait for dinner to finish.
The overnight marinating trick means the garlic gets into every single bite, and honestly, who doesn’t want their chicken to taste like it came from a fancy Italian restaurant?
Plus, that golden parmesan crust is going to make you look like you actually know what you’re doing in the kitchen, even if you’re still figuring out how to properly dice an onion.
Ingredients List
You’ll need just a handful of simple ingredients to create this restaurant-quality chicken that’ll have your whole house smelling incredible.
- 4 egg yolks, beaten slightly
- 6 fresh garlic cloves, chopped
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves
- 6 tablespoons butter, melted
- 1 cup dry unseasoned breadcrumbs
- 1 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon dried parsley
- 1/2 tablespoon salt
- 1 tablespoon ground black pepper
A few things to keep in mind about these ingredients:
- Fresh garlic cloves work way better than the pre-minced stuff in jars – trust me on this one, the flavor difference is huge
- You can swap regular breadcrumbs for panko if you want extra crunch, though honestly both work great
- While this recipe isn’t exactly diet food with all that butter and cheese, chicken breast is still a lean protein that’s packed with nutrients
- The parmesan adds calcium and protein, so at least we’re getting some nutritional benefits along with all that delicious flavor
- If you’re watching sodium, you might want to cut back on the salt since parmesan cheese already brings plenty of saltiness to the party
Step by Step Directions
This garlic-packed chicken dish requires marinating time, so plan to start at least 4 hours before you want to serve it.
- Drop the egg yolks, chopped garlic and chicken breasts in a zip-type bag.
- Press out as much air as possible and seal the bag.
- Massage the bag to make sure that the chicken pieces are well coated with the egg and the garlic is well distributed.
- Refrigerate for at least 4 hours, up to overnight.
- Preheat oven to 400°F.
- Place melted butter in a 9×13 inch glass baking dish, tipping dish until bottom of pan is well coated.
- In small mixing bowl, combine the bread crumbs, cheese, parsley, salt and pepper.
- Dredge chicken pieces in this coating mixture so they’re coated well on all sides.
- Lay pieces in the baking dish in a single layer.
- Pour any remaining egg mixture over the top.
- Bake for about 40 minutes, or until no pink remains in the chicken and the juices run clear.
For a hands-off alternative, consider using a programmable slow cooker to achieve tender, flavorful results with minimal supervision.
Substitutions and Variations
• Panko breadcrumbs instead of regular ones give you that extra crunch factor.
It’s like the difference between a gentle pat and a firm handshake.
• Double the garlic if you’re one of those people who thinks garlic is more of a suggestion than a measurement.
No judgment here, garlic lovers unite.
Additional Things to Serve With This Dish
This chicken practically begs for some good sidekicks to round out the meal.
- Roasted vegetables like Brussels sprouts, broccoli, or asparagus soak up all those buttery, garlicky pan drippings like little flavor sponges.
- Creamy mashed potatoes or garlic mashed potatoes (because why stop the garlic party now) make the perfect canvas for that crispy coating.
- Simple pasta tossed with olive oil, parmesan, and maybe some of those leftover breadcrumbs creates a comfortable Italian-ish atmosphere.
- Caesar salad brings some fresh crunch to balance out all that rich, cheesy goodness.
- Rice pilaf or wild rice gives you something to pile that juicy chicken on top of, soaking up every last drop of those pan juices.
- Steamed green beans with almonds keep things light while still feeling fancy enough for company.
Think of it this way: the chicken is the star of the show, but even stars need a good supporting cast to really shine.
Cooking Tips & Tricks (Chef’s Notes)
A few simple tricks can turn this already delicious dish into something that’ll have people asking for your secret.
- Don’t skip the marinating time – I know waiting is hard when you’re hungry, but those garlic cloves need time to work their magic into every fiber of the chicken.
- Pound your chicken to even thickness before marinating so everything cooks at the same rate, because nobody wants one piece that’s dry as cardboard while another is still doing the pink chicken dance.
- Save some of that breadcrumb mixture to sprinkle on top halfway through baking – it gives you extra crispy bits that are basically edible gold.
- Use a meat thermometer and pull the chicken when it hits 165°F, because guessing games with poultry are never fun.
- Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes after baking so those juices redistribute instead of running all over your cutting board like they’re making a great escape.
- Double-check your garlic prep – if you’re using a garlic press, give those cloves a rough chop first so they don’t turn into garlic paste, which can burn and get bitter.
- Line your baking dish with parchment if you’re feeling fancy and want easier cleanup, though honestly, those buttery drippings are half the reason this dish is so good.
The real secret is just not overthinking it – this recipe is pretty forgiving, so trust the process and let that garlic do what garlic does best.
Nutritional Facts
This protein-packed dish delivers substantial nutrition along with its bold flavors, making it a satisfying choice for dinner.
- Calories: Approximately 485 per serving (based on 4 servings)
- Protein: 42g – excellent source for muscle maintenance and satiety
- Carbohydrates: 18g – primarily from breadcrumbs and minimal natural sugars
- Fat: 27g – includes healthy fats from butter and cheese
- Saturated Fat: 16g – moderate intake recommended
- Cholesterol: 285mg – higher due to egg yolks and chicken
- Sodium: 980mg – significant portion from parmesan cheese and added salt
- Calcium: 285mg – good source thanks to parmesan cheese
- Iron: 2.1mg – contributes to daily iron needs
- Vitamin A: 950 IU – from egg yolks and butter
- Garlic benefits: Contains allicin and sulfur compounds with potential immune-boosting properties
- Fiber: 1g – minimal but breadcrumbs add small amount
- Potassium: 420mg – supports heart and muscle function
Fun “Did You Know?”
When you’re savoring that crispy, golden coating on your Parmesan-garlic chicken, you’re actually enjoying a culinary technique that dates back to ancient Rome, where cooks first revealed that aged cheese creates an incredibly flavorful crust when baked.
Here’s something fascinating: garlic’s been called “Russian penicillin” because of its natural antibacterial properties.
Plus, when you marinate chicken in egg yolks and garlic overnight, you’re breaking down proteins that make the meat incredibly tender.
The breadcrumb coating technique we use today was perfected by Italian immigrants who needed affordable ways to make simple ingredients taste extraordinary.
