Sandras Chicken Parmigiana Recipes

CRISPY CHICKEN PARMESAN

Steps:

• Preheat oven 430°F | 220°C. Lightly grease an oven tray (or baking dish) with non stick cooking oil spray; set aside.
• Whisk together eggs, garlic, parsley, salt and pepper in a shallow dish. Add chicken into the egg, rotating to evenly coat each fillet in the mixture. Cover with plastic wrap and allow to marinate for at least 15 minutes (or overnight night if time allows for a deeper flavour).
• When chicken is ready for cooking, mix bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese and garlic powder together in a separate shallow bowl. Dip chicken into the breadcrumb mixture to evenly coat.
• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until hot and shimmering. Fry chicken until golden and crispy, (about 4-5 minutes each side).
• Place chicken on prepared baking tray / dish and top each breast with about 1/3 cup of sauce (sauce recipe below). Top each chicken breast with 2-3 slices of mozzarella cheese and about 2 tablespoons parmesan cheese. Sprinkle with basil or parsley.
• Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until cheese is bubbling and melted, and the chicken is completely cooked through.
• Heat oil in a medium-sized pot. Fry onion until transparent (about 3 minutes), then add the garlic until fragrant (about 30 seconds).
• Add the tomato puree, salt and pepper to taste, Italian herbs and sugar (If using). Cover with lid to simmer for about 8 minutes, or until sauce has thickened slightly. Taste test and adjust salt and pepper, if needed.

SANDRA'S CHICKEN PARMIGIANA

Steps:

• Flatten the chicken breasts with a mallet.
• Then start to heat the oil in a large frying pan.
• While the oil is heating, combine the eggs, salt and pepper.
• Dip the breasts into the egg mixture, and then into breadcrumbs.
• About now, start to preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
• When the oil is hot, brown breasts on both sides, then drain them on paper towels.
• Transfer breasts to a baking dish that will hold them all in one layer.
• Drain all but 1 teaspoon of the remaining oil from frypan.
• In the frypan, saute garlic for 1 minute, then add tomato sauce (puree) and basil, and bring to a boil.
• Turn down and simmer for 10 minutes, then stir in butter.
• Pour tomato mixture over chicken breasts, and sprinkle with parmesan.
• Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
• Uncover and put mozzarella slices neatly over chicken pieces.
• Bake uncovered for another 10 minutes.
• Serve and enjoy.

CHICKEN PARMIGIANA (PARMESAN)

Steps:

• 1. If your cutlets are really thick it will take too long to cook. I like to pound them thin between two pieces of clear wrap or place them in a plastic bag and pound with a food mallet.
• 2. Season the chicken with salt and pepper.
• 3. Set up your workstation with bread crumbs, flour, and egg.
• 4. Dip each cutlet in flour.
• 5. Then egg.
• 6. Coat in bread crumbs.
• 7. Once they are all ready, fry in a pan with heated cooking oil until golden brown (about 2-3 minutes on each side). If you have a big frying pan you can do them in two batches. If you have a smaller frying pan and need to fry in multiple batches, don't use all the oil at one as it may be too much.
• 8. Transfer to a long baking pan lined with about a cup of tomato sauce.
• 9. Top each cutlet with some tomato sauce.
• 10. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese and mozzarella over the cutlets.
• 11. Bake in a 350-degree oven for about 30 minutes or until cheese melts. Cooking time may be less depending on the thickness of the cutlets.
• 12. Remove from the oven and sprinkle some basil or parsley.

THE BEST CHICKEN PARMESAN

Steps:

• Set a wire rack inside a rimmed baking sheet. Line another rimmed baking sheet with foil. Cut two 12-inch sheets of plastic wrap.
• Cut the chicken breasts in half lengthwise, making 4 roughly equal pieces; they should look like large chicken tenders. Place one sheet of plastic on a clean cutting board. Put one chicken piece in the center of the plastic and top with the other sheet of plastic. Pound the chicken with the flat side of a meat mallet, starting in the center and working your way to the edges, until the chicken is 1/4-inch thick. Transfer to the wire rack. Repeat with the remaining chicken, one piece at a time. Liberally sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• Put the flour in a pie plate and dredge the chicken 1 piece at a time, turning to coat and packing the flour into the crevices. Shake to remove any excess and return to the rack. Repeat with the remaining chicken.
• Whisk the breadcrumbs, 1/4 cup of the Parmesan, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper in a medium bowl until combined. Whisk the milk and egg in a medium bowl until combined. Dip the dredged chicken into the milk mixture, allowing any excess to drip off. Then pack the seasoned breadcrumbs firmly onto the chicken. Very gently
• shake off any excess and return to the rack. Refrigerate uncovered at least 30 minutes and up to 12 hours.
• Meanwhile, make the sauce. Heat 1/3 cup of the oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the garlic, oregano and red pepper flakes and cook until very fragrant but not brown, about 1 minute. Add the tomatoes, basil and 1 teaspoon salt. Bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer and cook, uncovered, until the tomatoes are very tender and the liquid has reduced by half, about 30 minutes. Smash the tomatoes with a potato masher until almost smooth; it's ok if it's a little chunky. Season with salt.
• Heat the remaining 1/2 cup oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 2 cutlets and cook until the coating is golden brown, about 1 minute per side; the chicken will not be cooked through. Transfer to the foil-lined baking sheet in a single layer 3 inches apart. Repeat with the remaining cutlets.
• Arrange an oven rack directly under the broiler and preheat to high. Arrange the chicken in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet, spaced 3 inches apart. Top each cutlet with 2/3 cup of the sauce and spread evenly to coat. Sprinkle each cutlet with 1 tablespoon of the Parmesan and 1/2 cup mozzarella. Broil until the cheese melts and starts to brown in spots, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Cook the spaghetti, stirring occasionally, until al dente. Drain and transfer to the remaining sauce. Gently stir until the sauce coats the pasta. Transfer the spaghetti to a serving dish and top with the chicken. Sprinkle with more Parmesan and serve with torn basil.

SKILLET CHICKEN PARMESAN WITH GNOCCHI

Steps:

• Working with 1 breast at a time, hold a long knife parallel to cutting board and cut 2 medium skinless, boneless chicken breasts (about 1 lb.), patted dry, in half, slicing along a long side to make thin cutlets. Arrange all 4 cutlets in an even layer on cutting board and sprinkle all over with 2 tsp. Diamond Crystal or 1¼ tsp. Morton kosher salt. Transfer to a medium bowl and sprinkle with ¼ cup all-purpose flour; toss to coat.
• Heat ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil in a large high-sided ovenproof skillet, preferably cast iron, over medium. Working in 2 batches and adding more oil between batches if needed, lift cutlets from bowl, shaking off excess flour, and carefully lower into skillet. Cook until deep golden brown, about 3 minutes per side (chicken will finish cooking in oven). Transfer to a large plate or baking sheet.
• Reduce heat to medium-low. Add 8 garlic cloves, finely chopped, and ½ tsp. crushed red pepper flakes to skillet and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add one 28-oz. can whole peeled tomatoes, crushing with your hands as you go, then add remaining 2¼ tsp. Diamond Crystal or 1¼ tsp. Morton kosher salt and 1½ tsp. sugar. Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until sauce is slightly thickened, about 5 minutes. Add one 17.5-oz. package shelf-stable potato gnocchi and cook, stirring constantly, until gnocchi is barely tender, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Heat broiler. Arrange chicken in a single layer over gnocchi. Top chicken with 2 oz. Parmesan, finely grated, followed by 8 oz. part-skim mozzarella, sliced ¼" thick. Transfer skillet to oven and broil until cheese is melted and browned, 5-8 minutes; watch closely to avoid burning.
• Serve chicken parm topped with basil leaves if desired.

CLASSIC CHICKEN PARMIGIANA

Steps:

• Cut each chicken breast in half lengthways so you have four fillets. Put the fillets on a board, cover with a sheet of baking parchment and bash with a rolling pin until they are the same thickness all over.
• Put the flour in a shallow dish and season with a little salt. Tip the egg into another dish, then the breadcrumbs and parmesan into a third dish, stirring to combine. Working with one chicken fillet at a time, coat in the flour, then dip into the beaten egg, and finally coat in the cheesy breadcrumb mixture. Transfer the breadcrumbed fillets to a plate as you go. To freeze, stack the fillets in a freezerproof container between sheets of baking parchment. Will keep frozen for three months.
• To make the sauce, heat the olive oil in a shallow pan and sizzle the garlic for 2 mins. Sprinkle in the sugar and add a splash of the vinegar, then tip in the tomatoes or passata. Add the oregano, season and bubble for 10-15 mins, stirring occasionally until thickened. To freeze, leave to cool completely, then transfer to a freezerproof container (portion it into more than one, if you like). Will keep frozen for up to three months. Defrost overnight in the fridge, then reheat in a pan until piping hot.
• Heat the sunflower oil in a large frying pan over a medium heat and cook the breadcrumbed chicken fillets for 3 mins on each side (fresh or from frozen) until golden and crisp. Arrange on a baking tray. Spoon a little of the sauce over the middle of each fillet, and top each with a slice of mozzarella. Heat the grill to high. Cook the spaghetti following pack instructions, then drain and toss with the remaining sauce. Grill the fillets for 3-4 mins, or 1-2 mins more if they're from the freezer, until the mozzarella is melted and bubbling, then serve.