Description

This Baked Parmesan Crusted Chicken is a weeknight hero: juicy chicken breasts wrapped in a crunchy, golden Parmesan and herb coating. Everything bakes in the oven no messy frying yet you still get irresistible crispiness and rich, cheesy flavor. It’s simple, satisfying, and pairs beautifully with salads, veggies, or pasta.

Ingredients

Scale

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 cup breadcrumbs (plain or Italian-style)
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs (such as oregano, basil, and thyme)
1/2–1 teaspoon salt, to taste
1/2 teaspoon black pepper, or to taste
2 large eggs
2 tablespoons milk
2 tablespoons olive oil (plus more if needed)

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease it and set aside.
In a shallow bowl, stir together the grated Parmesan cheese, breadcrumbs, garlic powder, onion powder, dried Italian herbs, salt, and pepper until evenly combined.
In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs and milk until smooth and well combined.
Pat the chicken breasts dry with paper towels. If they are very thick, pound them to an even thickness for more even cooking.
Dip each chicken breast into the egg mixture, turning to coat completely. Let any excess egg drip back into the bowl.
Transfer the chicken to the Parmesan breadcrumb mixture, pressing gently on both sides so the coating adheres in an even layer. Shake off any loose crumbs.
Arrange the coated chicken breasts on the prepared baking sheet, leaving a little space between each piece.
Drizzle the olive oil evenly over the tops of the chicken breasts to help the coating crisp and brown in the oven.
Bake for 25–30 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through, the coating is golden brown, and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part registers 165°F (74°C).
Remove from the oven and let the chicken rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes to allow the juices to redistribute before slicing or serving.

Notes

For extra crispiness, place the baking sheet on the upper oven rack for the last 3–5 minutes of baking.
Thickness of the chicken will affect cooking time; start checking for doneness at 22–23 minutes.
If using pre-seasoned Italian breadcrumbs, reduce added salt slightly to avoid over-seasoning.
Grate the Parmesan finely so it blends smoothly into the crumb coating and adheres better to the chicken.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Category: Main Course
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American, Italian-Inspired

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 chicken breast
Calories: 350 kcal
Sugar: 1 g
Sodium: 550 mg
Fat: 16 g
Saturated Fat: 5 g
Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
Trans Fat: 0 g
Carbohydrates: 14 g
Fiber: 1 g
Protein: 38 g
Cholesterol: 160 mg

Keywords: baked parmesan chicken, parmesan crusted chicken, crispy baked chicken, easy chicken dinner, weeknight meal