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5 from 4 votes

Spicy Baked Chicken Parmesan

This Spicy Baked Chicken Parmesan recipe is made with a crispy Panko crust, covered in a spicy marinara sauce and melted mozzarella, and topped with lots of fresh basil.
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time25 minutes
Total Time45 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: 30 minute, chicken
Servings: 4 servings

Ingredients

Spicy Baked Chicken Parmesan Ingredients:

  • 4 small* boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 2 pounds total) pounded to 1/2-inch thickness
  • salt and pepper
  • 1/2 cup flour (all-purpose or whole-wheat, or whichever flour you prefer)
  • 2 eggs whisked
  • 1 batch crispy panko crust see below
  • cooking spray
  • 2 cups spicy marinara sauce see below (or you can use your favorite store-bought sauce**)
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1/2 cup thinly-sliced fresh basil leaves
  • optional topping: crushed red peppers

Crispy Panko Crust Ingredients:

  • 2/3 cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 1/3 cup finely-grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning store-bought or homemade
  • coarse sea salt and freshly-cracked black pepper

Spicy Marinara Sauce Ingredients:

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 6 garlic cloves peeled and minced
  • 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
  • 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes or more/less to taste (I like 1/2 teaspoon)
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons coarse salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 large sprig of fresh basil

Instructions

To Make The Spicy Baked Chicken Parmesan:

  • Preheat oven to 425°F.  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, or spray it with cooking spray.
  • Begin by making the crispy panko crust, as described below.
  • Spread the flour out evenly on a plate, add the eggs to a medium bowl, and spread the (prepared) panko mixture out on a plate.
  • Season the chicken breasts on both sides with salt and pepper.
  • Dip one chicken breast in the flour until it is evenly coated on all sides, shaking off the excess.  Then dip it in the whisked eggs until it is completely coated.  Then finally dip it in the panko mixture until it is evenly coated on all sides, and place it on the prepared baking sheet.  Repeat with the remaining chicken breasts.
  • Mist the chicken breasts with some cooking spray (or I like to use an olive oil mister).
  • Bake for 20 minutes, flipping the chicken over after 15 minutes.  Then remove from oven, and spread a large spoonful of the spicy marinara sauce on top of each chicken breast, followed by about 1/4 cup of the shredded mozzarella.
  • Bake for another 5 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and no longer pink inside.
  • Remove and sprinkle with fresh basil and (if desired) extra crushed red pepper flakes.  Serve immediately.

To Make The Crispy Panko :

  • Preheat oven to 425°F.
  • Spread the panko breadcrumbs out on a large baking sheet in an even layer.  Bake for 3-5 minutes, or until the breadcrumbs are toasted and golden.  (Keep an eye on them so that they don’t burn!)  Remove from the oven.
  • In a medium mixing bowl, combine breadcrumbs, Parmesan, Italian seasoning, and a pinch of salt and pepper, and whisk until combined.

To Make The Spicy Marinara Sauce:

  • Heat oil in a large saute pan over medium-high heat. Add garlic and saute for 1 minute, stirring frequently, until fragrant. Add in the tomatoes, red pepper flakes, salt, oregano and black pepper, and stir to combine. Gently stir in the sprig of fresh basil. Continue cooking until the sauce reaches a simmer. Then reduce heat to medium-low and continue to let the sauce simmer for about 15 minutes, or until the oil on the surface is a deep orange. It will be reduced and thickened. Discard the sprig of basil, and season the sauce with additional salt and pepper if needed.
  • Remove from heat and serve immediately, or store in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Or freeze for up to 3 months.  (This recipe will make more sauce than you need for the Spicy Baked Chicken Parmesan, so save the leftovers for later!)

Notes

*I like using smaller (7-ounce) chicken breasts for this recipe, that I pound to 1/2-inch thickness.  But if you purchase chicken breasts that are considerably larger, you can halve them horizontally so that you have two thinner chicken breasts.  Just adjust the cooking time if needed for thicker or thinner chicken.
**If you go the store-bought sauce route but want to make it spicier, just simmer a jar of store-bought sauce on the stove on medium heat with a pinch of two of crushed red pepper (to taste) while you prepare the rest of the meal.