Description
Million Dollar Chicken Parmesan is a delightful twist on the classic Italian-American dish, featuring tender chicken breasts coated in a flavorful blend of breadcrumbs and Parmesan, sautéed to golden perfection, and baked with a rich layer of creamy cheese mixture and marinara sauce. This comforting, cheesy bake is perfect for a satisfying family dinner and comes together in just 35 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Sauce and Baking
- 1 (24-oz) jar spaghetti sauce
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- Spray cooking spray (for baking dish)
For the Chicken Coating
- â…“ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 6 Tbsp panko bread crumbs
- 6 Tbsp Italian bread crumbs
- 6 Tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ tsp garlic salt
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts, pounded to even thickness
For the Cheese Mixture and Topping
- ½ cup cottage cheese
- 2 Tbsp cream cheese, room temperature
- 1 Tbsp pesto
- ¼ cup sour cream
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat your oven to 375ºF (190ºC). Lightly spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Prepare the Sauce Base: Pour the entire jar of spaghetti sauce into the prepared baking dish and set aside. This will serve as the flavorful bed for the chicken.
- Set Up Breading Stations: Arrange three shallow dishes for dredging the chicken: put the flour in the first dish, the beaten eggs in the second, and combine the panko bread crumbs, Italian bread crumbs, grated Parmesan, and garlic salt in the third.
- Coat the Chicken: Take each chicken breast and first dredge it in the flour, then dip into the eggs, and finally coat thoroughly with the breadcrumb mixture.
- Brown the Chicken: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the coated chicken breasts and brown well on each side, about 3 minutes per side, until golden and crispy. Remove the chicken from the skillet and place each piece on top of the spaghetti sauce in the baking dish.
- Prepare Cheese Mixture: In a small bowl, combine the cottage cheese, sour cream, cream cheese, and pesto until smooth. Spread this creamy mixture evenly over each chicken breast.
- Add Mozzarella Topping: Generously top the cheese mixture with shredded mozzarella cheese, ensuring each breast is well covered.
- Bake Until Done: Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the chicken reaches 165ºF (74ºC) and the cheese is fully melted and bubbly. Serve hot and enjoy!
Notes
- Pounding the chicken breasts to an even thickness ensures uniform cooking and tenderness.
- Using a combination of panko and Italian bread crumbs adds extra crunch and flavor to the coating.
- The creamy cheese mixture with pesto adds a delicious herby and tangy twist to traditional chicken parmesan.
- Make sure to check the internal temperature of the chicken to ensure it is safely cooked.
- This dish pairs wonderfully with pasta, garlic bread, or a fresh green salad.
