Baked Chicken Parmesan

I like to post some recipes here on our blog not because I am in the best cook in town or because I think I have amazing recipes. I like to post the recipes that are 1.) yummy 2.) easy 3.) fast and I feel like every woman, mother or otherwise, should have some go-to recipes in her cooking arsenal. I have three boys in my house who, putting it lightly, like to eat. I have to come up with substantial, hearty recipes that will satisfy large, picky tummies. When I find a goodie, I keep it! This one's a goodie.

You start with a bowl for eggs and a bowl for bread crumbs. Now here is my trick to make a little bit of chicken go a long way. Instead of just taking the entire breast, I cut them in half horizontally. Adding the bread coating to them makes them more substantial and helps your chicken go a long way.

For the bread crumbs, I make them from sliced bread in my food processor. Add seasonings like salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, paprika, whatever you'd like. Mix it around and then add your cheese. Now I'm gonna be honest with you. I don't use Parmesan cheese here that much. I use something called Ementhal, it's cheap and found everywhere and tastes great. So I suppose you could use a variety of cheeses that would fit with the rest of the meal. Probably not cheddar... just saying.

Oh and don't put cheese in the eggs. I did that by accident because I wasn't paying attention and just putting cheese in a bowl. Worked out fine, but that isn't generally how you do it.

Brown the chicken on both sides. Just a couple minutes on either side until brown, don't cook it all the way through.

While the chicken is browning, prepare a baking dish by pour one can of marinara sauce (or two depending on the size of your dish) into the bottom of the dish. Spread out entirely throughout the dish.

After you have browned the chicken on either side for 1-2 minutes over medium heat, transfer to the prepared baking dish. Line up the chicken and try not to overlap, but a little is okay.

Then slices some mozzerella cheese and lay them over each piece of chicken like the picture above and bake for about 8 minutes. This recipe also goes fast because of slicing the chicken in half, the thinner pieces cook faster.

Voila! Doesn't it look delicious? Trust me on this one, it is. It is one of my favorite dishes to eat and the kids and husband love it too. I suggest you give it a try! Here is the recipe broken down and it comes from Martha Stewart's Great Food Fast book (best cookbook I have ever used, hands down.)

3/4 cup plain breadcrumbs
3/4 cup Parmesan cheese
8 chicken cutlets
1 large egg
2 cups of chunky tomato sauce
1/4 cup pf olive oil
6 oz of mozzarella cheese

1. Heat the broiler. Combine breadcrumbs and cheese. Beat egg in another bowl. Half chicken horizontally and season. Dip chicken in egg then into the breadcrumb mixture, coating both sides.
2. Spread tomato sauce onto the bottom of a 10 - 15 inch baking dish. Heat a couple tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat.Place about 4 pieces of chicken in the dish at one time, cooking until golden, 1-2 minutes each side. Transfer chicken to the prepared baking dish, placing on top of the sauce.
3. Top each cutlet with a slice of mozzarella. Place about 4 inches from the heat source and cook until the cheese is melted and browned in spots and the sauce is hot, about 5 - 8 minutes. Serve immediately.

Have an excellent day!!