Name: Parmesan Crusted Chicken
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast (pounded to 1/2″ thickness); 1/4 cup mayonnaise (not reduced fat); 1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese (freshly shredded off the block); 1/4 cup white cheese mix (Romano, Parmesan, Gouda, Mozzarella); 1/2 cup Italian style bread crumbs (use more if desired)

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With only five ingredients and a cook time of 20 minutes, Parmesan Crusted Chicken is sure to become a new family favorite!

cooked chicken breast on a white plate with side of green beans; text label reads: Parmesan Crusted Chicken

Parmesan Crusted Chicken is one of those meals that you finish and say, “Why don’t I make that more often?” This really is one of the easiest main dishes to make. It’s perfect for those times when I’m trying to add variety to our family menu.

This yummy chicken recipe only has five ingredients, and they are all pantry/fridge staples. It takes five minutes to prep and about twenty minutes to bake. Even picky eaters will love this one! While it’s baking, you can whip up a side of Easy Buttered Noodles. Add some veggies and your meal is done!

What you’ll need to make Parmesan Crusted Chicken:

chicken breast (boneless/skinless)
mayonnaise
Parmesan cheese
Italian cheese mix (Romano, Parmesan, Gouda, Mozzarella-any or all of them. It’s your choice.)
seasoned bread crumbs

Don’t let the idea of the mayonnaise turn you away. My husband HATES mayo, but he loves this recipe. I promise, the chicken doesn’t taste like mayonnaise. The extra fat just helps keep the thin chicken breast moist while baking. It also adds a rich flavor when mixed with the cheese.

chicken breast in a pan, slathered in mayo and cheese mixture

Start by pounding the breasts to 1/2″ thickness. This is very important! It will help the chicken to cook evenly and quickly. Place the flattened chicken breasts in a baking pan.

Then, in a small bowl, mix the mayo and cheeses together. With a spatula, spread a generous amount of the mixture over the chicken breasts. Use all of the mixture.

chicken in the pan with bread crumbs sprinkled over the cheese and mayo layer

Cover the chicken with seasoned bread crumbs. You can purchase pre-seasoned crumbs, or add your own seasoning to plain bread crumbs. Scroll down to the recipe box to see my suggested seasonings in the recipe notes.

baked parmesan crusted chicken in the pan

Bake for 20 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees. If the top still needs a bit of browning, put it under the broiler for 1-2 minutes. Watch it carefully so it doesn’t burn! Parmesan Crusted Chicken is ready to be served. See? It’s so easy!

chicken breast cut to show cooked interior

Can I use Panko instead of plain or seasoned bread crumbs?

Absolutely! I love the extra crunch that Panko crumbs add to this dish. I’ve used all three kinds of toppings: seasoned bread crumbs, plain bread crumbs (with my own added seasonings) and Panko crumbs. Just be sure to add some seasoning to the Panko so you get the extra flavor. I add parsley, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, salt and pepper to mine.

Can I use Miracle Whip instead of Mayonnaise?

No. No no no. Eww. Yuck. No! Clearly, I’m not a fan of Miracle Whip. 😉 But aside from it being a vile and gross invention in the first place…it’s much to sweet to use in a savory dish like this. You don’t want to actually taste the creamy mixture. You just want the chicken to be moist and the Parmesan to be the star of the show.

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