Skillet Chicken Parmesan

In a long line of dinners it’s tough to come up with new and different ideas for dinner but this was what I made last night and it’s a big thumbs up for a little Un-orthodox chicken parmesan but really delicious! I would describe it as a de-constructed version of Chicken Parmesan with no frying ( which is the part I hate the most ) . Yesterday I took out a package of thin sliced chicken breasts from the freezer and at around 5 p.m. started to think about what I would do with them. At 6 I started my prep and we sat down to this delicious dinner at 6:45 ! Quick and easy one pan recipe that went from stove-top to oven to table in app. 1/2 hour. You can’t beat that.

I usually have home-made tomato sauce in the freezer but since there was no planning on my part I used Raos Arrabiata Sauce which I love and always have on hand. ( their Marinara is also a house staple) I used regular Panko Bread Crumbs because I didn’t have the Italian flavored ones in the house ( and it was perfect) For Pasta I used whatever I had in the house and felt like having , spaghetti would be perfect or any macaroni type. I used Penne this time but any pasta will do or no pasta if you prefer. A vegetable would be fine here as well. We had a green salad and the chicken and we were both pretty happy with the results.

Enjoy!

Ingredients:

I used about 1/2 a box of pasta for the 2 of us — for more use the whole box –any type pasta you prefer will work

1 Tablespoon Italian Seasoning — always have this on hand for my sauce– available in almost all spice aisles in the supermarket

1/4 Teaspoon Kosher Salt

1/4 Teaspoon coarse black pepper or freshly ground

1/4 cup Panko Bread Crumbs — I used regular Panko and it was just fine . Italian style would work here as well

1/4 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese

You’ll need 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil to cook chicken and 1 Tablespoon for bread crumbs

1 package of thin-sliced boneless , skinless chicken breasts

12 ounce jar of Marinara or Arrabiata Sauce — I prefer Raos — any one you like or use your own

App. 1/2 cup Shredded Mozzarella — that’s what I had in the house of course you can use fresh or sliced Mozzarella as well

Directions:

Pre-heat oven to 475 degrees

Prepare Pasta according to directions while you’re prepping the chicken

In a very small bowl combine the salt, pepper and Italian Seasonings and set aside

In a small bowl, combine the Panko, Parmesan Cheese and 1 Tablespoon of Olive Oil and mix well and set aside

Coat the bottom of a large deep oven-proof skillet with about 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil ( if you need more add a little more) Heat oil over medium high heat . I placed chicken in pan and sprinkled with some of the spice mixture cooked for 3 mins. on 1 side and then flipped and sprinkled more spice mixture to the other side. You can also do this first — sprinkle one side place that side down and then sprinkle the other raw side . Up to you whatever works.

After another 3 minutes — you want chicken browned but not over cooked — these are thin breasts. Turn off heat and then pour the sauce in the pan around the chicken and a little on the top of each piece. Top each piece with mozzarella and sprinkle the panko mixture over the top.

Transfer the skillet to the pre-heated oven and bake un-covered for about 10 minutes but all ovens are different so keep an eye out. You’ll want cheese melted and Panko topping is browned. Serve over cooked pasta and enjoy!