Chicken Parmesan with Homemade Tomato Sauce

golden chicken cutlets

Akai Prime4 weeks ago

0 4 1 minute read

This Chicken Parmesan recipe is a labor of love, featuring a homemade tomato sauce made from fresh tomatoes and perfectly crispy, golden chicken cutlets. The combination of tender chicken, rich tomato sauce, and melted mozzarella cheese is pure comfort food at its best.

Ingredients

For the Sauce:

1/2 large yellow onion, grated (about 3/4 cup)
1/4 cup olive oil
2 medium garlic cloves, minced
1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes (Muir-Glen recommended)
1 teaspoon dried oregano
Pinch of red pepper flakes
Pinch of sugar

For the Chicken:

4 chicken breast cutlets (1 1/4 to 1 1/2 pounds total)
Salt
2 eggs
1 cup breadcrumbs (homemade from stale French bread)
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 cup olive oil
2 Tbsp fresh basil leaves, thinly sliced
8 ounces mozzarella cheese, sliced

Method

Prepare the Sauce: Start by heating olive oil in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Sauté grated onion for 2-3 minutes, then add minced garlic. Once fragrant, stir in crushed tomatoes, oregano, red pepper flakes, and a pinch of sugar. Simmer uncovered for 10-12 minutes.
Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 400°F.
Pound the Chicken: Place each chicken cutlet between plastic wrap and pound to an even thickness (1/4 to 1/2 inch). Season both sides with salt.
Prepare for Dredging: In a shallow bowl, mix breadcrumbs with 1/2 cup of Parmesan and a pinch of salt. In another bowl, whisk the eggs.
Fry the Chicken: Heat olive oil in a sauté pan over medium-high heat. Dredge each cutlet in the egg mixture, then coat in breadcrumbs. Fry the cutlets until golden brown, about 3-4 minutes per side.
Assemble the Dish: Spread a thick layer of tomato sauce in a 9×13 casserole dish. Arrange the browned cutlets over the sauce. Spoon additional sauce over each cutlet, top with sliced basil, mozzarella, and the remaining Parmesan.
Bake: Bake at 400°F for 10-12 minutes, or until the mozzarella begins to brown.