Crankys Weekday Chicken Parmesan Recipes

CHICKEN PARMESAN

Steps:

• For the fresh mozzarella: Prepare a bowl of salted warm water and a separate bowl of salted ice water. In the salted warm water, soften the mozzarella curd and pull and shape into a ball. Drop into the salted ice bath to cool. Set aside and pat dry. Slice and let dry on a paper-towel-lined plate.
• For the tomato sauce: Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the onions and cook until soft, about 4 minutes. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and cook for 30 seconds. Increase the heat to high and add the tomatoes and oregano if using. Season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened, about 15 minutes. Taste for seasoning (adding a pinch of sugar if needed) and stir in the basil.
• For the chicken: Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Place a baking rack over a baking sheet and set aside.
• Put the breadcrumbs, flour and beaten eggs in separate shallow dishes and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Sprinkle each chicken breast on both sides with salt and pepper. Dredge each breast in the flour and tap off any excess, then dip in the egg wash and let the excess drip off. Finally, dredge in the breadcrumbs. Transfer the breasts to a baking sheet or large plate.
• Heat 1/4 cup of the oil in a large saute pan over high heat until it begins to shimmer. Cook 2 breasts at a time in the hot oil until golden brown on both sides, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer the breasts to the baking rack on the baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining chicken breasts and oil. Place in the oven to cook further for a couple minutes, then remove and set aside.
• Change the oven setting to broil.
• For the arugula salad: Dress the arugula in a large bowl with the lemon juice, extra virgin olive oil, salt and pepper and toss together.
• Top each chicken breast with some tomato sauce and mozzarella slices. Broil until the chicken is cooked through and the cheese has melted, 1 to 3 minutes.
• Place some arugula salad on each plate next to a chicken piece. Garnish with freshly grated Parmesan, chopped basil and parsley sprigs.

EASY WEEKNIGHT CHICKEN PARMESAN

Steps:

• Cook and drain spaghetti as directed on package.
• In large resealable food-storage plastic bag, mix bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Shake each chicken breast in bread crumb mixture; set aside.
• In 10-inch skillet, heat 2 tablespoons vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Add chicken breasts; cook 6 to 10 minutes, turning once, until browned. Pour cooking sauce around chicken; sprinkle chicken with remaining bread crumb mixture and mozzarella cheese. Heat to boiling. Cover; reduce heat to medium. Cook 5 to 8 minutes or until juice of chicken is clear when center of thickest part is cut (at least 165°F) and cheese is melted. Serve with spaghetti.

CRANKY'S WEEKDAY CHICKEN PARMESAN

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, add the tomatoes, bay leaf, and garlic. Bring to a simmer and cook, uncovered, for 30 minutes. Stir in dried basil and add salt and pepper to taste.
• Meanwhile, in a large resealable plastic bag, combine the bread crumbs, parmesan cheese, salt, garlic powder, and oregano. Add chicken; seal bag and shake to coat. Refrigerate if making for a future cooking day.
• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• In a large nonstick skillet coated with non-stick cooking spray, cook half of the chicken in 1 tsp oil for 2-3 minutes on each side, or until the is breading is browned and no longer adheres to the pan when lifted gently with a spatula. Remove to an oven-safe dish and place in the oven to cook thruough. Repeat with remaining chicken and oil. Chicken is cooked through when it is no longer pink in the middle when sliced through.