Baked Chicken Parmesan

Crisp, crunchy chicken topped with tangy tomato sauce and gooey mozzarella cheese is an Italian-American favorite—and a popular pick with kids everywhere. Stand by as sous chef while your little one learns how to make this hearty entree, and be ready to give a glowing, 5-star review.

Makes 12 servings

• Olive oil for greasing
• 6 small boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
• Salt to taste 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 3 large eggs, beaten
• 1 1⁄2 cups plain dried bread crumbs
• 1⁄2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 pound fresh mozzarella cheese, cut into thin slices
• 3 cups homemade or store-bought marinara sauce

Directions:

1. Pour olive oil onto a rimmed baking sheet and use a pastry brush to coat the entire surface. Place 1 chicken breast half inside a zip-close freezer bag and pound with a meat pounder until it is 1⁄2-inch thick. Transfer to a large plate, and repeat with remaining chicken breast halves. Season chicken breasts on both sides with salt.

2. Preheat the oven to 400F. Put flour, eggs and bread crumbs in three separate shallow bowls or baking dishes. Line up the bowls in that order from left to right. Stir the Parmesan into the bread crumbs. One at a time, coat chicken breasts on both sides with flour and tap off the excess. Dip flour-coated chicken into eggs, turn to coat, and allow the excess to drip off. Finally, dip breasts into bread crumbs and turn to coat both sides, pressing so that the bread crumbs stick. Place on the prepared baking sheet in a single layer.

3. Bake 15 minutes. Remove the baking sheet from the oven. Using a wide metal spatula, carefully turn chicken breasts. Continue to bake until golden on both sides, about 15 minutes longer. Remove the baking sheet from the oven and set aside. Leave the oven on.

4. Lightly grease a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with olive oil. Pour in 2 cups marinara sauce and spread it into an even layer. Use a spatula to arrange warm chicken breasts in the baking dish, overlapping them slightly, and pour the remaining 1 cup marinara sauce evenly over the top, then lay the mozzarella slices on top.

5. Bake until cheese is melted and sauce is bubbling, about 20 minutes. Remove the baking dish from the oven. Let cool 10 minutes and serve.

Written by Audrey Kingo for Working Mother and legally licensed through the Matcha publisher network. Please direct all licensing questions to legal@getmatcha.com.