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Crispy Parmesan Chicken with Creamy Garlic Sauce

Golden Panko-Parmesan crusted chicken cutlets pan-fried to a crunchy finish and served with a rich, velvety garlic Parmesan cream sauce for a restaurant-quality dinner in 35 minutes.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Italian-American
Calories: 620

Ingredients
  

  • 2 large boneless skinless chicken breasts halved lengthwise into 4 cutlets; pounded to 1/4-inch uniform thickness
  • 0.5 cup all-purpose flour for dredging
  • 1 tsp garlic powder for flour dredge
  • 0.5 tsp onion powder for flour dredge
  • 1 tsp sweet paprika for flour dredge
  • 1 tsp salt for flour dredge
  • 0.5 tsp black pepper for flour dredge
  • 2 eggs beaten
  • 0.75 cup Panko breadcrumbs plain, not Italian-seasoned
  • 0.25 cup Parmesan cheese grated, mixed into Panko for the crust
  • 2 tbsp olive oil for frying
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter for frying
  • 3 tbsp unsalted butter for the cream sauce
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 cup heavy cream half-and-half can substitute for a lighter sauce
  • 3 tbsp chicken broth for deglazing and sauce base
  • 1 tsp Dijon or whole-grain mustard
  • 0.5 cup Parmesan cheese freshly grated, for the cream sauce
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice freshly squeezed
  • fresh parsley chopped, for garnish

Equipment

  • large skillet
  • Three shallow bowls for dredging station
  • wire rack
  • Meat mallet or heavy pan for pounding
  • Instant-read meat thermometer
  • Fine grater or microplane for Parmesan

Method
 

  1. Slice each chicken breast lengthwise into 2 cutlets. Pound to a uniform 1/4-inch thickness if needed. Pat completely dry with paper towels.
  2. Set up three shallow bowls: (1) flour, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper; (2) beaten eggs; (3) Panko and grated Parmesan mixed together.
  3. Dredge each cutlet in the flour, shaking off excess firmly. Dip into egg, letting excess drip off. Press firmly into the Panko-Parmesan mixture on both sides and edges. Set on a clean plate without stacking.
  4. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil and 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat until the butter foam subsides. Fry the cutlets in batches for 3 to 5 minutes per side until deeply golden and the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Transfer to a wire rack.
  5. In the same pan (wiped out if needed), melt 3 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant but not browned.
  6. Pour in the chicken broth and scrape up the fond from the pan. Add the heavy cream and whisk in the Dijon mustard. Simmer for 2 to 3 minutes until the sauce thickens to coat the back of a spoon.
  7. Reduce heat to Low. Remove from heat if possible and stir in the freshly grated Parmesan and lemon juice until smooth and fully emulsified.
  8. Place the crispy cutlets on plates. Spoon the creamy garlic sauce generously over the top. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve immediately.

Notes

Storage: Store chicken and sauce separately for up to 3 days. Reheat chicken in air fryer at 350°F for 4 to 5 minutes or oven at 375°F on a wire rack for 8 to 10 minutes. Reheat sauce gently over low heat with a splash of milk or broth. Substitutions: Half-and-half replaces heavy cream for a lighter sauce; simmer longer to thicken. Whole-grain mustard adds more texture than smooth Dijon. Pro tips: Pat chicken completely dry before dredging. Press Panko firmly into both sides. Rest finished chicken on a wire rack, not paper towels. Pull the pan off heat before adding Parmesan to the sauce to prevent breaking.