Tips For Making Chicken Parmesan On The Grill
Here are some tips for making chicken parmesan on the grill. Did you take note of any tips or tricks while you made this recipe? If so, let us know in the comments below.
- Shred the cheese yourself. While you can definitely buy the cheeses pre-shredded, youll often get a much better melt on cheese that you shred yourself.
- Dont skimp on the panko. Panko breadcrumbs add extra crunch to the chicken. You can swap the Panko breadcrumbs for classic breadcrumbs, but you get a much better crunch with Panko.
- Make the marinara from scratch. When in a pinch, you can definitely use bottled marinara from the store, but I always notice a major difference if I make the marinara myself. Go with whatever works best for you!
Grilled Garlic Parmesan Chicken Breasts
These juicy Grilled Garlic Parmesan Chicken Breasts are quick and easy, full of flavor and only require only a few minutes of prep. They make a perfect summer entree, especially when paired with grilled veggies, baked potatoes, or a simple salad.
Juicy Garlic Grilled Chicken
Who ever said grilled chicken breast had to be bland and dry? Not us! We grill these chicken breasts simply, with just a bit of oil and seasoning, and then bathe them in a buttery garlic Parmesan sauce while they are still piping hot.
The trick is to use a hot preheated grill, cooking only as much as necessary on either side, then letting them rest for 2-3 minutes once sauced. This allows the juices to redistribute, and keep your chicken as moist as possible.
The result is tender, juicy and flavorful chicken that tastes great on its own, or saved for later to be stuffed into sandwiches, diced for a salad or cut into pieces and served on kabobs! You can find so many ways to fall in love with this recipe, all year long.
Don’t want to grill? No problem. We have also given you step-by-step instructions below on how to make a baked version of this chicken breast recipe.
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Ingredient Notes & Substitutions
Chicken Breasts. The chicken breasts should be sliced about ¼ to ½ inch thick. If they are large chicken breasts, you can slice them or pound them with a meat mallet.
If you prefer your grilled chicken thicker, you may need to cook it for a few minutes longer.
Tomatoes. This recipe is made with fresh diced plum tomatoes but you can use any kind of fresh tomato. The tomatoes can be diced with a knife or you can pop them into your food processor for a pureed sauce. If you choose the food processor method, you may have to strain some of the liquid from the tomatoes.
If fresh tomatoes are not available, they can be substituted with an equal amount of canned diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, or homemade .
Garlic. I use a garlic crusher to crush the garlic for this recipe, you can also dice the garlic.
Substitute fresh garlic with ¼ to ½ teaspoon of garlic powder.
Mozzarella cheese. I use fresh mozzarella cheese and use a cheese grater to shred it. You can also slice the mozzarella cheese thin instead of shredding it.
Substitute provolone cheese for mozzarella cheese.
Expert Tip – To easily shred fresh mozzarella cheese, which is a soft cheese, place it in the freezer for at least an hour before you shred it.
Fresh basil. Adds a ton of flavor to this recipe, though it will not taste as fresh, you can substitute it with 1 teaspoon of dried basil.
How To Put It All Together
When the chicken is cooked, keep the chicken on the grill pan, and then top the chicken pieces with the tomato sauce. Then, top it with the cheese. Spray the cheese with some olive oil spray . Cover with a lid or foil to melt.
You can also plate the chicken and pop the plate into the microwave or under the broiler for 1-2 minutes or until the cheese is melted.
Then, sprinkle the finished dish with some more fresh basil.
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What About The Crunchy Breading
The key here is that were grilling the chicken breasts. I know youre probably wondering, If theyre grilled, how do we get a nice, crunchy breaded crust? Never fear, grasshopper. Weve got you covered.
What you do is to mix some panko breadcrumbs with Parmesan cheese and garlic powder. Then you toast that all up in a small skillet. After youre done grilling the chicken, you sprinkle on the crumbs for a final touch. You get some crunch, without all the effort of breading.
OK, you understand about the breadcrumbs now . What else is going on here?
How To Make Chicken Parmesan
I start out by seasoning the chicken breasts with salt, pepper and dried oregano, and pan grill them till theyre nice and golden.
Then I use my favourite Quick Homemade Marinara Sauce because i love the flavors and freshness it adds to this dish.
Then once the chicken is beautifully placed on the marinara sauce, it gets a teaspoon of my homemade basil pesto, parmesan cheese, more marinara and finally a sprinkle of parmesan and mozzarella cheeses! Baked in the oven and ready to devour! For the recordmy friend calls it spaghetti sauce not marinara sauce, so either way you call it, it works!
I had a little of help from my oldest daughter helping out hereand yes she insisted on showing off her fancy nail polish! And showing off her love for the yummy grilled chicken parmesan dinner.
Bake the chicken parm for under 30 minutes. I feel 20 mins is perfect, however I know some ovens run at different temperatures, plus the fan/convection factor may speed things up. So keep an eye on it after 15 minutes.
Make this Chicken Parmesan tonight and serve it with salad, pasta, crusty bread or whatever makes you happy!:) Enjoy.
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10 ingredients. 45 minutes. Quick, easy, and fresh weeknight recipes.
That was until I discovered that I could make this classic recipe right on my grill for that extra midsummer smoky flavor.
Our recipe for Grilled Chicken Parmesan starts off on the stovetop, bringing together fresh tomato sauce in a skillet and then folding in the Parmesan and basil off heat for a deeper flavor. We then head out into the late afternoon sun to fire up the grill.
How To Make Grilled Chicken Parmesan
Step One – Prepare the chicken.
When grilling boneless skinless chicken breasts it is important to ensure even cooking temperatures. One way to achieve this is to have all the chicken breasts be the same thickness. For this recipe, I wanted a thickness of about ¾ to 1 inch thickness. This meant I had to butterfly three of the four breasts in half. Next, I seasoned the chicken by sprinkling it with salt and pepper and drizzling it with some olive oil. Coating the chicken breasts lightly with olive oil keeps the chicken from adhering to the grill when you go to flip them.
Step Two – Preheat the grill
Once the grill is hot, set it to medium heat and place the chicken breasts on the grill. Cook them until the edges turn cooked white and start moving up the side. This will take about seven minutes. Flip the chicken over and cook for another five minutes or so and continue to cook over medium heat. The internal temperature should reach about 150°F.
Step Three – Add the toppings to the grilled chicken breasts in the traditional order used in chicken parm. First, you add the breading.
Next, is the sauce. And then finally you top with the cheese. Once you are done topping the chicken continue to cook for approximately another four or five minutes.
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Chicken Parmesan On The Grill
When developing this recipe, I wanted to create an easy way to make chicken parmesan on the grill that still tastes like the classic recipe you know and love. This grilled chicken parmesan is a grill-friendly recipe with tons of flavor and no need for deep-frying the chicken.
This chicken parmesan is so much better than other recipes out there. Herby chicken seasoning combines with char from the grill, melty cheese, and bright tomatoes for a flavor party in your mouth. To mimic the crispy coating of chicken parmesan, the chicken is topped with a tasty toasted breadcrumb topping.
How Do I Store Leftovers
This recipe does make quite a bit, but these are easily stored in the fridge and you can either reheat in the oven, microwave, or on the grill if you have any leftovers.
You must give this a try next time you are craving something that has melted cheese all over it. The sear from the grill, crunch from the pork, gooeyness from the cheese all add up to one delicious mouthful.
Enjoy this easy grilled chicken parmesan recipe next time you are hosting a party. Your guests will be impressed.
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Also Check: How To Cook Chicken Kabobs On The Grill
Why This Recipe Works
- This easy chicken parmesan recipe is ready in no time because you don’t need to bread and fry the chicken.
- It’s a made with fresh ingredients – a healthy alternative to traditional chicken parmesan that the whole family will love.
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This is an overview of the ingredients and steps to make this recipe, scroll down to see ingredient notes and substitutions as well as a printable recipe card with exact measurements and complete cooking instructions.
Ingredients In Grilled Garlic Parmesan Chicken Breasts
- Chicken Breasts – we like to use boneless, skinless chicken breast. You can also substitute chicken thighs, chicken drumsticks or chicken wings, keeping in mind that they will all have varying cook times.
- Oil – we like to use avocado oil, but you could substitute with canola, vegetable or olive oil.
- Salt and Black Pepper – add to taste.
- Garlic – here you can use either garlic powder or finely minced fresh garlic.
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How To Store And Reheat
Store leftover chicken cutlets wrapped in plastic wrap or aluminum foil in the refrigerator up to 4 days. Marinara sauce and spaghetti can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 4 days.
Slice chicken into strips to reheat. Place in a skillet with additional sauce and spaghetti, cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally until heated through.
Grilled chicken cutlets cook quickly on the grill, making a great option for busy weeknights. This Grilled Parmesan Chicken is easy enough for any night of the week and delicious enough for entertaining guests and special occasions.
Chicken Parmesan Recipe Tips
- Use fresh chicken breasts and slice each in half by length so the chicken cooks faster.
- If you want to keep the chicken breasts without slicing in half lengthwise, increase the cooking time on each side by 3 minutes.
- Add some garlic powder or onion powder if you prefer that flavor.
- Use store bought Marinara sauce if you think the homemade one is a hassle, but add a teaspoon of basil pesto to your store bought marinara for a boost of flavor!
- Adding basil pesto over each chicken breast creates incredible flavor to the chicken parmesan along with some grated fresh parmesan.
- Make the whole recipe in advance and freeze it for up to 3 months. Or make it ahead of time and refrigerate it for 4 days before serving.
- Make the chicken parmesan into individual long ramekins rather than a single shallow dish or baking dish.
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Ingredients For Chicken Parmesan
If youre like me, youre often scrambling to put together dinner after crazy days. This grilled chicken parmesan is fairly fast and easy, and you only need 7 ingredients! Heres what you need to make this chicken parmesan.
- 4 chicken breasts
- 8 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
For the panko topping, you need the following:
- 1/4 cup salted butter
- 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
For the chicken seasoning, you can either use my Hey Grill Hey Chicken Rub available in the Hey Grill Hey Store or make a similar chicken seasoning using my recipe for Lemon Herb Chicken Seasoning.
Saute The Onions And Garlic
Add olive oil to your frying pan or whatever pot that you are using to make the sauce for the dish.
After the oil is good and hot just before it smokes then add the onions.
Saute the onions for a while before you add the garlic. You want the onions to be translucent before you add the garlic.
Keep an eye on them because you do not want them to burn.
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Storing And Using Leftovers
Store leftover grilled chicken parmesan in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days.
Reheat it in the oven or in a skillet on top of the stove.
Leftovers taste great as they are reheated or cold. This chicken recipe also tastes great on a ciabatta roll or crusty baguette or served in a leafy green salad.
How Long To Grill Boneless Chicken Breast
That depends! Like we said, you always need to cook your chicken until the internal temperature has reached 165 degrees F. How long this takes will depend on how large your chicken breasts are and how hot your grill actually is!
If you have a grill that you can set to a specific temperature, then you want to aim for around 425-450 degrees. If not, do with medium direct heat. For an average sized chicken breast, youll need to grill a total of 10-14 minutes, flipping sides halfway through.
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Grilled Chicken Parmesan Zucchini Boats
Prep: 20 minutesGrill: 10 minutes Serves: 4
PICS Nonstick cooking sprayPICS Parmesan cheesePICS Italian-seasoned breadcrumbs
1.Prepare outdoor grill for direct grilling over medium-high heat. With small spoon, leaving about 1/2-inch wall, scoop out inside portion of zucchini halves coarsely chop zucchini pulp.
2.Heat large skillet over medium-high heat spray with cooking spray. Add chicken cook 7 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add zucchini pulp cook 3 minutes or until internal temperature of chicken reaches 165° and zucchini is tender, stirring occasionally. Stir in sauce, 2 tablespoons cheese and breadcrumbs.
3.Spray both sides of zucchini with cooking spray sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Place zucchini, cut side down, on hot grill rack cover and cook 5 minutes or until grill marks appear and edges begin to brown, turning once.
4.Evenly fill zucchini with chicken mixture sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup cheese. Place zucchini, filling side up, on hot grill rack cover and cook 5 minutes or until zucchini is tender and cheese melts.
Approximate nutritional values per serving :230 Calories, 8g Fat , 68mg Cholesterol,544mg Sodium, 12g Carbohydrates, 2g Fiber, 29g Protein
How To Bake Chicken Breasts In The Oven
Whether its cold outside, or you just dont feel like firing up the grill, you can still make this recipe by baking your chicken breasts.
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Preparing The Grill And Sauce
- Lightly coat the chicken breasts in olive or canola oil. Sprinkle lightly with pepper.
- Turn on the grill and adjust the temperature to high.
- Meanwhile, put approximately 28 ounces of stewed tomatoes and oregano in a blender. If desired, add onions and garlic. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Place the tomato mixture in a cast iron skillet.
- Reduce the heat on the grill to low-medium, about 300-350 degrees.
- Place the skillet on the grate immediately over the heat.
The chef will cook the chicken right on the grill, next to the skillet. To keep the tomato sauce from scorching, stir it occasionally.
How To Cook Chicken Breast On The Grill
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