Parmesan Crusted Chicken With Mayo

Chicken is great for any occasion, but sometimes it just feels kind of boring, right?

There are different ways to prepare the chicken, but when you really want to elevate a chicken dinner, I recommend this parmesan crusted chicken with mayo. 

Parmesan, mayonnaise, and a bit of breadcrumbs will turn the chicken into the perfect weekend dinner option. Together they will create a crispy blanket over the chicken that gives the irresistible crunch. 

With this trio of ingredients, I always know I can expect crispy and flavor-packed results without fail. In addition, this dish is so easy to make – you let the oven do most of the job. My favorite kind of recipe!

With a savory taste that is just the right balance of salty and fresh, your simple piece of chicken for dinner just got a three-ingredient upgrade. So let’s get cooking!

Tips To Make Chicken Crunchier

My special trick is to use breadcrumbs. You can go with the plain ones or use panko breadcrumbs. As an added bonus, you can use them as they are or even give them a light toast first.

To toast the breadcrumbs, spread them over a dry skillet and cook for few minutes over a stovetop. This will ensure your breadcrumbs are golden and will give them that extra crunch. 

The second trick is in the baking itself. Sometimes if you use frozen chicken, it will just have too much water after it has thawed. This water will make the chicken soggy and ruin your parmesan crust.

Of course, the best trick here is to cook the chicken on an oven-safe wire rack, instead directly placing on a baking sheet. Set the rack over a baking sheet and place the chicken on top. Bake as indicated in the recipe.

The rack will allow hot air to go all around the chicken and make it extra crispy. If you have a fresh chicken you can place it on a baking sheet, but feel free to experiment with this trick too. 

What You Need For Your Parmesan Crusted Chicken

When it comes to a decadent chicken dinner, the ingredients are everything. Don’t skimp or try to get away with less-than-perfect ingredients or it will show and your meal will suffer.

Parmesan Cheese

Make sure you use freshly grated parmesan cheese – that probably means you have to grate the cheese yourself.

Please stay away from the pre-packed shredded parmesan that is basically just a parmesan powdery sand. It does not taste good, does not look good, and for sure will not achieve the desired results.

If you do not have time to shred or grate parmesan, or if you just really do not like to do it, you can use a food processor to get this job done quickly. 

Chicken

Use skinless and boneless chicken breast fillets. If your chicken is too thick, you can cut it in half to thin it.

Instead of chicken fillets, you can also try chicken tenders, or go with skinless and boneless chicken thighs. Because chicken thighs are a bit thicker, I suggest you pound them to help thin them down.

Also, as a quick note: thighs need more time to cook than chicken breast fillets would. If you’re using thighs, be sure to increase the baking time by about 6-7 minutes.

Breadcrumbs

As mentioned, you can use plain or panko breadcrumbs. Plain breadcrumbs will lend a subtle crispiness, while the panko breadcrumbs add more of a crunch. Of course you can always use both.

If you want to make this meal gluten-free, you can substitute almond flour for breadcrumbs.

Mayonnaise

This one’s easy. You can choose any mayonnaise you like. Go ahead and use your trusty favorite brand or make your own.

Making Parmesan Crusted Chicken – Basic Process

As mentioned, if you have a thick cut of chicken, you should slice it in half to get thinner pieces. It is easier to cut than it is to pound the chicken thinner, and this will ensure the chicken cooks faster. 

Once the chicken is cut in half, you should season it with salt and pepper. I did not use any herbs for this dish as I just wanted to taste the parmesan. If you want to, you can use desired herbs or go with the winning formula: parmesan and oregano or basil. 

In a bowl, combine mayonnaise and parmesan and smear the mixture over the chicken. Sprinkle the chicken with breadcrumbs and place on a parchment-lined baking pan.

Afterwards, the oven will do the job. Bake the chicken and serve warm.

How to Serve Your Chicken

You can serve chicken with freshly baked potatoes, cooked pasta, or just fresh salad and some bread rolls on a side. We love a delicious Vienna roll ourselves!

You can always go against the grain and try a cold side dish, like this linguine pasta salad. It’s a little unconventional, but don’t let that stop you. Sometimes it’s the quirky combinations that really make a meal.

How To Make Parmesan Crusted Chicken With Mayo

Step 1

Preheat oven to 400 F.

If your chicken cuts are too thick, slice them in half.

Season chicken with salt and pepper.

Step 2

In a bowl, combine mayonnaise and parmesan. If you are using any additional herbs, add them at this point. 

Spread the mixture over the chicken. You can place the chicken on the baking sheet first to coat the top only or coat the chicken entirely in the mixture.

Sprinkle breadcrumbs on top. 

Bake the chicken for 20-25 minutes or until cooked through.

Step 3

Plate and serve warm.

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