Chicken parmesan and chicken parmigiana are two classic Italian-American dishes that are often confused as being the same thing. While they share some key ingredients, there are several differences between these two breaded, cheesy chicken dishes. This article will break down the origins, ingredients, cooking methods, and other distinctions between chicken parmesan and chicken parmigiana.
Origins and History
Chicken parmesan has its roots in Italian-American cuisine It was created by Italian immigrants in the United States who adapted the traditional Italian dish melanzane alla parmigiana (eggplant parmesan) by replacing the eggplant with chicken cutlets The name comes from the use of parmesan cheese in the breading and topping,
Chicken parmigiana originated in southern Italy, especially in Naples and Sicily. It is known as pollo alla parmigiana in Italy. The name parmigiana refers to the parmesan cheese, not the city of Parma.
So chicken parmesan is an Italian-American dish while chicken parmigiana is a more authentic southern Italian dish.
Ingredients
Both dishes are made with breaded chicken cutlets, tomato sauce, and cheese. However, there are some variations in the specific ingredients:
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Breadcrumbs – Chicken parmigiana uses a mix of breadcrumbs and grated parmesan in the breading while chicken parmesan typically uses plain breadcrumbs.
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Cheese – Chicken parmigiana uses parmesan as the topping cheese. Chicken parmesan uses a blend of parmesan and mozzarella.
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Chicken – Chicken parmigiana often uses thin sliced chicken cutlets pounded flat. Chicken parmesan can use thicker chicken breast fillets
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Other ingredients – Chicken parmigiana sometimes includes prosciutto or ham between the chicken and cheese.
Cooking Method
The cooking method is similar for both dishes:
- Pound chicken breast thin
- Bread chicken with flour, egg wash, and breadcrumbs
- Fry or bake chicken until crisp
- Top chicken with tomato sauce and cheese
- Bake until cheese melts
Key differences are that chicken parmigiana uses parmesan breadcrumbs and chicken parmesan does not. Chicken parmigiana also melts just parmesan on top while chicken parmesan uses a blend of cheeses.
Flavor and Texture
The different ingredients result in some variations in flavor and texture:
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Chicken parmigiana has a crisp parmesan crust and a predominately salty, nutty cheese flavor.
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Chicken parmesan has a cheesy layer of melted mozzarella and parmesan giving it a stretchy, gooey texture and a blend of salty parmesan and mild mozzarella flavors.
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Chicken parmigiana tends to use a lighter tomato sauce while chicken parmesan can have a thicker, sweeter sauce.
Serving Styles
There are some differences in how the dishes are served:
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Chicken parmesan is often served over a bed of pasta, making it more of a one-dish meal.
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Chicken parmigiana is more likely to be served as a main protein accompanied by a side salad or vegetables.
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Chicken parmesan frequently has added garnishes like chopped parsley and extra grated parmesan.
Regional Variations
Both dishes have evolved and taken on regional twists. Here are some examples:
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In the United States, chicken parmesan often has a lot of cheese while Italian chicken parmigiana uses less.
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Chicken parmesan is popular served with spaghetti, while chicken parmigiana is more often served with penne or rigatoni in Italy.
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Chicken parmigiana in Italy tends to use fresh, high quality ingredients while chicken parmesan may rely on canned sauce and pre-shredded cheese.
Which is Better?
Whether chicken parmesan or chicken parmigiana is “better” comes down to personal preference. Here are some factors to consider:
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Chicken parmigiana may appeal more to those who prefer an authentic Italian flavor with less cheese.
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Chicken parmesan may appeal more to those who enjoy an Americanized dish with lots of gooey cheese.
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Chicken parmigiana highlights quality ingredients like fresh tomatoes and parmesan cheese.
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Chicken parmesan is an Italian-American comfort food with bold, indulgent flavors.
No matter your preference, both chicken parmesan and chicken parmigiana make for a satisfying Italian-inspired meal! Trying both is the best way to decide which version you like better.
FAQs
What’s the difference between chicken parmesan and chicken parmigiana?
The main differences are that chicken parmesan uses a blend of cheese including mozzarella while chicken parmigiana uses just parmesan. Chicken parmesan also does not use parmesan in the breading.
Is chicken parmesan authentic Italian?
No, chicken parmesan is an Italian-American dish. Chicken parmigiana is more authentic to southern Italy.
Should chicken parmesan be served with pasta or on its own?
It’s traditionally served over pasta in the US, but in Italy it would more likely be served without pasta, just with a vegetable side. Both serving styles are delicious!
Which has more calories, chicken parm or chicken parmigiana?
They are fairly similar in calories since both are breaded and fried chicken dishes with cheese. Chicken parmigiana may be slightly lower calorie if it uses less cheese than a really cheesy chicken parmesan.
What’s an easy way to make chicken parmesan healthier?
Opt for baked chicken instead of fried, use whole wheat breadcrumbs, choose low-fat mozzarella, and serve with veggies instead of pasta.
What’s the difference between Chicken Parmesan and Chicken Parmigiana?
If one were to go to different Italian restaurants here in the United States, some would sell a chicken parmesan dish, while others may call it chicken parmigiana. However, if one were to order both menu items, they would be delighted to see the same thing come out at both locations.
While it’s easy to assume that “parmigiana” is just an Italian way of saying parmesan, it technically means “someone or something from the city of Parma.” Parma is where we get parmesan cheese, and dishes done in the Parma style have the name attached.
So, even though chicken parmesan doesn’t heavily feature parmesan cheese (instead using mozzarella), the meat or eggplant is prepared in the Parma style, hence the name.
The Birth of a Classic: Uncovering the Story
Since this dish is so universally loved and widely available, it’s easy to assume that it’s an old recipe that has delighted diners for centuries. However, chicken parmigiana is a relatively new invention. It didn’t start to dominate the U.S. around the 1950s, but that popularity is as widespread as ever today.
The origins of chicken parmigiana do go back to old Italy, but people made it with eggplant, not chicken. The simple reason for this change is that chicken was too expensive for most households. Eggplant, though, could be grown in the backyard. This vegetarian dish was called mellanzane alla parmigiana, primarily made in Southern Italy.
However, once Italian immigrants came to America, they discovered that meats were cheaper and more widely available. This is why many dishes today feature options like meatballs. Immigrants decided to swap eggplant for chicken, and a classic was born. Once it started appearing in recipe books and Italian restaurants, chicken parmigiana became a fan favorite worldwide.