Chicken Parmesan is an Italian-American classic – breaded chicken cutlets baked with tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese. It’s delicious, filling, and often results in leftovers. But what do you do with leftover chicken parm? Don’t let it go to waste! With a little creativity, you can transform leftover chicken parm into a variety of tasty dishes.
Storing Leftover Chicken Parmesan
Before reinventing your leftover chicken parm, proper storage is key for food safety. Here are some tips:
- Allow the chicken to cool completely before storing.
- Place in an airtight container and refrigerate within 2 hours of cooking.
- Chicken parm can be safely stored in the fridge for 3-4 days.
- For longer storage, wrap individual pieces in plastic wrap or foil and freeze for 2-3 months.
Always use your best judgment – if smells or looks off, play it safe and discard it.
Reheating Leftover Chicken Parmesan
Sometimes you just want to enjoy leftover chicken parm as originally intended. Here are the best reheating methods:
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Oven Preheat to 350°F, Place chicken parm on a baking sheet and bake 15-20 minutes until heated through This keeps the breading crispy
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Air Fryer: Preheat to 350°F. Cook 5-7 minutes, shaking basket occasionally, until hot. Air frying maintains the crunch.
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Skillet: Add 1-2 tbsp oil and cook over medium-high heat 3-5 minutes per side. Be careful not to burn the breading.
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Microwave: Least ideal method. Microwave in 30 second intervals until hot. Place a paper towel underneath to absorb moisture and prevent sogginess.
Getting Creative: Repurposing Leftover Chicken Parmesan
With a little creativity, leftover chicken parm can become an entirely new dish:
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Chicken Parm Sliders – Shred chicken and mix with marinara and mozzarella. Pile onto mini buns and bake until cheese melts
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Chicken Parm Pasta Bake – Toss chopped chicken parm with cooked pasta, marinara, ricotta and mozzarella. Bake until hot and bubbly
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Chicken Parm Salad – Dice chicken parm and add to a salad with greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, etc. Drizzle with vinaigrette.
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Chicken Parm Quesadillas – Stuff tortillas with shredded chicken parm, mozzarella and marinara. Pan fry until crispy.
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Chicken Parm Pizza – Use leftover chicken parm as a pizza topping. Add extra cheese, fresh basil, etc.
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Chicken Parm Stuffed Peppers – Fill halved bell peppers with chicken parm, rice, marinara and cheese. Bake until peppers are tender.
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Chicken Parm Soup – Puree chicken parm with broth, cream and seasonings for a creamy, decadent soup.
Mix and match ingredients like pesto, Alfredo sauce, vegetables, pasta and fresh herbs to create even more unique dishes!
Handy Leftover Chicken Parmesan FAQs
Still have questions? Here are some commonly asked queries:
How long does it last in the fridge?
3-4 days
Can you freeze it?
Yes, for 2-3 months.
Can you reheat it multiple times?
No, only reheat once for food safety.
How do you prevent soggy breading?
Use oven or air fryer, don’t microwave.
What’s the best sauce for repurposing?
Marinara works great, but try pesto or Alfredo too.
Can you make sandwiches?
Absolutely! Use crusty bread, extra cheese and sauce.
What are some vegetarian substitutes?
Try breaded eggplant or zucchini.
With these tips, you can reinvent leftover chicken parm into all sorts of mouthwatering dishes. Get creative with ingredients and cooking methods to give your leftovers new life. Chicken parm is too tasty to let it go to waste!
Making Chicken Parm for The Freezer
If you want to make a batch of chicken parm to freeze for later, you should follow all of the steps above, except the last part when you bake it in the oven.
For the best results, put everything together in an aluminum baking tray. This is the best method because you can store it and reheat it in the same container.
Cover the tray with the lid it comes with. Then plastic wrap the entire container before you put it in the freezer.
When it’s time to cook it, you don’t even have to thaw it out. The best reheating method is to remove the plastic wrap, take the lid off of the covered oven-safe container and place it in a preheated oven at 400 degrees for 35-45 minutes.
The frozen tray of chicken parmesan will be ready to eat when the cheese melts and is golden brown and crusty. This is the best method and one of the easiest ways to reheat frozen chicken parm.
Oh before we move one, ‘wondering if you like try our Quality Italian Chicken Parm Pizza Recipe.
Assemble the Chicken Parmesan
Are you ready….? DIP THE CHICKEN CUTLET IN SAUCE! This gets you the full coverage you’re looking for on the best chicken parmesan you can make. When your cutlet is fried, just dunk it right in the tomato sauce, give it a shake and you’re good.
Now take a baking dish or pie plate and coat the bottom with tomato sauce.
Place the chicken cutlets on top of the sauce. Add mozzarella cheese or provolone on top of the chicken cutlets. Sprinkle on some grated parmesan or Romano cheese and some fresh basil.
Finish it off with a little more tomato sauce.
Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Cover your baking dish with aluminum foil and bake it for 20 minutes to allow the cheese to melt. If you want the cheese to get golden brown, remove the aluminum foil for the last 1-2 minutes.