Chicken parmesan is one of those classic Italian-American dishes that everyone loves. A breaded and fried chicken cutlet topped with tomato sauce and melted mozzarella it’s hard to go wrong with this tasty and comforting meal. But where can you find the best chicken parm near you? Keep reading to discover some tips for finding great chicken parmesan close to home.
Check Italian Restaurants in Your Area
An obvious place to start your search is looking at the Italian restaurants in your neighborhood or city. Most will have some version of chicken parm on the menu. Go for restaurants that specialize in classic Italian-American fare like spaghetti and meatballs lasagna and other red sauce dishes. These types of places typically do chicken parm right.
Search on review sites like Yelp to see which spots are rated highly for their chicken parmesan. Look at menus online to get a sense of the preparation – do they use a fresh chicken cutlet or frozen? What ingredients are in the tomato sauce? Do they make it in-house? This research can help you identify who might have an authentic, high quality chicken parm.
Seek Out Italian Delis or Specialty Shops
Another great place to find excellent chicken parm is Italian delicatessens or specialty food shops. These types of places often have prepared foods or hot bars with classic Italian-American dishes like chicken parmesan. Because they focus specifically on Italian ingredients and dishes, their version is likely to be flavorful and authentic.
The bonus is you may be able to get chicken parm by the pound or individual serving, so you can take it home and serve it when you want. Delis and shops like Mama Maria’s or Tony’s Italian Market are great bets for finding quality chicken parm near you.
Check Your Local Pizzerias
The pizza joint around the corner may be a hidden gem for chicken parm. Many pizzerias offer chicken parmesan as an entrée or side dish to their pizzas and other offerings. Because they already have the ingredients on hand for pizza like tomato sauce, cheese, and herbs, it’s not a stretch for them to put together a tasty chicken parm as well.
Read reviews or ask neighbors about which pizza places have especially good chicken parmesan. A vote of confidence from other customers is a good sign. And since you’re already ordering pizza, it makes it very convenient to get this Italian classic delivered or take-out.
Try Casual Italian Chain Restaurants
Chain restaurants specializing in casual, affordable Italian fare are often great options for delicious chicken parm. Places like Olive Garden, Carrabba’s Italian Grill, or Maggiano’s Little Italy generally have this classic dish on their menus.
The benefit of chains is that they typically follow standardized recipes, so you know you’ll be getting a consistent preparation no matter what location you visit. Read reviews to find the highest rated spots in your area. And look for specials – many Italian chains run deals on chicken parm at certain times.
Make It at Home with Quality Ingredients
Of course, you can always choose to make chicken parmesan at home if you want total control over ingredients and flavors. Use high quality chicken breast cutlets pounded thin and bred with flavorful Italian-style breadcrumbs. Look for authentic ingredients like imported San Marzano tomatoes for the sauce and fresh mozzarella for melting on top.
Making chicken parm at home does require some effort, but the pay-off of hot, freshly made chicken parm straight from your kitchen can be worth it. Use your favorite marinara sauce or mimic recipes from your favorite Italian restaurants. Adding fresh basil leaves or parsley on top gives homemade chicken parm an extra flavor boost.
Choose Take-Out Over Delivery for Maximum Freshness
If ordering chicken parmesan from a restaurant, consider take-out rather than delivery. The shorter transit time compared to delivery means your chicken parm is more likely to arrive hot and fresh. The coating will still be crispy rather than soggy, and the cheese fully melted rather than hardened and dried out after sitting in a take-out box.
Some restaurants may even recommend ordering take-out over delivery for dishes like chicken parm that don’t hold up as well. Take-out also avoids any delivery fees, which is an added bonus. Just be sure to dig in as soon as you get home for the best just-made texture and taste.
Check Chicken Parm Sandwiches Too
Chicken parmesan isn’t just limited to a plate of pasta. Many sandwich shops, delis, and cafes offer chicken parm sandwiches, subs, or wraps. This can be a tasty and portable way to enjoy this Italian favorite.
A quality chicken parm sandwich should have a nicely breaded chicken cutlet, tomato sauce, and melted cheese piled onto a soft Italian roll or ciabatta bread. Try smaller sandwich chains or local delis and cafes to find a good version. Yelp and Google reviews can point you in the direction of shops getting raves for their chicken parm sandwiches near you.
Sample Multiple Spots to Find Your Favorite
It may take some time and sampling to find the ultimate chicken parmesan in your area. Taste and compare versions from different restaurants to determine your go-to for this crave-worthy dish. Keep track of spots that get the basics right – juicy chicken, flavorful sauce, high quality mozzarella – but also offer something special like fresh pasta, housemade sausage in the sauce, or freshly grated parmesan on top.
Don’t be afraid to try the chicken parm at that hole in the wall Italian spot or recommendation from a foodie friend. Explore and enjoy the search for the perfect chicken parm to satisfy those Italian food cravings no matter where you are.
Chicken parmesan is a versatile and satisfying dish that you can find at all types of eateries from Italian restaurants to pizzerias, delis, cafes, and beyond. With so many options for quality chicken parm near you, a little research and sampling can quickly uncover the city’s best versions of this Italian-American favorite. Seek out spots focused on authenticity and freshness to find chicken parm that reminds you of home cooked flavors and will have you going back for more.
How To Make Chicken Parmesan
• Olive Oil: I prefer to use extra-virgin olive oil to cook the onion and garlic in, while I use a more neutral oil to fry the chicken. Use your favorite olive oil here, or check out our list of the best olive oil brands. • Yellow Onion & Garlic: You know the drill: Cook down finely chopped yellow onion and garlic in olive oil before adding in your crushed tomatoes and basil. Cook until the onion and garlic are soft, sweet, and translucent. • Crushed Tomatoes: The base to our sauce, crushed tomatoes create a smooth, slightly sweet base that is truly superior. I prefer crushed tomatoes to tomato purée to maintain a few tomato chunks. Really opposed to making your own sauce homemade? I won’t judge (too much) if you use jarred pomodoro sauce or marinara instead.• Basil: Please, please do me a favor: don’t take your basil off the stems. The stems are where all the flavor lives, so toss it all in your pasta sauce.
• Panko Bread Crumbs: Panko is what creates the crispy coating on the chicken Parmesan. To really ensure a crispy, even coating, I recommend adding even more panko than you need to your bowl (more panko is never a bad idea).• Parmesan: I use Parmesan in two ways here: I add it to the panko to create extra flavor, and to the shredded mozzarella for a richer cheese mixture. Panko doesn’t have a super strong flavor on its own, so the addition of Parmesan amps up the flavor and richness of the coating.• Chicken Cutlets: The thickness of the chicken will determine how every bite tastes in the end product, so make sure those chicken cutlets are 1/4″ thick, no exception. Can’t find cutlets? Buy chicken breasts and pound them! Simply place the chicken breast in between 2 layers of plastic wrap and gently use a meat mallet to thin out the chicken. You don’t have to go too hard on it—a slight pounding will do the job. No mallet? No problem—you can use a rolling pin or the bottom of a small saucepan.• Mozzarella: Freshly shredded mozzarella is the way to go here. I know it’s extra effort, but trust me: pre-shredded just won’t melt as well here, and you deserve the cheesiest, meltiest chicken Parm possible. • Vegetable (Or Canola) Oil: Use a neutral oil here, like vegetable or canola oil, instead of olive oil. They have a higher smoke point than olive oil, and I prefer to use an oil with a neutral flavor for this recipe.• Basil: I use chopped fresh basil as the garnish to add a touch of green and freshness to our cheesy and saucy fried creation, but if you’d prefer to leave it off, you can.
Like all good things, this recipe starts with cooking down chopped yellow onion and garlic in olive oil. I choose to cover the pot to speed up the process, occasionally stirring the garlic and onion to prevent burning. You’re looking for a few things when cooking your garlic and onions: they should taste sweet, be soft, and appear completely translucent. Once you’ve achieved the 3 golden rules, you’re ready to continue on your journey.
Once your onion and garlic are good to go, it’s time to add in the main characters of the sauce show: crushed tomatoes and basil. Add in the basil leaf AND stem (it’s where all the flavor is!). Now, this isn’t a sauce that you can just leave alone—it requires a bit of babysitting. The tomato chunks will start to fall to the bottom which make them susceptible to burn. Stir the sauce occasionally to prevent any burning, and cook until the sauce is nice and thick. No one (especially me) wants a watery tomato sauce falling off the chicken Parm.
Now, we’re on to the star of our show: the chicken cutlets. Once your cutlets are perfectly thin, it’s time to begin the dredging process. Create three stations: a flour, egg and water, and panko, Parmesan, and garlic powder. I add freshly grated Parmesan and garlic powder to the panko to amp up the flavor; it takes the chicken cutlet experience to the next level.
My tried-and-tested rule for this step: cover every inch of your chicken cutlets at every dredging station. For the flour and egg: cover every inch of the surface, then shake off any excess before moving on.
With the panko, you can add more than you really need to make sure your entire cutlet is covered and crisp. To avoid ending this process with hands that look just like your chicken cutlets, I highly recommend having a “dry” hand and a “wet” hand while dredging. Use one hand to cover your cutlets in the flour and panko, and another to coat in the egg mixture. No mess here!
Repeat with every piece of chicken, then set them aside on a baking sheet as we prepare to fry.
Before adding your chicken, heat the neutral oil until a thermometer registers 350°. If it smokes a bit, no stress—it’s all part of the plan. Add your cutlets one at a time, and fry until perfectly golden brown before flipping to the other side. If you’re shallow frying and the oil isn’t hitting every surface, I highly recommend basting your chicken with a spoon to ensure the chicken is well-fried and extra-crispy.
After your chicken is golden-brown, crispy perfection, place on a wire rack to let all the excess oil drip off. Now, it’s time to bring all of our characters together. Spoon some of your prepared marinara on top of your chicken, then add your prepared bowl of shredded mozzarella and Parmesan on top of the sauce. Now, it’s time to get cheesy.
Place your chicken Parm in the broiler until your cheese is irresistibly melty, only a few minutes. I highly recommend you keep a close eye here—this isn’t the time to start making your sides! It’s very easy to burn the chicken here, and while I’m all about the crisp, you don’t want to do all that work for a burned chicken Parm. Top with some basil, serve with the remaining sauce alongside, and get ready to dig into the ultimate crispy, cheesy, saucy bite.
Full list of ingredients and directions can be found in the recipe below.
How To Prevent Soggy Chicken Parmesan
My top tip for making perfect, not-soggy chicken Parm? Remember this: Timing is of the essence. Being able to calculate timing while cooking is important, but even more essential in this recipe. Crispiness dies with time, so you’ll need your broiler set up and your marinara ready before your fried cutlets come out of the skillet. That way, you can get them in the broiler right away and be just one quick step away from taste bud heaven. This also means being patient with your marinara and really letting it cook for the full 45 minutes (start to end). When you do, it will develop an incredibly deep and sweet herbaceous flavor and end up thick enough to stay on your fried cutlets without falling off.
I want you to have a wonderful experience from the first to last bite of your chicken, so I use equal parts of panko to Parm to ensure your breading is extra crispy and packed with flavor. Make sure when you’re dipping your cutlets in the egg mixture that you truly get every single surface covered, then do the same with your dry mix. This will guarantee your breading will stay on your chicken, where it belongs.
A Damn Good Chicken Parm
FAQ
Does Olive Garden sell chicken parmesan?
20.79. Two lightly fried parmesan-breaded chicken breasts with our homemade marinara and melted Italian cheeses. Served with a side of spaghetti.
Does Chick-fil-A have chicken parmesan?
No, Chick-fil-A does not have Chicken Parmesan on its regular menu. However, they did offer a Chicken Parmesan Meal Kit for a limited time at participating restaurants. This meal kit included Chick-fil-A filets (original, grilled, or spicy), marinara sauce, Italian-style cheeses, and pasta.
What is the difference between chicken parmesan and chicken parmigiana?
Chicken parmesan and chicken parmigiana are the same dish, just with different names. “Parmigiana” is the Italian term, while “parmesan” is the English adaptation, according to Facebook users.
What’s the best chicken parmesan in Baltimore?
The following places in Baltimore offer Chicken Parmesan for pickup or delivery: Silver Moon 1 (open now, $6.90 delivery, 4.7 rating), Eato’s Pizza (closed), Ribaldi’s Pizza & Subs (closed, $4.90 delivery, 4.9 rating), Piazza 27 Baltimore (closed, $2.00 delivery, 4.7 rating), Arlon’s Carry Out (closed, $1.99 delivery, 4.4 rating), and Silver Moon 1 (open now)”.
What is the best chicken parmesan in Las Vegas?
Brothers Pizza is one of the best places in Las Vegas to order Chicken Parmesan for pickup or delivery. They are currently open and offer $4.90 delivery, with a rating of 4.3.
What’s the best chicken parmesan in Chicago?
The following places in Chicago offer Chicken Parmesan for delivery or pickup: Tano’s Pizza [4.9 rating, $4.50 delivery fee], Connie’s Pizza [4.6 rating, $3.95 delivery fee], Naty’s Pizza [4.8 rating, $5.00 delivery fee], Legno By Suparossa [4.7 rating, $4.00 delivery fee], and Trino’s Pizza [4.7 rating, $6.90 delivery fee]. Tano’s Pizza and Connie’s Pizza are both options with high ratings.
How do I order chicken parmesan from DoorDash?
Service fees and minimum subtotal may apply. Check your DoorDash app for more details and to sign up (available only in certain areas). Order Chicken Parmesan near you. Choose from the largest selection of Chicken Parmesan restaurants and have your meal delivered to your door.
How much does chicken parmesan cost on Grubhub?
If you have Amazon Prime or a Bank of America account, Grubhub+ is free which means delivery is $0. Get Chicken Parmesan delivered from national chains, local favorites, or new neighborhood restaurants, on Grubhub. Order online, and get Chicken Parmesan delivered, fast. Deals and promos available.
Does Grubhub have chicken parmesan?
Grubhub has around 500,000 restaurants available on its platform making it easy to get delivery or pickup for Chicken Parmesan when you order online. 3) What are the best restaurants near me for Chicken Parmesan?