Spicy Baked Chicken Parmesan

Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, or spray it with cooking spray.

Begin by making the crispy panko crust, as described below.

Spread the flour out evenly on a plate, add the eggs to a medium bowl, and spread the (prepared) panko mixture out on a plate.

Season the chicken breasts on both sides with salt and pepper.

Dip one chicken breast in the flour until it is evenly coated on all sides, shaking off the excess. Then dip it in the whisked eggs until it is completely coated. Then finally dip it in the panko mixture until it is evenly coated on all sides, and place it on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining chicken breasts.

Mist the chicken breasts with some cooking spray (or use an olive oil mister).

Bake for 20 minutes, flipping the chicken over after 15 minutes. Then remove from oven, and spread a large spoonful of the spicy marinara sauce on top of each chicken breast, followed by about 1/4 cup of the shredded mozzarella.

Bake for another 5 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through and no longer pink inside.

Remove and sprinkle with fresh basil and (if desired) extra crushed red pepper flakes. Serve immediately.

To make the crispy panko crust:

Preheat oven to 425°F.

Spread the panko breadcrumbs out on a large baking sheet in an even layer. Bake for 3-5 minutes, or until the breadcrumbs are toasted and golden. (Keep an eye on them so that they don’t burn!) Remove from the oven.

In a medium mixing bowl, combine breadcrumbs, Parmesan, Italian seasoning, and a pinch of salt and pepper, and whisk until combined.

To make the spicy marinara sauce:

Heat oil in a large saute pan over medium-high heat. Add garlic and saute for 1 minute, stirring frequently, until fragrant. Add in the tomatoes, red pepper flakes, salt, oregano and black pepper, and stir to combine. Gently stir in the sprig of fresh basil.

Continue cooking until the sauce reaches a simmer. Then reduce heat to medium-low and continue to let the sauce simmer for about 15 minutes, or until the oil on the surface is a deep orange. It will be reduced and thickened.

Discard the sprig of basil, and season the sauce with additional salt and pepper if needed.

Remove from heat and serve immediately, or store in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Or freeze for up to 3 months. (This recipe will make more sauce than you need for the Spicy Baked Chicken Parmesan, so save the leftovers for later!)