Chicken Parm Grilled Cheese (Printer-friendly)

A delicious fusion of chicken parmesan and grilled cheese featuring crispy chicken, marinara, and melted mozzarella on garlic bread.

# What You'll Need:

→ For the Crispy Chicken

01 - 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
02 - 1 cup all-purpose flour
03 - 2 large eggs
04 - 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
05 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
06 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
07 - 1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs
08 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
09 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
10 - Vegetable oil for frying

→ For the Sandwich

11 - 8 slices Italian bread or sourdough
12 - 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
13 - 2 cloves garlic, finely minced
14 - 1 cup marinara sauce, warmed
15 - 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
16 - 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, optional

# Steps:

01 - Slice each chicken breast in half horizontally to create 4 thin cutlets of even thickness.
02 - Arrange three shallow bowls: one with flour, one with beaten eggs, and one with a mixture of panko breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, Italian herbs, salt, and pepper.
03 - Working with one cutlet at a time, dredge in flour, dip in beaten egg, then coat generously with the panko and Parmesan mixture, pressing lightly to adhere.
04 - Heat approximately 1/2 inch of vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Fry chicken cutlets for 3 to 4 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through. Drain on paper towels.
05 - Mix softened butter with minced garlic in a small bowl. Spread evenly on one side of each bread slice.
06 - Place 4 slices of bread, buttered side down, on a clean surface. Layer each with a fried chicken cutlet, a spoonful of marinara sauce, mozzarella cheese, and basil leaves if desired. Top with remaining bread slices, buttered side up.
07 - Heat a clean skillet or griddle over medium-low heat. Grill sandwiches for 3 to 4 minutes per side, pressing gently with a spatula, until bread is golden and cheese is fully melted.
08 - Remove sandwiches from heat, slice diagonally if desired, and serve immediately while hot.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It combines two iconic dishes into one handheld meal that tastes like a hug.
  • The crispy breaded chicken stays crunchy even inside the sandwich, giving you texture in every bite.
  • Garlic butter on the bread makes the whole kitchen smell like an Italian restaurant.
  • You can prep the chicken ahead and assemble sandwiches in minutes when hunger strikes.
02 -
  • Do not skip warming the marinara sauce before assembling, cold sauce can make the cheese seize up and not melt properly.
  • Keep the heat medium low when grilling the sandwiches, too high and the bread burns before the cheese melts.
  • Press gently with a spatula while grilling to help everything meld together without squishing out the filling.
  • If the chicken cutlets are too thick, they will not cook evenly and the sandwich will be hard to bite through.
03 -
  • Let the fried chicken rest on paper towels for a minute before assembling, this keeps excess oil from making the bread greasy.
  • Use a cast iron skillet for grilling if you have one, it distributes heat evenly and gives you those beautiful golden spots.
  • Press the sandwich with a second skillet or a heavy pan while grilling to speed up melting and create a compact, diner style sandwich.
  • If you want extra flavor, sprinkle a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes into the marinara before spreading it on the bread.
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