Chicken Eggplant Parmesan Bake (Printable Recipe)

Crispy chicken and tender eggplant baked with marinara and bubbling cheese for a crowd-pleasing comfort dish.

# Ingredients You'll Need:

→ Marinara Sauce

01 - 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
02 - 4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
03 - 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
04 - 28 oz crushed San Marzano tomatoes
05 - Salt, to taste
06 - 8 fresh basil leaves

→ Frying & Assembly

07 - 2 medium eggplants, sliced 1/4-inch thick
08 - Salt, for draining eggplant
09 - 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, pounded thin
10 - 1 cup all-purpose flour
11 - 3 large eggs, beaten
12 - 1 1/2 cups Italian seasoned breadcrumbs
13 - 1/2 cup grated Pecorino Romano cheese
14 - 2 tbsp chopped flat-leaf parsley
15 - 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
16 - Neutral oil for frying

→ Cheese Layers & Topping

17 - 1 cup grated Parmigiano Reggiano
18 - 1 1/2 cups shredded whole milk mozzarella
19 - Hand-torn basil leaves, for garnish

# Steps to Follow:

01 - Slice eggplant and salt both sides. Let sit in a colander with weight on top for at least 1 hour. Pat dry before use.
02 - Heat olive oil in a saucepan over medium-low. Add garlic and sauté until golden. Stir in red pepper flakes, then add tomatoes and salt. Simmer uncovered 20 minutes. Add basil and keep warm.
03 - Combine breadcrumbs, Pecorino, parsley, and black pepper. Dredge chicken in flour, dip in eggs, then coat with breadcrumb mix.
04 - Heat oil to 365°F in a large skillet. Fry chicken in batches, 3–4 minutes per side until golden. Drain on a rack.
05 - Mix eggs with Pecorino and black pepper. Dredge eggplant slices in flour, dip in egg mixture, and fry 3–4 minutes per side until golden. Drain on paper towels.
06 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Spread sauce in baking dish. Layer chicken, sauce, Parmigiano, and basil. Top with eggplant, more sauce, cheese, and basil. Finish with mozzarella.
07 - Bake 7 minutes to heat through. Broil briefly until cheese is golden and bubbling. Watch carefully to prevent burning.
08 - Serve hot with extra marinara on the side and crusty bread if desired.

# Extra Tips:

01 - Layering chicken and eggplant provides contrasting textures and flavors in every bite.
02 - Let fried items cool on a rack, not paper towels, to retain crispness.
03 - Freshly grated cheese melts and flavors better than pre-shredded varieties.
04 - Watch the broil step closely to avoid burning the cheese topping.

Go Back