Crispy Chicken Parmesan

There are so many people that love Chicken Parmesan, and I am one of them!  After all, it's like a giant chicken finger covered in delicious sauce and cheese.  What's not to like?  We all know that my all-time favorite kid food is chicken fingers.  I was a bit obsessed when I was young.  Back to the recipe.... I've had Chicken Parmesan in several restaurants, and this recipe is just as good or better than all that I have had!  The sauce from this picture is different than the one that we usually use, but I used this meat sauce the same night as the homemade ravioli, and I didn't want to make another sauce.  I would normally use the sauce here.  Either way, it's glorious.  My husband made this for some friends of ours that came over to eat, and they couldn't believe their tastebuds.  They ranted about it all night.  :)

 Crispy Chicken Paremsan
source for Crispy Chicken- America's Test Kitchen Family Cookbook

1 c flour
2 eggs
2 c Panko bread crumbs (If you want super, duper fantastically crispy chicken, you cannot omit these magical crumbs)
3 chicken breasts
salt and pepper
vegetable oil

Place plastic wrap over a chicken breast and beat it with a mallet until it's 1/4 inch thick.  Make sure that the shiny side is up with the chicken.  It pounds out a little better that way.  Repeat with the remaining chicken breasts.

Sprinkle them with salt and pepper.

 Place the eggs on one shallow plate and beat.  Add the flour to another plate.  Add the Panko bread crumbs to another.

Dip the chicken breast in the flour, making sure that the whole thing is coated.  Dip it in egg next.

 Finally, dip it in the Panko breadcrumbs.  Place on a clean plate until the oil is ready to use.

 Put the oil in a 12-inch skillet and heat over medium-high heat.  Once the oil starts to smoke a little bit, add the chicken.  Don't crowd the pan.  Also- if the oil is not hot enough, the bread crumbs will absorb the oil and lead to soggy coating. Cook the chicken 4-6 minutes on each side or until golden brown. 

 Remove from the pan and place on a cookie sheet.  Top with marinara sauce and cheese.  Bake in a 450 degree oven for 5-10 minutes or until the cheese is melted. 

Place atop a bed of spaghetti noodles and serve to happy people.  If they aren't happy when they sit down, they will be once they take a bite of this.