The Ultimate Chicken Parmesan Sandwich Recipe

What is a Chicken Parmesan Sandwich?

A Chicken Parmesan Sandwich is the hand-held sandwich variation of that classic Italian- American entrée, Chicken Parmesan. It can be made with baked or fried chicken cutlets that are first coated in a Parmesan cheese breadcrumb mixture. Once it bakes up, the chicken cutlets are topped with marinara sauce and a melty cheese like provolone or mozzarella cheese. The crispy chicken is then sandwiched between two halves of a hoagie roll with more warmed marinara sauce and fresh basil leaves.

Why You’ll Love This Chicken Parmesan Sandwich Recipe

How could you not love this incredible Chicken Parmesan Sandwich? It comes together in no time. Though it presents as a more fancy, more complex recipe, it really is so simple. It’s a dish made to impress. Chicken Parmesan is a popular Italian-American dish, so you can be sure the hand-held version will go over well too. This isn’t just a sandwich for adults; kids love it too! Chicken Parmesan Sandwiches can be served as a hearty lunch, as a fulfilling dinner… and even as an appetizer or slider-type sandwich. Simply divide it by cutting it up into smaller pieces. It’s also an easy recipe to scale down or double-up, depending on the size of your crowd.

The Ingredients You Will Need To Make A Chicken Parmesan Sandwich

Chicken Cutlets: Chicken cutlets are essentially chicken breasts that have been sliced in half and pounded flat. These thinner chicken breasts cook faster and are the perfect size for a sandwich.

Flour: We just use the standard all-purpose flour for this step. Season with salt and pepper.

Eggs: Beat the eggs well so that the consistency is even and will coat the chicken well.

Breadcrumbs: Seasoned breadcrumbs add some flavor to the Chicken Parmesan’s breading.

Parmesan Cheese: This nutty, sharp Italian cheese adds incredible flavor to the breading.

Marinara Sauce: We love a simple but flavorful tomato sauce for this step. Our DeLallo Pomodoro Fresco Marinara Sauce is made in small batches and uses only all-natural ingredients. It’s fresh-flavored and mildly herby—a great condiment for your Chicken Parmesan Sandwich.

Provolone Cheese: Provolone cheese is lovably mild and creamy with the perfect melting quality to top off a Chicken Parm.

Basil: The addition of fresh basil truly makes this sandwich. It’s the perfect sweet and fresh herby flavor to complement this sandwich.

Rolls: Depending on where you are located, your deli may call these by a different name: hoagie roll, hoagie bun, sub roll, sausage bun, etc. Choose a crusty hard roll that will stand up to the hot contents of this sandwich.

How to Make a Chicken Parmesan Sandwich

This crispy Chicken Parmesan Chicken Sandwich recipe is much easier to make than you think and it requires no frying!

Bread the chicken cutlets. Dredge each chicken cutlet in flour, the beaten eggs and Parmesan breadcrumbs.

Bake the chicken. On a parchment-lined baking sheet, bake the chicken breasts for about 25 minutes, or until they are cooked through and no longer pink. The breading should crisp up to a nice golden brown hue.

Top off the chicken. While the chicken bakes, warm up the marinara sauce on the stovetop. Add some marinara sauce and a slice of Parmesan cheese on top of each piece of chicken. Broil for a few minutes just to melt the cheese.

Assemble the sandwich. Spoon on a nice layer of warmed marinara to the bottom of each roll. Place a piece of chicken on top. Sprinkle with fresh chopped basil leaves. Finish with the top of the roll. Serve it up!

Top Tips

To store leftovers, place only the chicken in an airtight container. Use the oven (or an airfryer) to reheat the chicken to get it crispy again.

Serving Tips

Keep the breading on the chicken. Before breading the chicken cutlets, be sure to pat them dry. If the chicken is too wet before coating it, the breading will fall off.

It’s all about the bread. Choose a hoagie roll or bun that is hard and crusty on the outside and soft and chewy on the inside. You want bread that will stand up to your marinara sauce and won’t get soggy.

Serve it right away. No one likes a soggy sandwich. Chicken Parmesan Sandwiches cannot be made ahead of time. They will not taste as good nor will they stay as crispy when reheated.

The thinner the better! When it comes to the chicken, be sure to use thin chicken cutlets (halved breasts). A thin chicken cutlet will cook up more quickly and become crispier than a full chicken breast.

Substitutions And Additions

Go green! Add a schmear of pesto sauce (or a drizzle!) to the top of your bun for an extra kick of sweet, green flavor.

Switch up the cheese. We love this Chicken Parmesan Sandwich with provolone, but there are other melty cheeses to choose from. Switch out the provolone for Fontina cheese, a mild Asiago, Gruyère or mozzarella cheese—to name a few.

Give it a garlic bread upgrade. For a toasty, garlicky upgrade, drizzle olive oil or spread butter over the cut-side of the hoagie rolls and rub with fresh garlic cloves. Toast them in the oven on a broil setting for a flavorful garlic bread.

Marinara on the side. Serve Chicken Parmesan Sandwiches with a side of warmed marinara sauce for dipping. It’ll keep your sandwiches from being too sloppy with sauce, but allow for some extra flavor for those who like to sauce it up.

Spice it up. Try red pepper flakes to add some heat to your sauce. Better yet, swap out the marinara for an “angry” arrabbiata sauce.

What To Serve With A Chicken Parmesan Sandwich

Don’t overthink a side for your Chicken Parmesan Sandwiches. All hoagies and hot subs can be served with a generous side of crispy kettle-cooked chips or French fries. If you’re looking to serve your sandwiches with something a bit lighter, try a leafy green salad with a simple Italian vinaigrette. Upgrade that simple salad to a colorful Italian Chopped Antipasto Salad starring pickled peppers, olives and chickpeas.

Chicken Parmesan Sandwich: FAQ

How Do I Slice Chicken Cutlets From Chicken Breasts?

Place the chicken breast flat on a cutting board. Put one hand on top of the chicken breast and carefully insert a knife blade horizontally through the middle of the thickest section. Slice through carefully to the other side.

How Do I Keep The Breading From Falling Off The Chicken?

To keep the breading from crumbling and falling off of the chicken cutlet, be sure you pat the chicken dry before breading it. Excess moisture can cause the breading to fall off.

Can I Make Parmesan Chicken Sandwiches Ahead Of Time?

Chicken Parmesan Sandwiches cannot be made ahead of time, as they do not keep well. Like most hot subs, they are best enjoyed immediately after being made. Otherwise, the bread will get soggy and the chicken won’t stay as crispy.

The Ultimate Chicken Parmesan Sandwich Recipe

• 4 thin chicken cutlets
• ½ cup all purpose flour
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
• 2 eggs beaten
• 1 ½ cups DeLallo Italian Seasoned Breadcrumbs
• ½ cup DeLallo Parmesan Cheese, freshly grated
• 1 cup DeLallo Pomodoro Fresco Marinara Sauce
• 4 slices provolone cheese
• 8-10 fresh basil leaves chopped
• 4 Italian hoagie buns or rolls, sliced in half

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350˚F degrees. Ready a baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper.
2. To bread the chicken cutlets, first prepare three shallow bowls. In one bowl, combine the flour with salt and pepper. In another bowl, beat 2 eggs. In the third dish, combine the breadcrumbs with the Parmesan cheese.
3. Dredge each chicken cutlet in the flour mixture to coat, followed by the egg mixture, and lastly, the breadcrumb mixture. Repeat with each chicken cutlet.
4. Arrange the prepared chicken on the parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake for 25 minutes.
5. Meanwhile, warm up the marinara sauce on the stovetop in a pot over medium heat.
6. Remove the baking sheet from the oven. Spoon on a layer of sauce over each chicken cutlet. Top each with a slice of provolone cheese. Set the oven to broil. Return the baking sheet to the oven. Broil until the cheese melts and becomes golden brown, about 5 minutes.
7. To assemble the sandwich, first spread a layer of marinara sauce on the bottom half of the hoagie roll, cut-side up. Next, place a breaded chicken cutlet. Top with a sprinkling of fresh basil leaves, then the top half of the bun. Repeat steps to create a total of four sandwiches. Serve!

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