Baked CHICKEN HERB PARMESAN
2 boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 1 pound)
1/4 cup all-purpose flour……………..............3/4 cup Panko breadcrumbs
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese (the cheap one, in shaker container)
1 egg……………………………….............……about 1/2 cup pasta or pizza sauce
1 tsp. garlic powder………................………….1 tsp. dried oregano
3-4 basil leaves, chopped (or about 1 tsp. dried)
1 tsp. fresh rosemary, chopped (or about 1/2 tsp. dry rosemary leaves, crushed)
4 slices mozzarella or provolone cheese (or about 1 cup fresh shredded)
About 1 tsp. Kosher salt (or to taste).................black pepper to taste
Spaghetti or similar pasta ~ cooked per package & drained (can just toss with extra-virgin olive oil, unless you have some leftover pasta or pizza sauce you want to use up)
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Preheat oven to 425. ** Line a baking sheet with foil and lightly spray with non-stick spray.
Cut chicken breasts in half. Using a large plastic bag or plastic wrap, cover chicken and flatten to 1/2" thickness with a meat pounder or a rolling pin. Sprinkle salt and pepper both sides of the chicken. (NOTE: Before you start taking out your aggression on the chicken, be sure that you do it on a silpat mat or wooden cutting board ~ or cover a tempered glass board with a dish towel. But, don't do this directly on your counter because you don't want to crack or chip the countertop.) ~ TIP: If you have a chicken breast that's really thick, you can "cheat" and butterfly it (cut thick-wise almost in half but leaving it still attached at one side)
Get out 3 somewhat-flat bowls and line them up on the counter. Add flour to 1st bowl. Add beaten egg to 2nd bowl. Combine Panko crumbs with Parmesan cheese and herbs in 3rd bowl.
Dredge chicken in flour ~ then coat with egg ~ then cover with Panko mixture, pressing the coating onto chicken to get as much as possible to stick. Put them on the prepared baking sheet.
Bake for about 20 minutes. Turn the chicken breasts over. Then spread the pasta sauce over each breast and put the mozzarella cheese on top. Bake for another 10-12 minutes (or until cheese is melted and chicken is cooked through). Serve with plain or very lightly sauced pasta. Serves 2-4