Chicken Parmesan Sandwich Recipe

This fantastic chicken parmesan sandwich recipe will delight your taste buds whenever you make it!

This chicken parm sandwich features moist and tender chicken fillets topped with yummy mozzarella cheese. It’s so flavorful. Serve it with air fryer roasted vegetables or a light avocado cucumber tomato salad for a nutrient-dense, easy dinner. 

I love making sandwiches for the family since they’re fast to prepare, but can still be filling and flavorful. This recipe is no exception.

So, if you’re looking for the best, yet easy chicken Parmesan sandwich recipe with melty cheese, this one is worth trying. It may even become a family favorite.

Jump to:

• What is Parmesan Cheese Made out of?
• SAVE THIS RECIPE!
• ❤️ Why You’ll Love This Recipe
• 🥘 Ingredients
• 🔀 Substitutions
• 🌈 Variations / Options / Add-Ins
• 🥄 Equipment Needed / Helpful Tools
• 🔪 How to Make Chicken Parmesan Sandwich
• 👩‍🍳 Pro Tips
• ❓ Recipe FAQs
• 🙏 Pairing
• SAVE THIS RECIPE!
• 📋 Recipe

What is Parmesan Cheese Made out of?

Parmesan cheese is made from unpasteurized cow’s milk, salt, rennet, and bacteria cultures. 

Originating from a region in Italy called Parmigiano-Reggiano, this hard cheese has a dense and grainy texture that tastes both salty and savory. It’s even widely regarded as the “King of Cheeses” and was first created over a thousand years ago.

What Makes Parmesan Cheese Unique?

What makes this type of cheese unique is that it’s aged longer than most ordinary cheeses out there. This cheese is aged for at least 10 months, sometimes two years, so its flavor becomes robust and complex. 

Meanwhile, other types like mild cheddar, provolone and other types of cheddar are aged less, for about three to six months.     

Is Parmesan Cheese Healthy?

Parmesan cheese can be considered an energy-dense food thanks to its considerable fat and protein content. It’s also high in calcium, which is always good for bone health. 

❤️ Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Here are some fantastic reasons why chicken Parmesan sandwiches may just become a regular part of your menu:

• Easy to make: You’ll find no complicated steps in making this dish. Even novice cooks can whip it up without any difficulty.
• Ready in under an hour: Do you have an hour to spare before mealtimes? If so, then you have more than enough time to create a delicious homemade meal that tastes like it’s been bought from a store.
• Variety of textures: The sandwich offers a delightful contrast in textures. The crispy and golden-brown exterior of the chicken, the gooey melted cheese, and the softness of the bread creates a satisfying mouthfeel.
• Rich flavor: Chicken Parmesan sandwiches typically feature breaded fried chicken cutlets (can also be baked) topped with marinara and mozzarella. This combination results in a savory and flavorful dish.

Interested in other chicken recipes made with Parmesan cheese? Check out this air fryer garlic Parmesan wings recipe.

🥘 Ingredients

Another benefit to making this crispy sandwich with melted mozzarella at home is that the ingredients are easy to find. Here are the ingredients to make a chicken Parmesan sandwich:

• Chicken breasts: We will be using boneless and skinless chicken breasts that have been thinly cut.
• Parmesan cheese: This hard cheese will give the chicken fillets a lot of delicious flavor. You can use grated cheese, either freshly grated or pre-grated, depending on what you have on hand. 
• Panko-style breadcrumbs: This type of breadcrumbs will give your chicken fillets a crunchy texture. 
• Ciabatta buns: This type of bread is terrific for Italian sandwiches.

See recipe card for complete list of ingredients and quantities.

🔀 Substitutions

Make these swaps if you’re out of the main ingredients.

• Chicken breasts: Use chicken thighs to substitute chicken breasts if you’re out.
• Pasta sauce: You can use your favorite pasta sauce for this recipe. Sandwiches topped with marinara sauce taste great. For others, tomato sauce will suffice.
• Panko breadcrumbs: If you prefer, use Italian-seasoned bread crumbs instead of panko to elevate the flavors even more. 
• Parmesan cheese: Substitute mozzarella or provolone for Parmesan cheese if you’re out. 
• Ciabatta buns: You can use a baguette or any sub-style bread to make chicken Parmesan sub if preferred. 

🌈 Variations / Options / Add-Ins

What to give your crispy chicken sandwich a delicious twist? Here are some variations you can try:

• Cook the chicken in different ways: Instead of using the oven, you can either cook the chicken fillets using the air fryer or pan-frying them in a skillet over medium heat. Cook the chicken in batches to make sure they’re done well. 
• Make it spicy: To give this sandwich a bit of kick, you can use a spicier version of the pasta sauce or sprinkle some red pepper flakes in the mixture.
• Pile it with veggies: Add some lettuce and tomatoes for added texture and flavor when assembling your sandwich. 
• Add basil: Use fresh basil to add a fresh and aromatic element. 
• Olive oil: If anyone in the family isn’t a fan of pesto, opt to use olive oil instead.

Want to try a different chicken dish for your next meal? This quick and easy grilled barbecue chicken is amazing.

🥄 Equipment Needed / Helpful Tools

Here is the list of equipment that you need to make Parmesan chicken sandwiches:

• Mixing bowls: This is what you will use for mixing your dipping ingredients.  
• Whisk: You will use this for whisking the eggs.
• Baking sheet: This is where you will put the chicken fillets on when cooking them in the oven. 
• Aluminum foil: You will put this on top of the baking sheet prior to baking the chicken.  

🔪 How to Make Chicken Parmesan Sandwich

Here are the quick and easy steps to try making your own easy chicken Parmesan sandwich recipe at home. You’re sure to enjoy a tasty dinner in no time at all. 

Step 1: Preheat the Oven

Preheat the oven to 400 F. Next, line a baking sheet with aluminum foil sprayed with nonstick spray.

Step 2: Beat the Eggs

Start preparing your breading station. First, whisk 2 eggs in a shallow bowl. 

Step 3: Prepare Flour Mixture

Mix flour, salt, pepper and garlic powder in a separate bowl.

Step 4: Prepare Breadcrumb Mixture

In another bowl, mix panko breadcrumbs with the grated Parmesan cheese. 

Step 5: Coat the Chicken Breasts

Dip each chicken breast in the bowl with the egg mixture.

Step 6: Dip Them in Flour

Next, bread the chicken by dredging in the flour mixture.

Step 7: Coat Them in Panko

Then, dredge chicken breasts in the panko and Parmesan cheese mixture. Coat and bread the chicken well.

Step 8: Place Chicken on Baking Sheet

Place the chicken breasts on the baking sheet pan, sprinkle some parsley, and put them in the oven. Bake for about 20 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 165 F (75 C). You may flip the sides until golden brown.

Step 9: Add Sauce

Next, remove the chicken from the oven and spoon some pasta sauce over each fillet.

Step 10: Top with Cheese

Then, sprinkle mozzarella cheese on top of the fillets and bake for 10 more minutes, just until the cheese is melted.

Step 11: Prepare Pesto Mayo Sauce

In a small bowl, mix pesto sauce and mayonnaise until well combined.

Step 12. Spread Sauces on Buns

Spread the pesto mayo sauce on top of the bottom ciabatta buns. Next, spread some pasta sauce on the top ciabatta buns.

Step 13: Remove Chicken From Oven

Take out the chicken fillets from the oven. Place the cooked chicken on the bottom bun before putting the top bun on. Serve and enjoy.

👩‍🍳 Pro Tips

Want to make the best chicken parm sandwich like a pro? Follow these tips.

• If desired, you can use a meat mallet to pound the chicken to make them thinner before dipping them in the egg, flour and panko mixtures. This will give them more uniform thinness and help the seasonings penetrate the meat further.  
• A way to prevent the breading from falling off your chicken is to refrigerate them for at least an hour before cooking them. This will give the breading a chance to stick better to the meat. 
• You can also opt to toast your ciabatta buns before spreading some pesto mayo and pasta sauce on them. Toasted bread will add even more texture to your delicious chicken sandwich. 
• You can also place the breaded chicken on a wire rack over a baking sheet to ensure even crisping. The wire rack also helps let the chicken fillets rest after baking and let any drippings drip.

❓ Recipe FAQs

🙏 Pairing

These are my favorite dishes to serve with chicken Parmesan Sandwich:

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📋 Recipe