I know I’ve written about this classic favorite dinner before, but there are so many different recipes and different ways to make it.  I can’t resist trying them all!

This recipe starts out with a “homemade” sauce, which you can tweak to make your own!  It truly adds something special to this meal, however a jar of your favorite pasta sauce will work just fine, too.

Ingredients:

Sauce:
-2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
-2 Garlic Cloves, minced
-1/4 teaspoon Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
-1 14-ounce Can Diced Tomatoes
-1 14-ounce Can Tomato Sauce
-1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning
-1/2 teaspoon Sugar
-Fresh Basil, optional

For the chicken:
-2 Tablespoons Olive Oil, more if needed
-3-4 Chicken Breasts (boneless, skinless)
-1/2 Cup Plain Breadcrumbs
-3/4 Cup Freshly Grated Parmesan Cheese
-1/4 teaspoon Freshly Ground Black Pepper
-1 Tablespoon Unsalted Butter
-1/2 Cup Freshly Shredded Mozzarella Cheese

In a deep skillet on medium heat, sauté garlic in olive oil until slightly yellow.  Add tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, and seasoning.  Simmer for 30 minutes.  Taste and add sugar if it’s too acidic.  Continue simmering on low as you make the chicken breasts.

Chop up your fresh basil.

Add to the sauce when ready to serve, and save some to top the chicken breasts with later.


Preheat oven to 400F.

In a small bowl, combine breadcrumbs and 1/4 cup of Parmesan cheese.  Add salt and pepper, if desired.
 In another skillet, heat olive oil and butter on medium heat.  Fry both sides of each breaded chicken breast, until golden.

Place in a baking dish.  Sprinkle a little Parmesan and mozzarella on top.

Bake for 15-20 minutes and remove from oven.

Top with about half of the sauce, covering the mid section of each chicken breast.
Top with cheese and bake another 5 minutes, until done.  Sprinkle the remaining fresh basil.

Let rest for five minutes.

Serve on top of pasta and enjoy!