Parmesan Chicken

Parmesan Chicken Breast Worth Fighting Over (and for)

When we were kids, my mother used to make this Parmesan chicken breast dish that was so good we would fight for drippings, every last crumb. She would start with a whole chicken, remove the skin and bones (and use them for making chicken stock), and then cut the meat into small pieces. (She made "chicken nuggets" before anyone called them that!)

Then she would dip these chicken nuggets into melted butter, dredge them in breadcrumbs and Parmesan, and bake them.

My god were they good.

The Secret to the Best Parmesan Chicken Breast

Several years ago when I asked mom for her parmesan chicken recipe, she hadn't made it in so many years she had completely forgotten how. After several false starts, my father and I finally recreated what comes close to her original recipe.

The secret, of course, is the melted butter.

When we made the parmesan chicken with olive oil, it was okay, but not the earth-shattering deliciousness we were looking for. At least that part of the recipe my mother remembered! (halfway through our recipe experimentation)

Also, when you use boneless skinless meat that has been cut into small pieces, the ratio of buttery crunchy coating to the meat is much higher than regular coated baked or fried chicken.

This recipe has been updated. First published in 2006.