Tips: The marinara sauce can be made a day ahead of time. It can also be made on its own and used as a pasta sauce. When tenderizing the meat, it is important to start in the center and work your way out to the edges. This gives you more control and helps to keep the thickness of the tenderized meat consistent. The chicken is tenderized so that it cooks consistently and quickly, and so that the frying is consistent. This way you get a nice, even golden brown color and great flavor without burning or under or overcooking.
Chicken parmesan is a classic Italian-American dish made with breaded chicken cutlets, tomato sauce, and melted cheese. The chicken and cheese are the main ingredients, but it’s important to find the right sauce to go with them. The sauce gives the chicken flavor and moisture and makes the cheese melt beautifully on top. The question is, what sauce goes best with chicken parm? Here are some of the best sauces for this dish that everyone loves.
Traditional Tomato Sauce
An authentic tomato sauce is the most traditional choice to pair with chicken parm. Tomato sauce has been used in chicken parmesan for generations, as the tangy tomato flavor complements the crunchy breaded chicken cutlets and gooey melted cheese perfectly. When making chicken parm at home, you can prepare your own simple tomato sauce from scratch using canned tomatoes, tomato paste, olive oil, onions, garlic, and Italian seasoning. Simmer until thickened. Or opt for a high-quality jarred tomato sauce, ideally one with ingredients like tomatoes, olive oil, and spices. Look for a tomato sauce with some texture that will cling nicely to the chicken.
Marinara Sauce
Marinara sauce is another excellent option for chicken parm. It starts with tomatoes and then adds olive oil, onions, garlic, herbs, and spices. That being said, marinara often has a bit more flavor because of things like roasted vegetables, red wine, or balsamic vinegar. Because marinara can make chicken parm taste even better, High-quality jarred marinara sauces can work well. You can also make your own by cooking crushed tomatoes from a can with garlic, basil, oregano, red wine, and balsamic vinegar for a while. The flavors will meld beautifully.
Vodka Sauce
Use vodka sauce to make chicken parm creamier. Vodka sauce has a tomato base similar to marinara. Adding cream and Parmesan cheese gives it a silky texture and makes it rich. You can taste the vodka in the sauce without getting drunk from it. You can enjoy a very fancy chicken parm when vodka sauce melts into breaded chicken breasts and mozzarella. There is ready-made vodka sauce at the store that makes chicken parm easy to make during the week. You can also make it yourself by mixing tomato sauce with vodka, cream, and grated Parmesan.
Alfredo Sauce
You can make chicken parm more interesting by using Alfredo sauce instead of tomato sauce. The butter, cream, and Parmesan cheese in Alfredo sauce make it very smooth. When you use alfredo sauce instead of tomato sauce, the chicken parm tastes creamy and comforting. Jarred alfredo sauce can work in a pinch. To get the best alfredo sauce, simmer heavy cream with butter, garlic, Parmesan, parsley, and seasoning for a while. You might love alfredo sauce more than any other way to dress up chicken parm.
Pesto
Herb-loaded pesto is a fresh take on saucing chicken parm Basil pesto is the most common, made with basil, Parmesan, pine nuts, garlic, and olive oil processed to a textured sauce Swap in traditional tomato sauce with basil pesto for a chicken parm with vibrant herbal flavor. The pine nuts or walnuts in pesto also give you some nice crunch. Store-bought pesto works well, but try making your own for scratch-made chicken parm dinner. Other pesto varieties like sun-dried tomato pesto or arugula pesto also pair deliciously with chicken parm.
Putting It All Together
When it comes to assembling your sauced-up chicken parm start with lightly floured chicken breast cutlets dipped in egg wash and Italian seasoned breadcrumbs. Pan fry until golden and crispy. Top with warm sauce and shredded mozzarella or Parmesan cheese. Bake until the cheese is melty and delicious. Serve over a bed of pasta or with garlic bread and a salad for a complete chicken parm dinner.
While tomato sauce is the tried and true choice, don’t be afraid to experiment with different sauces for chicken parm. Bust out of the tomato sauce rut with creamy vodka sauce, pesto, or alfredo. The possibilities are nearly endless for saucing up chicken cutlets. Use high-quality jarred sauces or make your own for the best flavor. The right sauce can make all the difference in taking your chicken parm to new tasty heights. So explore all the options to find your perfect sauce match for this Italian-American classic.
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Tips: The marinara sauce can be made a day ahead of time. It can also be made on its own and used as a pasta sauce. When tenderizing the meat, it is important to start in the center and work your way out to the edges. This gives you more control and helps to keep the thickness of the tenderized meat consistent. The chicken is tenderized so that it cooks consistently and quickly, and so that the frying is consistent. This way you get a nice, even golden brown color and great flavor without burning or under or overcooking.
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FAQ
What sauce for chicken parmesan?
For Chicken Parmesan, marinara sauce is the most commonly used and traditional choice. It’s a simple tomato-based sauce, often with garlic, herbs, and sometimes a touch of onion.
What sauce goes with parmigiana?
The sauce for Eggplant Parmigiana is a classic Italian tomato sugo (“sauce” in Italian).May 18, 2021
What do you serve chicken parmesan with?
Chicken Parmesan is commonly served with pasta, particularly spaghetti, and a side of marinara sauce.