I’m reaching way back into the past with this recipe—at least 30 years ago. I had just moved from Oklahoma back to my home state of Indiana. I’d been away far too long and was thrilled to be close to family again, especially my mom. Sadly, we hadn’t spent much time together in the kitchen when I was younger, so I was eager to change that.
Not long after I moved back, we invited her to stay with us for a long weekend. At the time, I wasn’t much of a cook—honestly, I didn’t even enjoy it—but I was ready to learn. And who better to learn from than my mom?
We took a look around the kitchen to see what I had on hand and, surprisingly, we found everything we needed to “throw something together.” What came out of that spontaneous moment was the very first time I cooked without following a recipe—and to everyone’s amazement, it turned out fantastic.
If memory serves, the table was mostly quiet during dinner—not from lack of conversation, but because we were all too busy oohing and aahing over how delicious it was. We joked that it deserved a 5-star rating, and we agreed it was elegant enough to serve to guests but simple and quick enough for any busy weeknight.
We just knew we had to write it down before we forgot the ingredients. Since then, I’ve added it to two of the cookbooks I’ve put together “just for family”—but now, I’m excited to share it with you.
Prep Time: 20 Minutes - Bake Time: 45 Minutes - Servings: 4
Ingredients:
- 4 Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts, Pounded to 1/4" Thin
- 2 Tbsp Olive Oil
- 2 Tsp Minced Garlic
- 2/3 Cup of Italian Style Panko Bread Crumbs
- 1/4 Cup of Parmesan Cheese
- 1 Tsp Dried Basil Leaves
- 1 Tsp Dried Oregano Leaves
- 1/4 Tsp of Salt & Black Pepper
- 32 Oz of Your Favorite Spaghetti Sauce
- 1 LB of Angel Hair Pasta (Or Pasta of Your Choice), Cooked According to Package Directions
- Fresh Parmesan Cheese
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 375°.
- Place foil on a baking sheet and spray lightly with cooking spray.
- On a large plate, blend the olive oil and the garlic.
- In a separate bowl, mix the panko bread crumbs, parmesan cheese, basil, oregano, salt, and black pepper. Set aside.
- Pound the chicken breasts to at least 1/4" thin and then dip them in the oil mixture, and then in the bread crumbs.
- Arrange the coated chicken breasts in the prepared pan and top with any remaining bread crumb mixture.
- Bake for 45 minutes in the oven or until the chicken is no longer pink and the juices run clear. The breadcrumbs will be nicely browned on top.
To Plate:
- Place the pasta in the center of the plate or bowl.
- Cover with one piece of the chicken and top with desired amount of pasta sauce and fresh parmesan cheese.
- Sprinkle with fresh basil, oregano, or parsley.
- Serve with garlic bread or a freshly bake baguette.
After a sun-soaked day lounging on the beach, you head back to your cozy spot—booked with Premium Beach Condos—ready to treat yourself again, this time with something delicious.
Dinner? Crispy, golden baked Parmesan chicken over a bed of perfectly cooked pasta, with a warm, fresh baguette on the side. You’re out on the balcony, wine in hand, watching the sun dip low in the sky, painting everything in soft amber and rose. Looking for the perfect wine to pair with your dinner? Head over to our blog to discover the best places to find great wines in Panama City Beach!"
The ocean breeze rolls in, the air is rich with garlic and basil, and for a moment, it’s like Italy and the beach collided—in the best possible way. Pure magic.
