Heavenly Gluten-Free Chicken Parmesan Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What can I use instead of breadcrumbs for chicken parmesan? ›

Delicate and ultra-crisp, sugar-free cornflakes also make a great breadcrumb or panko substitute, especially for coating chicken. Crush them with a rolling pin in a large plastic bag to turn them into crumbs.

Instead of the egg, Moskowitz recommends a mix of cornstarch and water, which, when stirred together, forms a slurry. It, too, is an effective glue, and you may even notice more crispness to, say, your chicken parm. This would also be another good scenario for a liquid vegan substitute.

It has been speculated that the dish is based on a combination of the Italian parmigiana di melanzane, a dish using fried eggplant slices and tomato sauce, with a cotoletta, a breaded veal cutlet generally served without sauce or cheese in Italy.

Rice Chex

For bread crumbs in particular, Rice Chex is a standout option. A versatile gluten-free alternative to bread crumbs that works as a panko topping, too, Rice Chex is readily available, ready instantly, and will soon become your bread crumb recipe go-to.

Sunflower seeds, almonds, and sesame seeds are all great breadcrumb alternatives. Chop larger nuts finely in a food processor. Seeds like sesame are already small enough and can be used as is. Use a variety of nuts as a coating for chicken, fish, or pork; just pulse them finely so they will stick.

Always dip your chicken in beaten egg before coating

Dipping your chicken in egg helps the breadcrumbs, or whatever coating you use, adhere evenly to the outside of the cutlet. You should start with a thin layer of flour, which gives the egg a better surface to cling to, then the egg, then the coating.

To maximize crispiness, I use panko breadcrumbs and fry the chicken in a little more oil (about an inch) than you might normally use when making parm. As soon as the cutlets are nicely browned and cooked all the way though, drain them on a rack or paper towels. They're crunchy; this will help them stay that way.

There are more than a few reasons why mayo makes sense as a substitute for egg wash. Since they both share the same main ingredient (eggs), they function in very similar ways. Much like egg wash acts as a binding agent to help seasonings and breadcrumbs stick to meat, creamy mayonnaise also manages to do the same.

You could also try milk or yogurt. For heavier coatings (like panko or breadcrumbs), you might dust the fish with flour first. Once the floured fish is dipped in the butter or milk, it will get a little gummy and help the coating adhere better.

I have found the best way is to put chicken in a bowl and add just plain old cheap mustard and add whatever seasonings you like. Mix and coat with mustard and dip in Panko crumbs. No, you have no mustard taste after baking and you get nice crispy chicken. This works well with pork chops also.

What is the difference between chicken parmigiana and chicken parmesan? ›

Chicken Parmesan and chicken Parmigiana are just different names for the same exact recipe. And, with a name like “chicken Parmigiana”, you might assume that this recipe is Italian. While it has roots in Italy (in a way), chicken Parmesan is all-American.

Some believe that it was created in Parma, hence the name. Others believe it comes from a Sicilian word that means slabs on a roof, referring to the thin slices of chicken covered in the sauce.

If you look carefully at your food label, you might see just “enzymes” on the back of the package with little to no further explanation. This refers to either animal, plant, or microbial enzymes. Parmesan is always made with animal enzymes, also called animal rennet, meaning it's not vegetarian.

Cornflakes or Bran Cereals

"They're also a great casserole topping, but avoid using them as a binder since they're not good at absorbing liquid and flavor," says Sofia Norton, RD. Their light and airy, but still crisp, texture makes them a good panko crumbs alternative.

Variations and offshoots aside, chicken parmigiana as you know it always contains the same batch of basic ingredients: Chicken breast, often butterflied, breadcrumbs, Italian seasonings, Neapolitan tomato sauce, and mozzarella cheese.

Cornmeal

It has a nice, coarse texture, reminding you of breadcrumbs when you bite it. You can use cornmeal in a variety of ways. For example, this blue cornmeal baked onion rings recipe uses cornmeal for breading. But you can just as easily turn your cornmeal into a delicious porridge or polenta.