Garlic Bread Chicken Parm Sandwiches
Chicken Parm is a favorite for families all across the world. It is so easy to make and so delicious, but what if there was a way to increase the flavor a bit and make it even more satisfying? Well my friends, there is -- garlic bread. Garlic bread is a well-loved side, but it is also one of my favorite ways to add flavor to a sandwich. In order to make this chicken parm more delightful, I decided to use my classic trick and make a garlic bread bun. This allows you to combine all of the Italian flavors you love in one bite. Yum!
the details of the garlic bread chicken parm sandwich
As I've said in a previous post, sandwiches are my favorite dish to get creative with. Not only because there are so many different types, but because you can take ideas from one sandwich and use it to perfect another. In this case, I used one of my favorite sandwich tricks aka garlic bread. Something I have used on buffalo chicken cheesesteaks and Italian paninis, this bread is versatile and completes the flavor palette of so many meals.
To me, the best garlic bread is made with both EVOO and butter. Instead of just using olive oil, I like to add butter as it allows the bread to brown better. I also think the olive oil is a must though, as it adds more flavor than just butter!
Enough about garlic bread, lets talk sauce. For the past three years I have been working towards creating an amazing homemade red sauce. From playing aroung with a variety of sauce ingredients and even looking at other's recipes, I've found that a must have ingredient in red sauce is tomato paste. I don't know what it does exactly, but I feel as if tomato paste brings a deeper flavor to the sauce.
Now lets get on to the chicken. Breading in Panko breadcrumbs is key, as it adds more crispiness and texture to the chicken than normal breadcrumbs do. As for topping the chicken off with sauce and cheese, I like to add multiple layers, as it ensures that the chicken to sauce ratio isn't too small, and when you have really good sauce it just adds a lot more flavor!
sandwich subsitutes
Don't like garlic bread or want it as your roll? You can leave your rolls plain and even make the garlic bread as a side dish!
If you don't want a sandwich at all, the recipe for this chicken parm is super delicious on it's own. If you decide to use it for this reason, be sure to butterfly the chicken as opposed to cutting it in half. This will prevent the chicken from being too thick.
Dont' have ciabatta bread? Get creative! You can use plain white bread, Italian Pane bread, a baguette, a batard...the world is your oyster!
Garlic Bread Chicken Parm Sandwiches
Ingredients
Chicken Parm
- 2 lbs chicken breasts about 4-5 large chicken breasts
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour to start, may need more
- 2 eggs
- 1 1/2 cups Panko Seasoned bread crumbs to start, may need more
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese
- vegetable oil for frying
- 24 oz red sauce homemade or store bought (1 jar)
- 1 8oz bag Mozzarella cheese
Garlic Bread
- 4-5 cloves of garlic
- 2 stems of parsley
- 1 1/2 tbsp butter
- 2-3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder to taste
- 6 ciabatta rolls
Instructions
- First, cut fat off of chicken breasts and half them. I do not butterfly them here so that the chicken is thick and is not too small for the rolls.
- Once the chicken is cut, set up the breading station. I typically set out parchment paper, wax paper, or foil. I put the flour on the left, a bowl with the eggs in the top-middle, and the breadcrumbs on the right. When preparing the eggs, put a sprinkle of water in them so they aren't too thick. As for the breadcrumbs, add a tablespoon of parmesan cheese. In terms of the flour, add 1 tbsp of pepper.
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F
- Heat up the oil (the amount is your choice, but I like to add a lot as if I'm deep frying to cook faster) in a cast iron skillet to 325 degrees F. Fry two pieces of chicken at a time. The chicken is thick so it'll take at least 10 minutes, if not longer. Check with a thermometer or cut to the middle with a knife. You can also fry the chicken in a way that you typically like to!
- As the chicken is frying, set up a wire rack on top of a baking sheet, or put paper towels on a plate, to place the chicken and let the oil drain when done frying.
- Once the chicken is finished frying, put it in a baking dish.
- It is time to layer the sauce and cheese. Start by spooning some sauce over each piece of chicken, then sprinkle some parmesan cheese, then mozzarella cheese. I like to repeat this process about two-three times or until I run out of sauce and mozzarella.
- Once you're done layering, put the chicken in the oven for 10 minutes to let the cheese melt.
- Meanwhile, prepare the garlic bread.
- Put halved rolls on cookie sheet.
- Mince the garlic and parsley.
- Place the butter, oil, and garlic salt in a microwavable safe bowl. Microwave for at least 45 seconds to a minute or until butter is melted.
- Add the garlic and parsley to the butter/oil mixture and brush onto the top of rolls and inside of the bottoms.
- Once chicken is done, turn on broiler and broil the rolls for about 2-3 minutes or until toasted. Be careful here, as you can easily burn the rolls (like I did lol)
- Once the rolls are done, put the chicken on, add extra sauce if you want, and enjoy!
2 Comments
Garlic bread makes the best roll!! Thank you Karleigh for such a great recipe
Found these on a Buzzfeed article and man am I thankful. The garlic bread and chicken parm combination is one I never knew I needed. They take a little time to make but are totally worth it.