Instant Pot Chicken Parmesan
Instant Pot Chicken Parmesan is cooked in garlic-herb marinara then covered with golden, melted cheese. A restaurant-quality meal that takes 4 MINUTES in the IP!
For more hearty Italian-inspired fare, try our Golden Tomatoes Pepperoni Pizza, and our popular Maggiano’s Meatballs copycat!
Instant Pot Chicken Parmesan
Instant Pot Chicken Parmesan unbelievably easy and flavorful. We can’t get over how quick this takes in the IP— just four minutes! But don’t underestimate how good it tastes. The chicken turns out very juicy, and it absorbs so much flavor after getting cooked in the rich marinara itself.
Then, it’s topped with mozzarella and parmesan and broiled until gooey, cheesy, and perfectly delicious. Definitely a must-try!
Why make chicken parmesan in the instant pot?
First, because it’s fast. It sounds impossible, but apart from the quick sauté and broil, this recipe only needs 4 MINUTES in the Instant Pot!
In addition, because we’re cooking the cutlets with the sauce, the pressure cooker seals in all those flavors into the chicken despite the short amount of cooking time. There’s also no risk of the meat drying out because the IP locks in the moisture.
Finally, there are barely any dishes to wash here! No searing in the skillet, no long baking time in the oven— in short, very little effort for such an amazing dish.
Ingredients to make this recipe
- Chicken: We prefer using thin breast cutlets, but if you like dark meat, feel free to use skinless thigh fillets.
- Sauce: Your favorite jarred marinara sauce will do. However, if you’re up for making it from scratch, we’ve got this fantastic recipe you should try!
- Herbs: Dried herbs like basil, oregano, and Italian seasoning infuse our dish with warm flavors.
- Cheeses: We’re using a combo of creamy mozzarella and salty parmesan.
- Seasonings: Lastly, we’re sautéing minced garlic cloves in olive oil to build flavor, but fresh-ground pepper and kosher salt to taste.
How to make Instant Pot chicken parmesan from scratch
- Sauté. Turn on the IP’s Saute feature, then stir-fry the fresh garlic in olive oil until fragrant and lightly golden.
- Assemble. Into the sauteed garlic, pour the marinara, the dried herbs, half of the parmesan, and season. Arrange the chicken into the sauce, in a single layer if you can. Cover it with marinara.
- Cook. Set the IP to LOW PRESSURE, and cook for 4 minutes. Afterward, open the valve to release steam.
- Broil. Finally, arrange the cutlets on a baking sheet topped with a little marinara. Cover with mozzarella and the rest of the parmesan. Broil in the oven until the cheese is melted and browned.
- Serve. Transfer the remaining marinara into your serving platter, then carefully top with the chicken. Garnish with basil and enjoy hot.
Recipe variations and substitutions:
- Spicier: Add a little kick by stirring hot sauce into the marinara, adding dried chili flakes, or sprinkling with cayenne.
- Slow cooker: Into your slow cooker, throw in the meat, marinara, and seasonings. Cook on LOW for 4-6 hrs. Then, follow the broiling instructions in the original recipe.
- Pork: Use pork tenderloin medallions, lightly seared, for the meat.
- Other cheeses: Use white cheddar, gouda, provolone, swiss cheese, or Monterey Jack in place of mozzarella. Pecorino or Grana Padano are great subs for parmesan. If you like it cheesier, try a combination of one or two of these cheeses!
Frequenltly Asked Questions
Is there a difference between chicken parmesan versus parmigiana?
The only difference is how they’re pronounced. They just two different names for the same popular Italian-American dish – delicious breaded chicken cutlets simmered in marinara then covered in mozzarella.
What to serve with chicken parmesan?
We enjoy it on top of pasta (like spaghetti and fettuccine), with a side salad, or warm dinner rolls. It’s also tasty with veggies like roasted asparagus and these amazing crispy rosemary potatoes!
More pressure cooker recipes to try:
How to store leftovers?
Cool everything down first. Then, transfer the meat into a container and cover with any remaining sauce. To heat up, warm in the microwave or on a skillet until hot and cheese has remelted.
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Instant Pot Chicken Parmesan
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 4 garlic cloves thinly sliced
- 2 cups marinara sauce
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 4 thin chicken breasts
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt or more to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon dried Italian herbs
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 8 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese grated
- Chopped basil for garnish
Instructions
- On the IP turn on Saute mode on Low and once it reads Hot, add the oil and cook the garlic stirring for a few seconds.
- Stir in the marinara sauce, ½ cup of Parmesan cheese, oregano, Italian herbs, basil, salt, and pepper.
- Season the chicken with the salt and pepper.
- Increase the sauté heat to medium and add the seasoned chicken into the sauce. Try not to overlap it. Spoon some of the sauce on top of the chicken.
- Lock the lid, close the evalce and cook on low pressure for 4 minutes after which manually release the remaining pressure.
- Preheat the broil in the oven.
- Grease a baking sheet with olive oil and add some of the marinara sauce to the baking sheet. Add thee chicken breasts.
- Top with some of the sauce and sprinkle the mozzarella and the remaining Parmesan cheesee evenly over the chicken. Broil until the cheese is bubbly and melted.
- Scoop the remaining sauce into a serving dish, top with the chicken and serve sprinkled with fresh chopped basil.
Notes
- If your chicken breast is too thick, butterfly it first or pound it with a meat mallet.
- Crisp up some chopped bacon in the IP before sautéing the garlic— adds a ton of flavor to the dish!
- Please follow the cooking and pressure-release time exactly. The chicken cooks very fast in the IP, and it can quickly overcook if left in the pot.
Nutrition
