Chicken Parmesan & Broccoli

This has got to be one of A's favorite meals!! It's quick, easy, and (in my opinion) pretty budget friendly! It usually takes about 45 minutes roughly if you do the prep work beforehand. The recipe here is for two people. :)

*Recommendations can be found at the end of the recipe* 

**Pictures are added at the end of the post, after recipe and recommendations**

Here you'll need:

• 2 boneless chicken breasts, pounded 1 1/4" thick (or 1 lb. if the chicken breast is large like mine pictured below)
• 1 jar of your favorite spaghetti sauce ( I use Bertolli Tomato & Basil) 
• 1 box of spaghetti noodles
• 3 heads of broccoli, chopped into bite-sized florets 
• 1 package of parmesan/mozzarella mixed cheese (or one bag of each)
• 3 T olive oil
• salt and pepper
• 1/2 c milk
• 1 egg
• plain bread crumbs
• 2 T butter

Whisk egg and milk together. Dip breasts in mixture, then in bread crumbs. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown the chicken 4 minutes on each side. As it browns *do not touch it*. Set chicken in a baking dish. Sprinkle desired amount of mozzarella cheese on both chicken breasts. Pour spaghetti sauce over breasts. Sprinkle desired amount of parmesan cheese and more mozzarella if desired. Bake at 350°F for about 25 minutes or until bubbly. Once that is in the oven, begin to boil water for spaghetti noodles. Once boiling add 1 tablespoon butter and allow to boil on medium high until the chicken reach 15 minutes left. At this point, add the spaghetti noodles. When chicken has 10 minutes left,  in a medium saucepan (with cover), add water and bring to light boil. Add broccoli, cover, and boil for 6 minutes. Strain noodles first, pour back into pot and add the rest of the butter stirring thoroughly. Rinse colander and strain broccoli either placing it on display dish or back in pan. Add salt and pepper and remove chicken from oven. Plate and serve. 

I know this sounds hectic, but trust me I do this exact thing every single time and if you prepped beforehand there is no rush. This is where my recommendations can help. 

Recommendations

1. When buying the chicken, go for the local deli/meat shop instead of the pre-packaged chicken. The butchers will be able to pound it to the appropriate size for you *for free* which means you save time and energy. (Trust me, those bad boys put up a fight!) 

2. Before you even start making the meal, prepare the broccoli. Cut it into the appropriate size in the morning or day before, place in tupperware, and save until you're ready. Again, this will save you time and energy and will play a major role in keeping the hectic level down. 

3. Instead of placing chicken in a frying pan then a baking dish, use a pan that is also oven friendly so you just slide that baby into the oven and bake. No transferring. *Do not do this with any stove top pan that has plastic handles.* {view example below for clarification}

 Here is the chicken, pounded out by our local butcher and sliced in half by me. After this, A and I thought we would be fancy and quarter it for smaller pieces (like they do in France I'm told).

Chicken breasts cooked in the oil. Don't let the one "extra cooked" one worry you. My stupid electric stove is crooked so that one had extra oil lovin'. *It will not affect the taste*

Chicken loaded with cheese (just like A likes it!) in the oven and ready to go! 

{example}

 





 

THE FINISHED PRODUCT!!! 

[[I found this recipe on the internet so long ago I don't remember where. I did make quite a few revision on my own though that I don't think I have the actual recipe anymore]]