yum-E!
This is a little on the time-consuming side,
but oh, so worth it!
You can make the patties ahead of time,
even breading them and storing them in the refrigerator until it's time to
cook.
Using ground chicken is easier to stuff
than whole chicken breasts, but the flavor is the same.
This makes 2 large chicken patties.
Enjoy!
Chicken:
1 pound ground white chicken breast
1 egg
salt and pepper
garlic powder
Italian seasoning
4 thick slices mozzarella cheese
Breading:
1/2 C flour
2 eggs
3/4 C dry bread crumbs or panko
cooking oil (canola or olive)
Topping:
1/2 C marinara sauce
1/2 C Parmesan cheese
1/4 C chopped Italian parsley
Mix the chicken and the egg in a bowl.
Season well with salt, pepper, garlic powder and Italian seasoning.
On waxed paper, on a platter or cutting
board, divide the chicken to make 4 large ground meat patties. Lay 2
slices of cheese in the center of two of the patties. Carefully top
each with the second patty. With fingers, seal the edges well,
making sure to conceal all the cheese.
Cover the patties with plastic wrap and
place the platter or cutting board, with the patties on it, in the
refrigerator and let chill well for at least 30 minutes or overnight.
Alternatively, you may freeze the patties for 15-30 minutes. The
idea is to get the meat to firm up enough to be able to bread it
later.
Place the flour in a shallow bowl or a
saucer. Beat the eggs in another bowl. Place bread crumbs or panko
to a third bowl.
Remove the chicken patties from the
refrigerator or freezer. Carefully dredge each one in the flour,
coating it completely. Set on the wax paper-lined platter or cutting
board. Carefully coat the flour-dredged patties with the beaten egg.
Set on the platter or cutting board. Carefully coat the patties in
the bread crumbs or panko, making sure to cover well with crumbs.
Add more crumbs as needed to get a good coating. Return the breaded
patties to the refrigerator.
Preheat the oven to 400*
Heat the marinara sauce in a small
saucepan on low heat on the stove.
Heat the oil over medium-high heat in
skillet large enough to fit both patties.
Carefully place the patties in the hot
oil and cook, undisturbed for 3 minutes.
Carefully turn the patties over with a
spatula and continue to cook for 3 minutes.
Make sure the coating is evenly browned
and the patties are staying together.
Remove the patties to a rimmed cookie
sheet.
Place in the preheated oven and bake
for 10 minutes.
Meanwhile cook pasta or potatoes;
vegetables and make a salad if desired.
Remove the patties from the oven onto
individual plates. Top with marinara sauce, Parmasan cheese and
parsley. Serve with side dishes as desired.
If melted cheese is desired, you can
top the patties with Parmesan cheese after they've baked for 10
minutes.
