8 Restaurant Chains With The Tastiest Chicken Parm
Crispy chicken, lava-hot marinara, and enough melted cheese to cause a mozzarella meltdown -this isn’t your sad cafeteria parm.
These eight restaurant chains are slinging chicken parm so absurdly good, you’ll question every life choice that led you to frozen dinners. Warning: spontaneous drooling and sudden dinner reservations may occur.
1. Olive Garden’s Homestyle Masterpiece
Mama mia! Olive Garden’s chicken parmigiana arrives sizzling hot with a golden-brown crust that practically winks at you from across the table.
Their secret? A double-dredge technique that creates the perfect crunch-to-tender ratio. Paired with their house-made marinara and a mountain of melty mozzarella, it’s comfort food that hugs your taste buds.
2. Carrabba’s Italian Grill’s Wood-Fired Wonder
Holy flavor explosion! Carrabba’s takes chicken parm to heavenly heights with their wood-fired cooking method that infuses a subtle smokiness you won’t find elsewhere.
While the edges are perfectly crisp, the chicken maintains its impossible moist texture. Before you can say “grazie!” this dish turns newcomers into devoted regulars with its pomodoro sauce, which is made from hand-crushed tomatoes and imported Parmesan.
3. Maggiano’s Little Italy’s Grand Champion
Size matters at Maggiano’s, where ‘The Grand’ chicken parmigiana lives up to its name! This massive masterpiece barely fits on the plate, causing neighboring diners to point and whisper.
Though intimidating in size, it’s the quality that truly impresses. Their chicken is pounded thin, breaded with Italian herbs, and topped with enough cheese to make Wisconsin proud. Each bite delivers the perfect balance of crispy exterior and tender meat.
4. Buca di Beppo’s Family-Style Feast
Where’s the party? At Buca di Beppo, where their family-style chicken parmigiana arrives on platters that could double as small coffee tables!
Despite serving crowds, they never sacrifice quality for quantity. Each piece is hand-breaded and fried until golden, then baked with their signature marinara and a blanket of provolone and mozzarella. The cheese pull alone deserves its own Instagram account!
5. Bravo! Italian Kitchen’s Gourmet Twist
Fancy meets comfort at Bravo! Italian Kitchen, where their chicken parm gets the white-tablecloth treatment without the stuffy attitude.
By adding panko breadcrumbs for crunch and aged provolone for depth to a three-cheese mix, their chefs improve this classic. As if the chicken parm had graduated from culinary school, it is served with al dente capellini pasta and freshly chopped basil.
6. Bertucci’s Brick Oven Beauty
Fire up the taste buds! Bertucci’s signature brick ovens aren’t just for their famous pizzas – they’re the secret weapon behind their knockout chicken parm too.
After traditional frying, they slide this bad boy into their 600-degree brick oven, creating a magical caramelization where the cheese meets the sauce.
The result? Crispy edges, bubbly cheese with those irresistible brown spots, and flavor that makes you close your eyes with each bite.
7. Buffalo Wild Wings’ Rebel Chicken Parm Melt
Plot twist! Buffalo Wild Wings crashes the Italian party with their rebellious Chicken Parm Melt that breaks all the rules in the best possible way.
Imagine their famous crispy chicken tossed in garlic-parmesan sauce, stuffed between toasted ciabatta with marinara and provolone.
Half sandwich, half chicken parm, and 100% craveable. Perfect for one-handed eating while you’re cheering on your team!
8. Applebee’s Neighborhood Comfort Classic
Instead of using regular spaghetti, their twist combines crispy chicken with creamy fettuccine alfredo, which is a brilliant idea that makes for the perfect sauce-sopping combination.
Forks are turning all across the country because of the yin-yang flavor created by the contrast between the creamy alfredo and the vibrant marinara.