Cooking is more art than science, so don’t stress the small stuff. Here’s how you can bring this delightful dish to life:

1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). This ensures you get a nice, bubbly finish on the cheese.
2. Pound the chicken breasts to an even thickness. This helps them cook evenly, a trick I learned from my dad when we used to make family dinners together.
3. Set up your breading station: place flour in one dish, beaten eggs in another, and a mix of breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper in the third.
4. Coat each chicken breast in flour, then dip in the egg, and finally press into the breadcrumb mixture, ensuring an even coating.
5. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook the chicken breasts until golden brown on both sides, about 3-4 minutes per side. My tip? Don’t overcrowd the pan; cook in batches if necessary.
6. Place the chicken in a baking dish. Top each piece with marinara sauce and a generous sprinkling of mozzarella cheese.
7. Bake in the preheated oven until the cheese is melty and bubbly, about 15 minutes.
8. Garnish with fresh basil leaves before serving. This adds a fresh, fragrant touch that reminds me of my mom’s kitchen magic.