Mini Chicken Parmi Bites (Kid-Friendly!)

All the joy of a classic Aussie chicken parmigiana, made into crunchy, cheesy, dunkable little bites the whole family can polish off.

Ingredients

• 600g chicken breast (or chicken thigh fillets), cut into 3–4cm chunks
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp garlic powder (optional but great)
• 1/2 cup plain flour
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups panko breadcrumbs (or regular breadcrumbs)
• 1/2 tsp dried oregano (optional)
• 2–3 tbsp oil (for baking tray and a light drizzle)
• 1 cup pizza sauce or thick pasta sauce (mild)
• 1 1/2 cups grated mozzarella (or tasty cheese)
• 1/4 cup grated parmesan (optional, or use extra tasty cheese)
• 2 tbsp finely chopped parsley (optional, for a “confetti” sprinkle)

Method

• 1

  Step 1: Heat oven + set up trays

  Preheat oven to **220°C (200°C fan)**. Line a large tray with baking paper and lightly oil it (this helps the crumb go golden).

• 2

  Step 2: Crumb the chicken

  Set up 3 bowls:

• 3

  Step 3: Bake until crunchy

  Arrange pieces on the tray with a little space between them. Drizzle lightly with oil. Bake **12 minutes**, flip, then bake **6–8 minutes** more until **golden and cooked through** (cut one open: no pink, juices clear).

• 4

  Step 4: Parmi-tise!

  Spoon a **teaspoon of sauce** onto each piece (don’t drown them—too much makes them soggy). Sprinkle with mozzarella and a little parmesan. Return to oven **3–5 minutes** until the cheese is **melted and bubbly**.

• 5

  Step 5: Serve

  Rest **2 minutes** (cheese sets slightly), then pile onto a platter. Sprinkle parsley if using. Perfect for little hands!

Tips

• **Budget swap:** Chicken thighs are usually cheaper and stay juicier—highly recommended.
• **No panko?** Regular breadcrumbs work; they’ll be slightly less crunchy but still delicious.
• **Extra kid-fun:** Serve with **oven chips** and **steamed peas/corn** on the side, and let kids “build” their own bites with a little sauce and cheese.
• **Storage:** Keep leftovers in the fridge **up to 3 days**. Reheat in the oven or air fryer to bring back crispiness (microwave makes them soft).

Nutrition (per serving, estimate)