A little reason to celebrate

National Chicken Parmesan Day

Food · April 19

A day for chicken Parmesan, the breaded cutlet baked under tomato sauce and melted cheese, and a fixture of Italian American restaurant menus.

National Chicken Parmesan Day falls on Monday, April 19, 2027. That is 174 days away.

Chicken Parmesan starts with a thin chicken cutlet, breaded and fried until crisp. Then it gets covered in tomato sauce and cheese and goes into the oven until the top bubbles and browns. Mozzarella does most of the melting, and grated Parmesan adds a sharper, saltier note.

The dish is a cousin of eggplant Parmesan, which layers fried eggplant slices the same way. Swapping in chicken gave Italian American kitchens something hearty and familiar, and it settled onto menus as a reliable order. It often arrives beside a plate of spaghetti, or tucked into a long roll as a sandwich that needs a lot of napkins.

The appeal is mostly about contrast. The crust stays crunchy at the edges while the middle softens under the sauce, and the cheese pulls into long strings when you cut in. Some cooks keep the sauce sparing so the breading survives. Others are generous and accept a softer result.

Making it at home is less fussy than it looks. Pounding the chicken to an even thickness helps it cook through before the coating darkens, and a quick spell under the broiler finishes the cheese. Leftovers reheat better in an oven than a microwave, which tends to turn the crust limp.

Ways to celebrate

Try making chicken Parmesan at home with pounded cutlets and a simple tomato sauce.
Order a chicken Parm sandwich from a local Italian American deli.
Compare a saucy version with one that keeps the crust crisp.
Share a family recipe for the dish with a friend.
Try eggplant Parmesan alongside it to taste the two cousins together.

Dates

Year	Date
2026	Sunday, April 19
2027	Monday, April 19
2028	Wednesday, April 19
2029	Thursday, April 19
2030	Friday, April 19

All national days on April 19

Also on April 19

Categories: Food days