Classic Veal Parmesan

Veal Parmesan, or Veal Parmigiana, is a classic Italian dish composed of crispy breaded veal, rich tomato sauce, and melty Parmesan and mozzarella cheese. This simple meal is worthy of a special occasion!

veal parmesan on a plate with pasta

Veal doesn’t have to be confined to the menus of your favorite Italian restaurants. This versatile cut of meat is easy to prepare, and today I’m answering all your veal questions: what it is, where to buy it, and how to make the best Veal Parmesan around!

All About Veal

Veal refers to the beef that comes from young cattle, which is nutritionally dense, extremely lean and contains essential nutrients like zinc, protein and B vitamins. Veal is known for its tender texture and delicate flavor, and can be purchased in many of the same beef cuts you’re probably already familiar with–roasts, chops, ribs, ground and cutlets. For Veal Parmesan, we’ll be using veal cutlets or veal scallopini.

Veal calves live in indoor group pens where they are protected from the weather and can socialize, and also have constant access to veterinary care and fresh food and water.

raw veal scallopini on a plate

Where to Find Veal

Most local butcher shops and some specialty grocers carry veal. I always recommend calling ahead of time to ask. Italian grocery stores are another great place to look for veal.

When buying veal, look for a cut that is creamy pink in color with a fine-grained texture. If there is a fat covering, it should be milky white.

What’s the difference between veal cutlets and veal scallopini?

A veal cutlet, also known as round steak, is usually taken from the top round or leg and cut into steaks that are about 1/4 inch thick.

Veal scallopini is taken from the same part of the calf, but it’s pounded very thin. Both scallopini and cutlets are great for pan frying and sauteeing.

I prefer using veal scallopini for Veal Parmesan. If you can’t find it, simply place a veal cutlet between two pieces of parchment paper and use a meat mallet or heavy rolling pin to pound it very thin.

veal parmesan with melted mozzarella cheese on top

How to Make Veal Parmesan

You might be surprised how easy it is to make Veal Parmesan. With just a few simple ingredients, you’ll have crispy breaded veal topped with warm marinara and melty cheese.

First, if you’re using veal cutlets, place them between two pieces of saran wrap and use a meat mallet or heavy rolling pin to pound them to about 1/8 inch thick. If you’re using veal scallopini, move on to the next step.

  1. We’ll start by seasoning the veal with salt and pepper then breading it.
  2. Fill one bowl with flour, one bowl with lightly beaten eggs, and one bowl with a seasoned breadcrumb and Parmesan cheese mixture.
  3. Dip the veal in the flour mixture, coating it on both sides. Transfer it to the eggs, again making sure the mixture coats both sides. dipping veal cutlets in flour then in egg for breading
  4. Finally, dip it in the breadcrumb mixture, then shake off any excess.
  5. Now, we saute! Add some olive oil to a large skillet and warm over medium heat. Add the veal cutlets and cook, 2-3 minutes a side, until crispy. The veal cooks quickly since it’s so thin. dipping veal scallopini in bread crumbs
  6. Transfer the veal to a greased baking sheet and top with Parmesan cheese, marinara sauce, and fresh mozzarella cheese slices. Place in the oven and bake for 15 minutes, adding a 5 minute broil at the end to get the cheese nice and brown and bubbly.breaded veal topped with marinara then sliced mozzarella cheese
  7. Top with fresh parsley and serve on its own or with Garlic Green Beans, a garden salad, or cooked pasta.

Veal Parmigiana Cooking Tips:

  • Store bought ingredients like jarred tomato sauce and Italian breadcrumbs save time in the kitchen, but you can feel free to make your own. We love the homemade tomato sauce featured in these Classic Spaghetti and Meatballs or Giant Mozzarella Stuffed Meatballs. Check out this homemade breadcrumb tutorial if you want to make your own!
  • Veal chops, roasts, and steaks can all be marinated for up to five days. However, I’ve found Veal Parmesan doesn’t even need a marinade since there’s so much flavor in the breading and sauce!
  • The key to tender, juicy veal is to not overcook. Thin veal cutlets only need to sautรฉ for a few minutes!
  • Feel free to replace the mozzarella cheese slices with provolone if you prefer.

a fork taking a bite out of a piece of veal parmesan

veal parmesan on a plate with pasta

Classic Veal Parmesan

Yield: 4
Prep Time: 25 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes

This classic Veal Parmesan recipe combines crispy breaded veal with tomato sauce, Parmesan cheese, and melty mozzarella cheese for an incredible Italian meal.

Ingredients

  • 1 lb veal cutlets or scallopini (about 4 cutlets)
  • Kosher salt and pepper
  • 1/2 cup flour
  • 2 eggs
  • 3/4 cup bread crumbs
  • 1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese, divided
  • 1 teaspoon parsley flakes
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 2 Tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 cup jarred pasta sauce
  • 4 thick slices fresh mozzarella cheese

Instructions

  1. If you're using cutlets, place them between two slices of saran wrap and pound them until they're about an 1/8-1/4 inch thick. If you're using scallopini, proceed to step 2.
  2. Season the veal with Kosher salt and pepper on both side.
  3. Set out 3 bowls to bread the veal (large, shallow bowls work best for this). Add the flour to one and the eggs to another. Give the eggs a quick whisk.
  4. In the third bowl, whisk together the breadcrumbs, 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, parsley flakes, garlic powder, and basil.
  5. Pick up one veal scallopini and dip it in the flour, coating it on both sides. Dip in the egg, then press into the breadcrumbs, making sure they're evenly distributed. Transfer to a plate and repeat with remaining veal.
  6. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
  7. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the cutlets and cook for 2-3 minutes per side, or until browned and crispy. Transfer to a greased baking dish. Repeat with any remaining cutlets.
  8. Top each cutlet with the remaining Parmesan. Spoon the spaghetti sauce over top, followed by a slice of mozzarella cheese. Bake for 15 minutes.
  9. Serve the Veal Parmesan with a side of pasta or your favorite vegetable.

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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 735Total Fat: 37gSaturated Fat: 15gTrans Fat: 0gCholesterol: 248mgSodium: 1158mgCarbohydrates: 35gFiber: 3gSugar: 7gProtein: 61.9g

Please note nutritional information for my recipes is calculated by a third party service and provided as a courtesy to my readers. For the most accurate calculation, I always recommend running the numbers yourself with the specific products you use.

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5 Comments

  1. Hi! Weโ€™ve made this and it was delicious! The butcher has thin pieces of veal that are perfectly for this recipe. Ques for u. I want to make this for a communion. Is it possible to brown in the skillet the day before and then bake the next day? Or do you run the risk of the meat not cooking properly? Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

    1. So glad you enjoyed the veal parmesan! I wouldn’t recommending browning the meat the day before, mostly because of food safety issues with only partially cooking the meat before cooling it overnight.

  2. Delicious! Family raved about it! Said it was restaurant quality.i used a mozza ball & Rao marina sauce. Awesome, thanks.

    1. I like Vincenzo’s for veal, and Blues Creek Farm Butcher in Plain City for lamb. The Butcher and the Grocer is also a good option.

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