1-Prepare the chicken: Preheat oven to 400°F. Slice or pound chicken to 1/2-inch thickness and season both sides with garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.

2-Set up the breading station: Place flour in one shallow bowl, beaten egg in a second, and a mix of panko breadcrumbs, freshly grated Parmesan, and optional paprika in a third.

3-Dredge and fry: Dredge chicken in flour, then egg, then breadcrumb mixture, pressing to adhere. Fry in an ovenproof skillet with olive oil over medium-high heat, 2-3 minutes per side until deep golden brown.

4-Finish in the oven: Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven and bake for 10-15 minutes, until the thickest part reaches 165°F on an instant-read thermometer.