Chicken Parmigiana in the Ninja Woodfire Recipe

Chicken Parmigiana in the Ninja Woodfire Recipe

Servings: 4 Total Time: 1 hr 50 mins Difficulty: Intermediate Family Friendly Family Friendly Quick Cook Quick Cook Smoke & Sear Fav. Smoke & Sear Fav.
An Italian Classic with a Smoky BBQ Twist

The Chicken Parmigiana is a proper crowd-pleaser – crispy golden chicken, topped with a rich tomato sauce, melted mozzarella, and a hint of BBQ char. Forget the oven; we’re using the Ninja Woodfire to bring smoky outdoor vibes to this Italian classic. Whether it’s a weeknight dinner or an easy showstopper for mates, this recipe is as fuss-free as it is delicious. Gather the family, prep your ingredients, and let’s bring a little Italian sunshine to the backyard.

Chicken Parmigiana in the Ninja Woodfire Recipe

Prep Time 1 hr Cook Time 45 mins Rest Time 5 mins Total Time 1 hr 50 mins
Difficulty: Intermediate Cooking Temp: 180  C Servings: 4 Estimated Cost: £ 20 Calories: Approximately 450 per serving Best Season: Suitable throughout the year

Ingredients

For the Chicken:

For the Marinade:

For the Tomato Sauce:

For the Crispy Coating:

For Topping:

Instructions

  1. Step 1: Prepare the Chicken

    • Slice the chicken breasts in half horizontally to create six fillets.
    • Cover the fillets with clingfilm and flatten using a rolling pin until they’re even in thickness.
  2. Step 2: Marinate the Chicken

    • In a shallow bowl, whisk eggs with minced garlic, parsley, salt, and black pepper.
    • Coat the chicken fillets thoroughly, cover, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes (overnight for deeper flavour).
  3. Step 3: Cook the Tomato Sauce

    • Heat avocado oil in a pan. Sauté onions on high heat for 2-3 minutes, then add minced garlic and cook for an additional minute.
    • Stir in passata, sugar, Mediterranean seasoning, salt, and pepper. Simmer on low heat for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
  4. Step 4: Prepare the Coating

    Combine breadcrumbs, Parmesan, and garlic powder in a shallow bowl.

  5. Step 5: Coat the Chicken

    • Remove the marinated chicken from the fridge.
    • Dredge each piece in the breadcrumb mixture, ensuring an even coating.
    • Arrange the fillets on a wire rack over a baking tray.
  6. Step 6: Air Fry the Chicken

    • Preheat Ninja Woodfire to 180°C (Air Fry mode).
    • Spray chicken with canola oil and cook for 15 minutes, flipping halfway and spraying again.
  7. Step 7: Top & Bake

    • Preheat Ninja Woodfire to 160°C (Bake mode).
    • Spread a layer of tomato sauce over each chicken fillet.
    • Top generously with mozzarella.
    • Bake until the cheese is melted, golden, and bubbling (about 10 minutes).
  8. Step 8: Rest & Serve

    • Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before serving.
    • Pair with a side of salad, pasta, or crusty garlic bread for the ultimate feast.

Equipment

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Note

Pellet Tip: Add a handful of Ninja Woodfire pellets for extra smoky flavour.

Make Ahead: Prep the chicken and sauce a day in advance to save time.

Keywords: chicken parmigiana, Ninja Woodfire recipes, Italian BBQ, family meals, cheesy chicken, easy dinner recipes
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🔥 THE LAZY BUZZARDS BBQ 2026 🔥

Some weekends you enjoy . . .

Some weekends you remember.

This was definitely one of those.

Fifteen teams. Two days. Incredible food. New friendships. A bit of healthy competition . . .and an evening BBQ Olympics that had teams and judges laughing together long after the turn-ins were done.

A huge thank you to Alan & Jo for creating something that’s so much more than a BBQ competition. It’s a weekend built around great food, great people and a genuine BBQ community.

Massive respect to every team that competed too. Thanks for letting me wander around with a camera all weekend and capture what UK BBQ is really about.

This is the second BBQ competition I’ve attended now—back-to-back—and I’ve genuinely caught the bug. I’d love to shine a bigger spotlight on this side of the UK BBQ scene next year.

Could you see yourself competing one day? Let me know in the comments . . .👇🔥

#TheLazyBuzzardsBBQ #UKBBQ #BBQCompetition #LiveFireCooking #BBQCommunity
Six years ago I stepped into the UK BBQ scene.

I had no idea that buying a smoker during lockdown would completely change my life.

Since then I’ve shared 100+ free recipes, created over 1,000 pieces of content, surpassed ONE MILLION website views, welcomed 600,000+ active users to Smoke & Sear, and built social profiles, groups and communities with 70,000+ members and followers.

But the numbers aren’t what I’m most proud of.

It’s the friendships, the community, and seeing more and more people across the UK discovering outdoor cooking.

A massive thank you to every brand that’s believed in me over the last six years. Whether you’ve trusted me with your products, invited me to events, or somehow flown me to Nashville . . . (still can’t quite believe that one! ❤️)

Then there’s @fourge.bbq . . . 

Starting a business with three great lads I met through the BBQ community is genuinely a dream come true.

It’s still early days, but seeing so many FOUNDERS backing us, our rubs selling so well, and people proudly wearing FOURGE merch honestly means more than I can put into words. Pellets, fuel and plenty more are just around the corner, and I can’t wait to cook for so many of you at @meatupfestival in just a few weeks.

Thank you to everyone who’s followed my journey over the last six years.

I’m just one bloke trying to do his small part to help push UK BBQ forward.

Here’s to the next chapter. 🔥🇬🇧

#UKBBQ #OutdoorCooking #PassTheFlame
First time guest judging at Whole Hog 2026 with @comp_bbq_uk . . . and what a weekend🔥

Six rounds. Two days. Nine teams. A LOT of pork.

Honestly, it opened my eyes to a whole other side of UK BBQ. So much skill, creativity, graft and proper passion for cooking over fire.

Massive respect to Comp BBQ UK for building something special, and huge respect to @weberuk and cranswickplc for everything they do to support this event and help the competition BBQ scene grow.

UK BBQ is gathering serious momentum… and this definitely won’t be the last BBQ comp I attend.

Who’s ever thought about getting a few mates together and entering a BBQ team? 👀🔥

#CompBBQUK #WholeHog2026 #UKBBQ #BBQCommunity #CompetitionBBQ
This started as a daft little comp I set up in the UK BBQ WhatsApp Community to get the regional groups talking, cooking, meeting up and generally giving each other grief.

Most regions went suspiciously quiet.

But two actually stepped up.

SOUTH vs NORTH

The South came in swinging with a proper land, sea and fire feast — venison haunch wrapped in nori, reverse-seared smoked lamb, lobster, scallops, shell-on prawns, Sussex mackerel, monkfish, black sea bream, focaccia, fresh green sauce and a Sussex Smokie finished with a breadcrumb crust.

Then the North answered with an absolute monster board — rack of lamb, black pudding burnt ends with Newcastle Brown Ale sauce, sticky pork ribs, Cumberland sausage, smoked chuck scouse, fish and chips, roast beef, ribeye steaks, venison burgers, grilled potato skewers, sweet Yorkshire pudding with bone marrow crème pâtissière and smoked sticky toffee pudding with bourbon ice cream.

And honestly, this is exactly what it was meant to be about.

People getting together. Cooking outdoors. Making new mates. Sharing ideas. Having a laugh. Creating something that represents where they’re from.

But… there can only be one winner.

To vote, comment:

SOUTH

or

NORTH

I’ll somehow collate the votes from Instagram and Facebook on Monday 6th July, and we’ll find out who takes the regional glory for 2026.

More details on both cooks are on the website, and you can also join the UK BBQ WhatsApp Community there if you fancy getting involved. It really is a cracking bunch.

Now then…

Who gets the glory?

SOUTH or NORTH?
Second walk out with the Lads Project today and honestly… what a proper day.

Hot as anything, big Peak District views, Thor’s Cave, River Dove, miles in the legs, plenty of laughs and just a really good bunch of lads getting outside and doing something positive.

No pressure, no awkwardness, no forced deep chats — just fresh air, good people, proper conversation when it comes, and a reminder that getting out of your usual routine does a lot.

Any lads want to join the next monthly social walk? Drop me a DM and I’ll send you the link to the WhatsApp group where it’s all planned.

#LadsProject #PeakDistrict #MensMentalHealth #MensCommunity #HikingUK
DRAGON01 over Coningsby 🔥

It’s been a few weeks since I last watched Flt Lt Tom Nation put the Typhoon through its paces over RAF Coningsby — but the second I heard today’s slot announced on the NOTAM, there was absolutely no chance I was missing it.

And what a display.

I may have lost half of it to the sun, and the other half to Tom flying so low he disappeared behind the trees . . . but wow. 😂

The speed, power and agility of the Typhoon is ridiculous — but the way Tom handles it is something else entirely.

Huge respect to Tom and the whole Typhoon Display Team behind the scenes.

Absolutely epic.

#DRAGON01 #TyphoonDisplayTeam #RAFConingsby #EurofighterTyphoon #TyphoonFGR4 RoyalAirForce Aviation