Chicken parmesan is a beloved Italian-American dish that you’ll find at countless restaurants, even if they’re not specifically Italian. A breaded chicken cutlet, fried and topped with marina sauce and melted cheese, is the perfect blend of Italian and American flavors. It’s also quick and easy to make and appeals to everyone, which is why so many restaurants serve it. Nadeau’s is one of those many restaurants, but of course, we serve chicken parm as a sub. However, we’re hardly the first to do so.
How did a fixture of Italian-American cuisine and restaurants become a popular sub? Let’s take a look at its history.
A Creation of Buffalo, NY
We don’t know exactly where the chicken parm sub originated, but our best guess is the Italian-American community of Buffalo, New York, in the early 1900s. Chicken parm was already popular in the Italian immigrant community, and if there’s anything consistent about world cuisine, it’s that popular foods always make their way into sandwiches. Once the chicken parm sub took hold among the good people of Buffalo, it quickly spread to other Italian-American communities in New York and across the country.
The First Written Recipe
You may not think making a chicken parm sub or sandwich requires a recipe. After all, the instructions are, “make chicken parmesan, put it on some bread.” However, there are plenty of written recipes for chicken parm subs, and the earliest one we know about appeared in The Italian-American Cookbook by John Mariani in 1956. His recipe describes precisely what you’d expect: a sandwich made with breaded and fried chicken cutlets, tomato sauce, mozzarella cheese, and oregano.
The Subs of Today
Chicken parm remains a popular sub today, and there are many variations and regional twists. The base stays the same, but the sauce, cheese, and type of bread can vary depending on who’s making the sandwich. For example, mozzarella is the traditional choice for cheese, but provolone, Swiss, and American cheese are also common options. The bread can also vary widely, including everything from soft hoagie rolls to crusty baguettes.
Enjoy Chicken Parm Subs and More at Nadeau’s Restaurants
Our menu at Nadeau’s is a treasure trove of sandwich favorites! Chicken parm is one of our most popular hot subs, but we have so many more options, including our signature steak tip subs. Visit any of our five locations to enjoy your favorite today!