Directions

• Step 1

  Stir water, kosher salt, and sugar together until the salt and sugar dissolve completely into a brine.

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• Step 2

  Put chicken breasts in a large resealable plastic bag; pour brine into the bag with the chicken. Squeeze air from the bag and seal. Refrigerate for 1 hour.

• Step 3

  Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 13x9x2-inch baking dish.

• Step 4

  Mix Parmesan cheese, bread crumbs, parsley, salt, and black pepper together in a bowl; spread about 1/3 of the mixture into the bottom of the prepared baking dish.

• Step 5

  Remove chicken from the brine, shake off excess liquid, and pat dry. Discard remaining brine.

• Step 6

  Coat chicken with olive oil. Arrange chicken atop the Parmesan cheese layer in the baking dish. Sprinkle remaining Parmesan cheese mixture over the chicken.

• Step 7

  Mix garlic, margarine, and lemon juice together in a small bowl; drizzle over chicken.

• Step 8

  Cook chicken breasts until no longer pink in the center and the juices run clear, 25-30 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).

• Step 9

  Switch oven to broil. Sprinkle cheese over the chicken breasts.

• Step 10

  Heat oven's broiler. Cook chicken under the broiler until the cheese is melted and golden brown, about 5 minutes more.