Healthy Baked Chicken Parmesan

Name: Healthy Baked Chicken Parmesan
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 45 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 3 large chicken breasts, cut in half long way, pounded thin to half an inch thickness.; 2 eggs; 1 cup finely crushed cracker crumbs or breadcrumbs (I used almond flour crackers pulverized in a food processor); 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese; 1/2 tsp salt; 1/2 tsp pepper; 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning; 2 cups marinara sauce; 8 oz log of mozzarella, sliced into 1/2 inch thick slices

★★★★★ 30 Reviews Recipe Print

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By: Erin9/20/20

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Healthy Baked Chicken Parmesan combines healthily breaded chicken breasts and indulgent marinara and mozzarella for a top notch flavor combo. Prepare in less than an hour for the ultimate crowd pleasing meal!

The chicken parmesan of your (and my) dreams

Pasta is delicious, and breaded chicken is delicious. Combine the two together with a generous portion of marinara and a little more mozzarella than what’s socially acceptable, and you have one mouth watering meal on your hands.

That describes this healthy breaded chicken parmesan to a T! The recipe consists of thin chicken breasts breaded with crushed almond flour crackers (a better alternative to white flour crackers), and baked to crispy goodness. Eat over a plate of pasta with your favorite side salad, and ta-da!

It’s basically a giant chicken tender eaten over pasta with marinara and lots of cheesiness. That, my friend, sounds like a happy dinner to me!

Chicken parmesan is a great meal for serving to company or at family and friend-filled events. It’s a savory crowd pleaser sure to leave everyone’s bellies feeling full, satisfied, and like you’re the best host ever!

Ingredients used in baked parmesan

This recipe uses ingredients that we all know and love like chicken, breadcrumbs, marinara, and mozzarella. Each bite of this deliciously breaded chicken parmesan is filled with incredible flavor thanks to Italian seasoning and parmesan cheese!

Chicken breasts (Cut the chicken breasts in half longways, and pound them thinly to half an inch of thickness)
Eggs
Crushed crackers or breadcrumbs (I used almond flour crackers)
Parmesan cheese
Salt
Pepper
Italian seasoning
Marinara sauce
Mozzarella log (Slice into 1/2 inch thick slices)

Tools used to create this recipe

From start to finish, baked chicken parmesan will only require four different tools. Don’t forget to grab your measuring cups!

Baking sheet
Aluminum foil
Meat pounder
Two mixing bowls
Measuring cups: 1/2 tsp, 1/2 cup, and 1 cup

How to make healthy baked chicken parmesan

If you’ve ever breaded anything, this recipe will be cake to you. Even if you haven’t, it’s still a simple recipe that requires no more than 10 minutes of prep time and 25 minutes of baking time! Feel free to add extra mozzarella if that’s your thing.

Begin by preheating the oven to 350F and lining a baking sheet with aluminum foil.

Your chicken should be pounded to 1/2 inch in thickness.

In two separate bowls, whisk eggs and pour cracker crumbs. To bowl with cracker crumbs, add parmesan cheese, salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.

Coat the chicken in egg on both sides, then dip it into cracker crumbs, coating both sides very well.

Lay on the baking sheet and repeat with the remaining chicken.

Bake for 15 minutes, then take out of the oven. Top each piece with marinara and a slice of mozzarella cheese.

Bake for 5 more minutes and then broil for 3-4 minutes, keeping an eye on the cheese so it doesn’t burn.

Remove from the oven, serve over pasta, and enjoy!

Chicken parmesan tips

Here are some chicken parmesan recipe tips. Still have questions? Leave them in the comments below!

Chicken parmesan vs chicken parmigiana
Spoiler alert, there’s no difference! Both dishes are the same and hail from Italy. Enjoy it the same way no matter what you choose to call it.

Vegetarian chicken parmesan options
If you’ve been salivating at this recipe but wondering if you can use a veggie alternative, the answer is yes! Feel free to use eggplant in this recipe, or substitute the chicken with a plant-based “meat.”

Sides dishes for pairing
Some of my favorite chicken and pasta sides include Zucchini Salad with Walnut Pesto, Avocado Corn Salad, and Pear Salad with Dijon Vinaigrette.

Cooked temperature
When checking the temperature of your chicken, be sure that it reaches 165F internally before consuming.

Storing baked parmesan
Store breaded chicken and all toppings and ingredients in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two days. Reheat by placing in the microwave in 15 second intervals, or by baking until warmed. I recommend storing the chicken separate from the other ingredients.

Some more must-try hearty recipes

Love a good chicken-based dinner? Try some of these! Chicken is a great source of protein, and each of these meals are filled with rich flavor and lots of nutrients!

★★★★★ 5 from 30 reviews