Healthy Chicken Parmesan Recipe

Skip the restaurant and enjoy this Easy Chicken Parmesan Recipe for dinner tonight!  A crispy crust made from parmigiana cheese and breadcrumbs coats juicy chicken breasts that are cooked in a skillet with a marinara tomato sauce.  Serve it over a bed of spaghetti pasta with shredded Mozzarella cheese for a healthy Italian dish that can easily be made gluten-free!

Easy Chicken Parmesan Recipe

Parmesan crusted chicken simmering in a marinara sauce and then topped with melted mozzarella cheese…

Does dinnertime get any better than this classic Italian dish?

Growing up my family would frequent the local Olive Garden almost weekly.  (It was our “fancy night out” after shopping at the mall!)

Oftentimes I was torn between ordering their rich lasagna or the classic chicken parmesan.

Honestly, I picked these dishes because they initially seemed so intimidating to make at home.

But then a few years ago I went on a strict gluten-free diet and realized I could no longer order those items on the menu.  So instead, I decided to create my own healthier version at home!

After quite a bit of tweaking, this easy chicken parmesan recipe was born and it is hands down the BEST!

Not only is it easy to make, but by cooking the chicken in a skillet you get a super crispy crust that isn’t possible if you bake it in the oven.

You can also quickly make gluten-free with just two simple ingredient swaps!

Ingredients

The ingredients you will need to make this chicken parmesan recipe are relatively easy to find.  There are also a few substitutions you can make:

• Chicken – Breasts are preferred over thighs or other cuts of chicken meat.
• Parmesan Cheese – Make sure you get grated and not shredded or shaved.  Having a finely grated cheese is important so it can easily coat the chicken breasts.
• Breadcrumbs – Regular or Italian-style breadcrumbs can be used.  Also, a gluten-free brand can be substituted.
• Italian Seasoning – A blend of common Italian dried herbs and garlic powder is added to the coating for flavor.  You can either make a Homemade Italian Seasoning or purchase it at the grocery store.  A mixture of dried oregano, parsley, and basil may also be substituted.
• Egg – One whole egg is whisked together with a bit of milk to help the cheese and breadcrumbs stick to the chicken.
• Flour – Regular all purpose flour or a gluten-free 1-to-1 blend can be used.
• Marinara – Any type of spaghetti or marinara sauce can be used.  You’ll want to make sure you really enjoy the flavor of the sauce before adding it to the dish.
• Mozzarella – Either shredded or a ball of cheese can be used that has been cut into thin slices.

Tenderizing the Chicken

Before you coat the chicken you’ll first want to prepare the meat by pounding it thin and cutting it into equal-sized pieces.

1. Pound chicken breasts with a meat mallet until they are 3/4 to 1-inch thick.
   • This step tenderizes the meat so it turns out super juicy and tender when cooked.
2. Cut chicken breasts into equal-sized 4-ounce portions.
   • Doing this ensures the chicken cooks at a similar rate.

Parmesan vs. Parmigiano Regiano

Parmesan cheese and Parmigiano Regiano are actually not the same ingredient.  Parmigiano Regiano is the authentic cheese made in Italy and has no additives.  In the U.S. Parmigiano Regiano is sometimes labeled “Parmesan Cheese” which can be somewhat confusing.

Parmesan cheese, such as the kind made by Kraft, is made to replicate the flavor of Parmigiano Regiano but has additives such as potassium sorbate and cellulose powder.  The two can be used interchangeably in most, but not all, recipes. If you’re perceptive with flavors and texture you’ll notice a bit of a difference between the two.

For the purposes of this recipe, you can use either Parmesan Cheese or Parmigiano Regiano.

Parmesan Crusted Chicken

The basic process for coating the chicken is much like any other breaded chicken recipe.

To start with you will need 3 relatively shallow medium-to-large sized bowls.

Shallow bowls are a little easier to dip and dredge your chicken in while coating it.

• First Bowl: Add the flour, ¼ tsp. salt, and ¼ tsp. pepper
• Second Bowl: Whisk the egg and milk
• Third Bowl: Toss together the cheese, breadcrumbs, Italian seasoning, and ½ tsp. salt

For the Assembly:

1. Lightly coat one chicken breast in the flour, dip it into the egg wash, and then cover it with the Parmesan cheese and breadcrumbs.

2. Repeat the above step with the remaining pieces of chicken.

How to Cook

Once your chicken breasts are coated in the Parmesan crust it’s time to cook them up.

Instead of baking this dish in the oven, we’re going to be preparing it in the skillet to get that super crispy crust.

1. Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil to a large skillet over medium heat, or enough to coat the bottom of the pan.

2. Place all 6 pieces of chicken in the skillet once the oil begins to sizzle, being careful not to overlap any of them.
3. Sear chicken for 2-3 minutes on each side. (step 1 above)
4. Pour spaghetti sauce over chicken and pick up each breast so it gets underneath. (step 2 above)
5. Cover skillet and reduce heat to low.
6. Simmer for 8-10 minutes or until chicken is cooked through and the internal temperature is 165°F.
7. Sprinkle 1-ounce of mozzarella cheese on each piece of chicken. (step 3 above)

Make it Gluten-Free

This recipe can easily be adapted for someone on a gluten-free diet.

There are two key ingredients you will need to swap out in order to do this:

• Flour – A gluten-free 1-to-1 blend is best to use in place of all purpose flour.  Bob’s Red Mill makes a great one that I use in almost all recipes!
• Breadcrumbs – Plain gluten-free breadcrumbs can be substituted for the gluten-filled kind.  Aleia’s makes some of my favorite gluten-free Panko-style breadcrumbs that work great in this recipe.

Additionally, if you’d like to serve this dish over pasta, opt for a gluten-free corn, rice, or quinoa-based noodle instead.

Serving and Storing

Chicken parmesan is typically served over a bed of spaghetti or linguine pasta.  If you’re watching your carbs and calories, you can always opt for a healthier bed of Zucchini Noodles or Roasted Spaghetti Squash instead.

Sprinkle on additional parmesan cheese with some finely chopped fresh parsley or basil.

This dish will keep well for up to 3-4 days in the refrigerator.

While you can microwave it to reheat it, you’ll get the best texture if you add it back to the skillet.  Cover the skillet with a lid and let cook over Medium to Medium-Low heat for 6-10 minutes, or until heated through.

What to Serve With It?

Chicken parmesan is a rather heavy meal, especially when served over a bed of pasta.  It’s best if it’s served with a light salad or roasted vegetable side dish such as:

• Lemon Garlic Roasted Asparagus
• Garlic Parmesan Cauliflower and Broccoli
• Spinach Salad with Homemade Italian Dressing
• Sautéed Zucchini and Squash

5 from 4 votes

Easy Chicken Parmesan Recipe

Skip the restaurant and enjoy this Easy Chicken Parmesan Recipe for dinner tonight!  A crispy crust made from parmigiana cheese and breadcrumbs coats juicy chicken breasts that are cooked in a skillet with a marinara tomato sauce.  Serve it over a bed of spaghetti pasta with shredded Mozzarella cheese for a healthy Italian dish that can easily be made gluten-free!

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Course Dinner, Main Course

Cuisine Italian

Keyword 30-minute meal, dinner, gluten free, healthy

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Servings 6 servings

Calories 371 kcal

London Brazil

Ingredients

• 1 ½ lbs. chicken breasts
• ¼ cup all purpose flour or a gluten-free 1-to-1 blend
• ¾ tsp. salt divided
• ¼ tsp. black pepper
• 1 large egg
• 1 Tbsp. milk almond, cashew, or soy milk
• ½ cup Parmesan cheese or Parmigiano Regiano
• ½ cup plain breadcrumbs or a gluten-free brand
• 2 tsp. Italian seasoning homemade or store bought
• 2 Tbsp. olive oil
• 24 oz. spaghetti or marinara sauce
• 6 oz. mozzarella cheese shredded
• Pasta or Zucchini Noodles
• Parsley

Instructions

1. Using a meat mallet, pound chicken breasts to ¾ to 1-inch thick and cut into 4-ounce portions.

2. In three separate shallow bowls add the flour, ¼ tsp. salt, and ¼ tsp. pepper to the first bowl, whisk the egg and milk in the second bowl, and toss together the cheese, breadcrumbs, Italian seasoning, and ½ tsp. salt in the third bowl.

For the Assembly:

1. Take one chicken breast and lightly coat it in the flour, dip it into the egg wash, and then coat it with the Parmesan cheese and breadcrumbs.

2. Repeat the above step with the remaining pieces of chicken.

How to Cook:

1. Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil to a large skillet over medium heat, or enough to coat the bottom of the pan.

2. Once oil starts to sizzle, place all 6 pieces of chicken in the skillet, being careful not to overlap any of them.
3. Sear chicken for 2-3 minutes on each side.

4. Pour spaghetti sauce over chicken and pick up each breast so it gets underneath.

5. Cover skillet with a lid and reduce heat to low. Simmer for 8-10 minutes or until chicken is cooked through and the internal temperature is 165°.

6. Just before serving sprinkle 1-ounce of mozzarella cheese on each piece of chicken.

7. After cheese has melted serve chicken Parmesan with spaghetti noodles, roasted spaghetti squash, or zucchini noodles. Sprinkle with extra Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley. Enjoy!

Recipe Notes

• Look for a gluten-free noodle that is made from quinoa, lentils, or brown rice instead of corn.
• Serve the chicken Parmesan over zucchini noodles instead of regular noodles.
• Substitute the plain breadcrumbs and seasonings with Italian-style breadcrumbs.

Nutrition Facts

Easy Chicken Parmesan Recipe

Amount Per Serving

Calories 371 Calories from Fat 162

% Daily Value*

Fat 18g28%

Saturated Fat 7g44%

Cholesterol 132mg44%

Sodium 1328mg58%

Potassium 866mg25%

Carbohydrates 16g5%

Fiber 3g13%

Sugar 6g7%

Protein 37g74%

Vitamin A 855IU17%

Vitamin C 9mg11%

Calcium 309mg31%

Iron 3mg17%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.