Description
This Healthy Baked Chicken Parmesan recipe offers a lighter twist on the classic Italian favorite by using baked, breaded chicken breasts topped with marinara sauce and melted mozzarella cheese. Perfectly seasoned and baked to golden perfection, this dish serves as a wholesome and satisfying meal for the whole family in just 45 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Coating
- 3 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts, butterflied and pounded to ½-inch thickness
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup finely crushed cracker crumbs or breadcrumbs (such as almond flour crackers)
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
Toppings and Sauce
- 2 cups marinara sauce
- 8 oz log of mozzarella cheese, sliced into ½-inch thick slices
Instructions
- Preheat and Prep: Preheat your oven to 350°F (177°C) and line a baking sheet with aluminum foil to ensure easy cleanup and prevent sticking.
- Bread Chicken: In one bowl, whisk the eggs thoroughly. In a separate bowl, mix the crushed cracker crumbs, grated Parmesan cheese, salt, black pepper, and Italian seasoning. Dip each butterflied and pounded chicken breast into the egg wash, then dredge thoroughly in the crumb mixture, ensuring an even coating on all sides.
- Bake: Place the breaded chicken breasts on the prepared baking sheet in a single layer. Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and the coating begins to crisp.
- Top and Finish: Remove the baking sheet from the oven. Spoon marinara sauce evenly over each chicken breast and place a slice of mozzarella cheese on top. Return to the oven and bake for an additional 5 minutes. Then, switch your oven to broil and broil the chicken for 3-4 minutes until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and slightly golden. Watch carefully to avoid burning.
- Serve: Serve the baked Chicken Parmesan hot, ideally over your favorite pasta or a side of steamed vegetables for a complete meal.
Notes
- Use almond flour crackers as a low-carb alternative to traditional breadcrumbs.
- Monitoring the broil step is crucial as cheese can burn quickly.
- Butterflying and pounding the chicken breasts ensures even cooking and tender meat.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven to maintain crispness.
- For gluten-free, ensure the crackers or breadcrumbs used are certified gluten-free.
