Quick & Healthy Chicken Parmesan Recipe

I love this healthy chicken parmesan recipe. It’s a classic recipe that we make for almost every single one of our dinner guests at least four or five times a year.

This dish combines tender, breaded chicken breasts with marinara sauce and melted cheese for a comforting and satisfying flavor.

Simple yet elegant, it’s perfect for those moments when you want to share a home-cooked meal that’s a cut above the ordinary.

So, let me show you how to make this classic dish and get a tasty dinner on the table in no time.

Key Takeaways

• Cook Time: 30 minutes (frying, then broiling)
• Main Ingredients: Chicken breasts, flour, eggs, breadcrumbs, mozzarella cheese, parmesan cheese, and more
• Servings: 6
• Extras: Add more seasonings and grated Parmesan cheese to the breadcrumbs for really flavorful chicken
• Tip: Blot the chicken before adding the cheese and broiling it; let it sit and serve with a little sauce over the cheesy spots to keep the breading crispy
• Make A Homemade Sauce: As a perfect compliment to Homemade Spaghetti Sauce Recipe, this recipe for Chicken Parmesan is as good as any you’ll find in an Italian restaurant. 

The Best Healthy Chicken Parmesan Recipe

It starts with whole chicken breasts, trimmed. Place them in a plastic freezer bag and pound them to about 3/8 to 1/2 inch thickness using the flat side of the tenderizer.  

Season each chicken piece with some kosher salt and black pepper, and then prepare to coat them.

I use a three-step process: flour, eggs and breadcrumbs:

1. First, drench in flour and shake off the excess.
2. Then, drop the chicken into the beaten egg mixture.
3. Once totally covered, shake off the excess and place onto the breadcrumbs.
4. Press the chicken into the breadcrumbs deeply on both sides, flipping a few times. This helps the coating stick really well and completely cover every square inch of the chicken.

You can use your hands or tongs, but I suggest one hand/tong for the egg and the other hand for the flour and breadcrumbs.

This is how I keep my fingers from getting coated and becoming nuggets as I coat the chicken, LOL. It makes things less messy all around!

Also, if you make them homemade or don’t buy them seasoned, I suggest seasoning your breadcrumbs with Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and some parmesan cheese to get really flavorful chicken! 

Now your chicken breasts are ready for frying. Make sure the oil is hot but not smoking. Place the chicken in the oil and fry for five minutes, flipping halfway through.

Remove from the pan and blot excess oil with paper towels (this keeps the chicken nice and crispy, not oily and greasy!).

Place on a cookie sheet and apply a generous amount of whole-milk mozzarella cheese.

Many recipes apply sauce first, and then cheese, and I used to do this too. But the sauce would make soggy chicken parmesan this way, and the cheese would slide off when sliced into the chicken.

Leaving the sauce until last keeps things crispy!

Place under the broiler for just a few minutes until the cheese gets bubbly. Add sauce and parmesan cheese, and serve with tomato sauce over spaghetti, other pasta, bread, or whatever you like!

5 from 1 vote

Chicken Parmesan

Are you looking for the BEST recipe for chicken parmesan? This recipe is better than anyone I've had at a restaurant, and my homemade Italian Spaghetti Sauce brings it out of this world!

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Italian

Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes minutes

Servings: 6

Author: Brittany Kline

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients

• 2 chicken breasts trimmed
• 1/2 cup all-purpose white four Gluten-free option: use a gluten-free flour
• 2 eggs beaten with 1/4 cup water
• 1 cup bread crumbs Gluten-free option: use gluten-free bread crumbs
• 1 tsp Kosher salt
• 1 tsp Black pepper
• 1+ cup Peanut oil enough to cover the bottom of your pan about 1/4" deep
• 2 cups shredded whole milk mozzarella cheese
• Homemade sauce or jarred tomato or marinara sauce
• Parmesan cheese as much as you like!!

Instructions

• In a plastic freezer bag, or under a sheet of plastic wrap, pound chicken breasts to 3/8" to 1/2".
• Cut each chicken breast into 3 equal-sized pieces and lightly season with kosher salt and black pepper.
• Drench these chicken cutlets in flour, shaking off the excess.
• Dip the chicken in the beaten egg and cover completely.
• In a dish with the bread crumbs mixed with 1 tsp kosher salt, coat all sides of the chicken.
• Heat peanut oil in a pan; hot but not smoking.
• Place chicken in the pan and cook for 5 minutes, flipping once halfway through.
• Blot excess oil off the cooked breaded chicken breasts with paper towels.
• (For a healthier baked chicken parmesan, you can skip the frying and bake them for 25 minutes at 450 degrees.)
• Place chicken on a cookie sheet and top with mozzarella cheese.
• Place in broiler and cook until cheese is bubbly.
• Spoon the pasta sauce over the chicken and garnish with parmesan cheese and parsley.

Serving It Up

Serve your chicken parmesan over a bed of spaghetti, linguine, or even zucchini noodles for a low-carb option.

While less is more in some cases, consider placing a bowl of extra marinara sauce and a plate of additional shredded mozzarella and grated parmesan cheese on the table.

This allows your guests to customize their servings, adding more sauce or cheese to their liking. I like it really saucy, but Kelan prefers it a bit less- we both agree we like lots of cheese though!

Another modern take is to place the chicken cutlets on a toasted ciabatta roll, turning it into a hearty sandwich that is perfect for lunches or casual dinners.

You can also slice the chicken parmesan and place it atop a crisp Caesar salad, which combines the warm, crispy chicken with the cool crunch of romaine lettuce and a tangy dressing.

Other Chicken Parmesan Recipes & Some Slow Cooker Recipes

• Crockpot Chicken Parmesan
• Slow Cooker Chicken Parmesan Casserole
• And if you like this one, you might be interested in my 40 other slow cooker dump recipes!  They are seriously amazing!

FAQs

How do I keep the breading from coming off my chicken while it cooks?

The flour and eggs are the main components to keep the breadcrumbs on, but I know some people struggle with the breading when frying.

One way to prevent the breading from coming off is to make sure the oil is hot but not smoking before placing the chicken in it.

You can also try using another binder, such as mayonnaise or mustard, on the chicken before coating it with flour, eggs, and breadcrumbs.

Another tip is to avoid overcrowding the pan and flip the chicken gently only once during cooking.

How do I keep my chicken parmesan crispy and not let it get soggy?

One way to keep the chicken parmesan crispy is to place it on a wire rack after frying and blot off any excess oil.

Another tip is to serve the sauce and cheese separately from the chicken, allowing your guests to add as much or as little as they prefer.

Why do you make a chicken parm recipe with mozzarella?

Mozzarella is a classic cheese used in chicken parmesan because it melts beautifully and has a mild taste that pairs well with the bold flavors of the sauce and breadcrumbs.

We still use parmesan, usually as a topping or mixed into the breadcrumbs, which gives the dish a lot of flavor.

But you can also experiment with other types of cheese, like provolone or fontina, for different flavor profiles.

What sides go well with this chicken parmesan recipe?

Traditionally, spaghetti or linguine are popular side dishes for chicken parmesan.

However, you can also serve it with a simple green salad, roasted vegetables, or even garlic bread!

Is chicken parmigiana and chicken parmesan the same thing?

Yes, chicken parmigiana and chicken parmesan are often used interchangeably to refer to the same dish.

People like to use the Italian name for the dish since it was created by Italian immigrants in the U.S. in the 20th century- but either way, same dish, same tasty dinner!

Final Thoughts

Chicken parm is a classic Italian-American dish that has become a staple in many households.

This versatile recipe can be dressed up or down and served with various sides and accompaniments to create the perfect meal for any occasion.

So give it a try and see for yourself why this dish has stood the test of time and continues to be loved by many.

And don’t forget to let us know in the comments how your chicken parm turned out! I’d love to hear from you and see photos of your delicious creations.

Have you grabbed my Chaos to Control Starter Guide yet? I might be biased, but I think it’s pretty amazing! Check it out!

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