Description
Crispy baked chicken parmesan delivers restaurant-quality comfort without the greasy mess. Golden breaded chicken topped with marinara and melted cheese brings classic Italian flavors straight to your dinner table.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
Seasoning and Oil:
- 1 ½ teaspoons dried Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- Olive oil cooking spray
- Salt
- Pepper
Sauce and Cheese Toppings:
- 2 cups tomato sauce
- 3 cloves garlic
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 cup shredded fat-free mozzarella cheese
- ¼ cup grated reduced-fat Parmesan cheese
- Sugar substitute
- Fresh herbs
Instructions
- Heat the oven to exactly 375°F. Coat a baking dish with olive oil cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Spray 4 chicken breasts with olive oil, then sprinkle 1 ½ teaspoons dried Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper across both sides.
- Warm 1 teaspoon olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Sear chicken for 2-3 minutes per side until lightly golden.
- In a separate pan, heat 1 teaspoon olive oil. Add 3 minced garlic cloves and saute for 30 seconds.
- Pour 2 cups tomato sauce into the pan with garlic. Mix in ½ teaspoon oregano, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 5-10 minutes.
- Spread a thin tomato sauce layer across the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
- Arrange seared chicken breasts over the sauce layer.
- Sprinkle 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese evenly across each chicken breast.
- Pour remaining tomato sauce over the cheese.
- Dust the top with ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese.
- Bake at 375°F for 20-25 minutes until chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Switch oven to broil and cook for 2-3 minutes to create a golden, bubbly cheese top.
- Remove from oven and let rest 5 minutes. Scatter fresh herbs on top if desired.
Notes
- Always pat chicken breasts dry before seasoning to ensure a crispy exterior and better browning.
- Use a meat thermometer to check chicken doneness and prevent overcooking, which can make the meat dry.
- For a lower-carb version, replace traditional breadcrumbs with almond flour or crushed pork rinds when creating the coating.
- If watching calories, swap full-fat cheeses for part-skim mozzarella and reduce the amount of Parmesan cheese used.
- Prep Time: 15-20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30-38 minutes
- Category: Baked
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 203 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 280 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 8 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg