Craving chicken parm but don’t want to deal with all the frying? This healthy baked chicken parmesan gives you that crispy, cheesy comfort-food feel without having to stand over a skillet.
Coat the chicken in seasoned breadcrumbs and Parmesan, bake until golden, then top with marinara and melty mozzarella. It’s simple, satisfying, and makes a great weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, sliced in half lengthwise to make 8 pieces
- ¾ cup seasoned breadcrumbs
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons butter, melted, or olive oil
- 3/4 cup part-skim mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1 cup marinara sauce
- Cooking spray
- Fresh basil or parsley, for garnish (optional)
Directions
Step 1: Prep the Oven and Baking Sheet
First, preheat your oven to 450°F. While it’s heating up, lightly spray a large baking sheet with cooking spray and set it aside.
Step 2: Make the Crispy Coating
Next, grab a bowl and mix together the seasoned breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese. Then in a separate bowl, melt the butter and lightly brush each piece of chicken with the melted butter before dipping it into the breadcrumb mixture. As you coat each piece, gently press the breadcrumbs onto the chicken. As a result, the coating sticks and gives a nice, crispy crust once baked.
Step 3: Arrange the Chicken
After that, place the chicken on your prepared baking sheet. Arrange the remaining pieces in a single layer. Then, give the tops a light spray with cooking spray (this helps the coating turn beautifully golden as it bakes.)
Step 4: Bake the Chicken
Now, pop the baking sheet into the preheated oven. Bake the chicken about 25 minutes until fully cooked and the breadcrumb crust is golden and crisp.
Step 5: Add the Marinara and Cheese
Once the chicken is cooked, carefully remove the baking sheet from the oven. Next, spoon about 1 tablespoon of marinara sauce over each piece of chicken. Then sprinkle approximately 1½ tablespoons of shredded mozzarella over each chicken breast. Return the baking sheet to the oven and bake for 5 more minutes until the mozzarella melts and gets bubbly.
Step 6: Finish and Serve
Finally, take the healthy baked chicken parmesan out of the oven and add a little fresh basil or parsley if you’d like. Serve it while it’s hot and enjoy that combination of crispy chicken, flavorful marinara, and gooey melted cheese.
It’s classic comfort food made a little easier, and honestly, that’s hard to beat!
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