Easy chicken Parm with marinara, mozzarella and a breadcrumb topping - no breading station needed - is broiled in the oven for a healthier version that's ready in just 15 minutes!
Today's recipe for easy chicken Parm is one my entire family loves!
And with two kiddos who seem intent on not liking the same things ever (please tell me I'm not alone in this ), that's really saying something.
But really, what's not to love about this dish? We've got saucy marinara-topped chicken breasts with melty mozzarella cheese and crunchy breadcrumbs, all served with fresh basil over hot spaghetti noodles.
Can we say YUM?
(And if you love chicken pasta dishes, you must check out this easy chicken carbonara recipe!)
And the big bonus? This easy baked chicken Parm is also so much faster and healthier than the original.
It's ready in just 15 minutes - and no breading station needed!
(I love having some go-to 15 minute dinners in my back pocket so I can throw together dinner even when it's late and I'm tired.)
We're taking shortcuts, yes, but we're not sacrificing flavor.
Instead, we're just layering on the flavor. The chicken breasts are topped with marinara and broiled until almost cooked through.
Then you add on the mozzarella cheese and return the chicken to the broiler to get it nice and melty.
Finally, you cover the tops of the cheesy chicken breasts with a mixture of breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese and yup. Put it back under the broiler.
Those breadcrumbs get super toasty and browned. (It's my daughter's favorite part of this dish!) And they required no effort, so that's a win in my book.
The last step is to top the chicken with fresh basil and it's ready to serve!
You are going to love this chicken and especially how easy it is to make any night of the week!
OK, let's get cooking.
Recipe Notes:
Chicken: You want your chicken breasts to be evenly sized. You're slicing each one in half horizontally to make thin cutlets. This helps it cook quickly and evenly. (See how to butterfly chicken breasts for details - except you'll be cutting them all the way through.) You could also try using the "perfect portions" style of thin chicken breasts.
Mozzarella: Fresh mozzarella is especially delicious here, but you could substitute shredded mozzarella in a pinch. You'll need about 1 cup total - ¼ cup for each breast.
Breadcrumbs: We use plain breadcrumbs, but you could also make this with Italian style breadcrumbs. Or add some Italian seasoning to the chicken breasts if you'd like.
Gluten-free: You could also skip the breadcrumbs in this recipe if you want a gluten-free or low-carb chicken Parm.
Super easy and also very adaptable to what you have on hand. Aren't those the best kind of recipes?!
Oh, and if you love chicken Parm, check out this Air Fryer chicken Parm recipe.
Serving Ideas:
Serving this chicken over spaghetti is classic, and our favorite way to enjoy it. Whole wheat, regular pasta or gluten-free are all good options.
We like to add some warmed marinara and extra Parmesan cheese to the hot cooked spaghetti noodles before adding the chicken Parm. It keeps everything nice and saucy.
Keeping it low-carb? Use zucchini noodles or spaghetti squash or serve this chicken with a side salad and call it a day.
Speaking of veggies, a Caesar or green salad is an easy vegetable side dish to pair with chicken Parm.
And for those of us not keeping it low-carb, some crusty bread is a great pairing was well.
Next time you need a quick and easy Italian food fix, I hope you give this healthy chicken Parm a try.
I think it'll be a new favorite.
Enjoy!
XO,
Kathryn
Easy Chicken Parm
Ingredients
- 2 medium to large chicken breasts, cut in half horizontally to get 4 equally sized thin cutlets
- Salt and black pepper
- 1 cup marinara sauce (plus extra for serving)
- 4 slices fresh mozzarella, ¼ inch thick (see notes)
- ½ cup plain breadcrumbs
- 3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese (plus extra for serving)
- 12-16 basil leaves, julienned
For serving:
- Hot, cooked spaghetti
Instructions
- Preheat broiler. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and spray with cooking spray.
- Season each of the sliced chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Place the chicken breasts on the foil-lined tray and top each with ¼ cup marinara sauce.
- Broil for 7-8 minutes, until almost cooked through.
- Add a slice of mozzarella to the top of each chicken breast then return to the broiler for 2 minutes, until the cheese is slightly melted.
- Meanwhile, combine the breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese in a small bowl.
- Top each chicken breast with the breadcrumb and Parm mixture then broil for a final 2 minutes, until breadcrumbs are browned. Watch closely so they don't burn.
- Top spaghetti noodles with extra marinara and Parmesan cheese, if desired. Serve the chicken Parm over the spaghetti and sprinkle with the fresh basil.
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Lesley says
Looks delish, easy and I can't wait to try! I'm wondering though, how close to the broiler element should the chicken be? Thank you!
Kathryn Doherty says
Great question! Mine is about 3 inches from the broiler. Ovens can vary, so keep an eye on it, but anything around that should work. Hope you enjoy it!
Lesley says
Thank you!