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Just as cheesy and kid-friendly as the original, this dump-and-bake healthy chicken Parmesan recipe is an easy dinner with no prep work! Just place all of the ingredients in one dish and let the oven do the work.

Healthy chicken parmesan on top of spaghetti on a plate

Healthy Chicken Parmesan Recipe

A lot of you share one of my biggest struggles as a home cook: preparing a single meal that can accommodate a variety of schedules and finicky eaters. By 9:00 p.m. it can feel like you’re a short-order cook at the local diner. Not good! Instead, I’ve created this lighter version of the classic Chicken Parmesan recipe. It’s a family-friendly option that appeals to everyone at the table!

Also known as Chicken Parmigiana, the traditional Italian dish is typically made with breaded, pan-fried chicken breast that’s covered in tomato sauce and mozzarella, parmesan, or provolone cheese. In order to maintain the rich Italian flavors of the original dish without all of the fat and calories, you’ll make this healthy chicken parmesan without breading. It’s baked in the oven — not fried — but still smothered with plenty of sauce and two different types of cheese — both mozzarella and parmesan! Serve the chicken with regular pasta, whole wheat pasta, spaghetti squash or zucchini noodles…whatever suits your diet and taste preferences.

Why this is an Easy Healthy Chicken Parmesan Recipe

  • There’s no pre-cooking, breading, or slicing necessary for this quick-prep dinner — just arrange the raw ingredients in your dish!
  • The healthy chicken parmesan bakes in the oven (rather than frying in a skillet), so it’s a hands-off option for busy nights.
  • You can assemble the dish in advance and keep it in the refrigerator until you’re ready to pop it in the oven. Can’t beat the convenience of a make-ahead meal!

How to Make Healthy Baked Chicken Parmesan

As you can see in the video below, this healthy chicken parmesan recipe bakes in the oven instead of frying in a skillet! That makes it easier and better for us. Plus, since you’ll make the chicken without breading, it doesn’t get soggy in the pan. An added bonus!

Ingredients for a Quick Healthy Chicken Parmesan Recipe

  • Boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • Marinara sauce
  • Fresh mozzarella
  • Parmesan cheese
  • Italian seasoning and basil
  • Salt and pepper

Healthy Chicken Parmesan | 1-Minute Video

Step 1: Place Ingredients in Baking Dish

Spread half of the marinara sauce in the bottom of a baking dish. Place the raw chicken on top, season with Italian seasoning, salt and pepper, and pour the remaining marinara sauce over top. Cover with foil.

Step 2: Bake the Chicken Parmesan in the Oven

Bake the covered dish in a 425 degree F oven for about 20-35 minutes (depending on the size and thickness of your meat).

Step 3: Add Cheese

Top the chicken with fresh mozzarella and grated Parmesan cheese, return the dish to the oven (uncovered), and finish baking until the cheese is melted (about 10 more minutes). Ta-da!

What to Serve with Chicken Parmigiana

The cheesy chicken is best when served with pasta and marinara sauce. Don’t forget a side of garlic bread, too!

What Noodles for Chicken Parmesan?

This is a matter of preference, so pick your favorites! Classic options include spaghetti, angel hair, linguine or fettuccine. Penne, rigatoni or rotini will also work. If you’re looking for a healthier noodle swap, try cooked spaghetti squash, spiralized zucchini noodles, or whole wheat or grain-free pasta options.

Healthy Sides for Chicken Parmesan

Make Ahead

Assemble the dish in advance, cover with foil, and refrigerate for up to 24 hours before baking or freezer for up to 3 months. When ready to cook the chicken, allow the dish to sit on the counter and come to room temperature for at least 30 minutes before it goes into the oven. If the chicken is still really cold when you put it in the oven, you may need to increase the baking time by a few minutes. Wait to add the cheese at the end, as instructed.

Storage

Leftover baked chicken parmesan will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. You can also freeze the leftovers for up to 3 months.

To reheat the chicken parmesan, place the chicken on a baking sheet and warm in a 350 degree oven just until heated though (about 10 minutes for small pieces of chicken). You can also warm individual servings in the microwave for 1-2 minutes. When reheating chicken, be careful not to warm it for too long or it can become overcooked, tough and dry.

Tips for the Best Healthy Chicken Parmesan Recipe

  • Use the best quality, most flavorful marinara sauce. I recommend Rao’s brand sauce, which does not include any added sugar. If you prefer to make your own sauce, try this easy marinara recipe.
  • Have some extra marinara sauce on hand to serve over pasta or zucchini noodles, if desired.
  • For a quick cooking time, be sure to use smaller chicken breasts (about 4-5 ounces each) or cut your large chicken breasts in half to make chicken cutlets.
  • Allow the dish to rest for 5-10 minutes before serving. This will allow the sauce to thicken a bit more and the chicken will retain its juices.
  • Serve the chicken parmesan bake as a low-carb meal and skip the pasta. A side salad or some of the other healthy sides suggested are nice options.
  • Serve the cheesy baked chicken on toasted hoagie rolls to make Chicken Parm Subs.
  • Garnish with fresh herbs if you have some on hand!
Healthy baked chicken parmesan on a plate of spaghetti with fresh basil

More Healthy Chicken Recipes to Try

Square side shot of healthy chicken parmesan on a plate with pasta

Dump-and-Bake Healthy Chicken Parmesan

4.75 from 20 votes
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 30 minutes
Total: 40 minutes
Servings 4 – 6 people
Calories 256.5 kcal
​​​​​​​Just as cheesy and kid-friendly as the original, this Dump-and-Bake Healthy Chicken Parmesan is an easy dinner with no prep work!

Ingredients
  

  • 6 small boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 24 ounces total) or 6 chicken cutlets
  • 1 (16 ounce) jar marinara sauce
  • 6 ounces fresh mozzarella, sliced
  • ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • Italian seasoning, to taste
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • Basil or additional fresh herbs, for garnish
  • Optional: cooked pasta, for serving

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
  • Spray a large baking dish (about 9-inch by 13-inch) with cooking spray. Spread half of the marinara sauce in the bottom of the dish. Add the chicken on top of the sauce. Sprinkle chicken with Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper, to taste.
  • Pour remaining sauce over chicken. Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. If you are using larger chicken breasts you will need to increase the baking time to at least 30-35 minutes.
  • Remove foil, place mozzarella slices and grated Parmesan on top of chicken. Return chicken to the oven (uncovered) for an additional 10 minutes, or until cheese is melted and chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees F.

Video

Notes

Cooking for Two? Cut the ingredients in half and bake the chicken in an 8-inch or 9-inch square baking dish.
Want to prep ahead? Place all of the ingredients in the dish, cover, and refrigerate until ready to bake. You can also freeze the dish (before baking) for up to 3 months — just make sure that it’s wrapped tightly to prevent freezer burn.

Nutrition

Serving: 1/6 of the recipeCalories: 256.5kcalCarbohydrates: 4.9gProtein: 34.9gFat: 10.2gSaturated Fat: 4.2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.2gMonounsaturated Fat: 1.6gCholesterol: 84.8mgSodium: 495mgPotassium: 27mgFiber: 1.3gSugar: 2.7g
Keyword: baked chicken parmesan, chicken parmesan, healthy chicken parmesan
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Italian
Author: Blair Lonergan
blair

Hey, I’m Blair!

Welcome to my farmhouse kitchen in the foothills of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. Inspired by local traditions and seasonal fare, you’ll find plenty of easy, comforting recipes that bring your family together around the table. It’s down-home, country-style cooking!

Read More

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Comments

  1. My husband is ALL about chicken Parmesan…it’s one of his favorite meals, so I know he would go crazy over this dump and bake dish. Love how easy and flavorful it is. Just what we need for busy weeks!

  2. Oh, how I can relate to these rollercoaster days! Love the idea of this recipe – the easiness and the deliciousness! Pinning!

  3. Oooh! This looks amazing! We loveeee chicken parmesan and I love that you served it with spaghetti!

  4. I have been making something almost exactly the same for years now. It is quick, easy, and healthier without all the breading. Shredded mozzarella works in a pinch if you don’t have fresh but fresh is best! Dinner always ready to go in 30 ‘minutes and hubby likes it a lot. Thanks for sharing!

    1. Awesome! Great minds think alike, Sharon! 🙂 I agree — shredded mozzarella cheese works very well in a pinch!

  5. Hi there, this looks fantastic! Have u ever tried adding zucchini? I want to make this tomorrow and I was just given a zucchini, wondering if I should added it chopped of cook separately? Would it be too watery?
    Thanks!

    1. Hi, Susan! I have never tried adding zucchini, but I think it would work really well! I would just chop it up finely (so that you’re sure it is cooked through by the end of the baking time) and add it to the dish. It will add some moisture, but I don’t think that it should be too watery — especially if you’re just using one zucchini. 🙂

  6. Made this for dinner tonight. I’ve never had chicken parm before and I’m in love! Served it over some fettuccine, perfect!

        1. Hey, Ashley! Yes, you can use foil on the bottom or you can butter the dish or rub it with a little bit of oil. Any of those options will work! 🙂

  7. Just made this dish, and it was delicious! It’s SO EASY and you will most likely have all the ingredients in a pantry and fridge… and that’s what I like!!!! ???? Thank you for posting this recipe!

  8. Is it just me? After 20 minutes my chicken (thin breast filets) are are still pink, gave another 10 min in the oven – still pink with pink juice inside. did anyone else have same problem?

    1. I had this same issue. An hour in, with all the cheese burned, I’m giving up. I’ll have the pasta for dinner while my daughter has Ramen. Hoping for better luck with the pork tenderloin.

      1. Probably, you had larger breasts. Check the weight next time and perhaps cut into smaller pieces if they are extra-large .

  9. This caught my eye yesterday. Just made today with organic chicken tenderloins. Came out amazing. My fiance loved it and so did it. Served with whole grain pasta. Thank you so much for sharing your recipe..

  10. 4 stars
    I literally just made this tried a sample (it tastes amazing) and the entire kitchen smells awesome! My husband loves chicken parm, but I dread the steps for the original version. Thanks for the easy, tasty version!

  11. Just made this for my husband and I with veggie spaghetti instead of regular pasta, he loved it so much he’s taking all of the left overs for lunch tomorrow! Definitely an amazing dinner!

  12. 5 stars
    I just made this for our Sunday dinner and it was a huge hit! I’m always looking for new chicken recipes and this was great and so easy to get together.
    Thanks for sharing!!

  13. 5 stars
    I just wanted to come report back that I made this recipe last night and it was absolutely delicious. Such an easy and quick way to have chicken parm, without all of the extra steps to bread and fry the chicken. I will be keeping this recipe around for good! Thank you for sharing it.

  14. 5 stars
    Blair, thank you so much for sharing this recipe. I made it tonight and the family went crazy over it! They are saying that this is now their new favorite.

  15. Hey girl! Thanks for the recipe! When the fam ate this great dish it reminded me of the fun times we had!

    1. Andrea!!!! Thanks so much for your note! Gosh, we had so many fun (CRAZY) times! I miss you and I think about you often. Hope your family is doing well! xoxo

  16. 5 stars
    My husband and I loved this recipe! It was such a quick weeknight dinner. We will definitely be making again!

  17. How small is small exactly for the chicken?
    I had three bug chicken breasts and cut them and half and this dish took an hour or so for the chicken to reach it’s temperature.

    1. Hi, Virginia! As I note in the ingredients above, I used 24 ounces of chicken total. That means that each of the small chicken breasts were about 4 ounces.

  18. Thank you so much for this recipe! I came across it while googling easy chicken recipes and it turned out absolutely fantastic! I used shredded mozzarella because that’s all I had on hand but it was still fantastic – and so easy! I’ll definitely make it again!

  19. I love this recipe! I have a picky husband who seems to only like complicated unhealthy recipes but he LOVES this.

    It’s easy, tasty and fits into the allotted amount of WW points for dinner.

    Thank you!!

    1. Awesome! That’s exactly my goal, Erin. 🙂 A meal that’s good for you, but also tasty for the whole family!

    1. Hi, Mariah! Yes! Italian seasoning is just a blend of a bunch of different herbs and seasonings — including basil, oregano, parsley, garlic, thyme, onion, rosemary, and marjoram. You can just substitute with a dash of whatever you have on hand — maybe some basil and oregano?

  20. This was so easy and turned out so well!!! I’m not the best cook so I was thrilled with the result. I halved it and used boneless skinless chicken tenders.

    1. Awesome, Carrie! Thank you for letting me know! I’m so glad that you’ve found a new, easy recipe to enjoy. 🙂

    1. That’s right, Laura — it’s just for the chicken. I didn’t include specific pasta amounts in the recipe, so you can just calculate the pasta nutrition based on the type and amount that you use. Or, for a lighter option, you can even use zucchini noodles! 🙂

  21. 5 stars
    Made this tonight for dinner. It is very good. Easy to assemble and follow directions. I did exactly as written and watched video. Easy Peasy! I added garlic powder to the chicken along with Italian seasoning, salt and pepper. I found a spaghetti sauce that is healthier than most. No sugar nor bad oils. It is Ragu garden fresh healthy sauce. You can find it at Krogers here in Michigan. They make a plain marinra too. Both are delicious. This will be my go to chicken parm bake! Hubby and I loved it. So easy to prepare! Thanks for sharing recipe!

    1. That’s great, Lynn! I’m so glad that you both enjoyed it, and thanks for the tip about the Ragu! Sounds perfect. 🙂

  22. 5 stars
    Thank you so much for this easy to follow recipe which tasted amazing. I have created a new board on Pinterest called Keeper Recipes and this was the first recipe pinned. 24 yr old son wanted the recipe!!!! This speaks volumes.

  23. 5 stars
    OK, here is the deal. I am doing some intermittent fasting and found THIS recipe online. Oh my goodness, does it look delicious. And I am so hungry right now I would like to grab it right out of my computer screen and chow down! LOL
    Note to self: do not look at delicious recipes while fasting.

    Pinning!

  24. 5 stars
    I was looking for something a little different but still easy to do with two chicken breasts last night. Made this and it was perfect. Chicken was 5 oz each and the cooking times were spot on. I really appreciate you confirming on your recipes how to downsize for two, it’s a big help.

    The benefit of cooking for two is I have room in the oven for two pans. So taking inspiration from your 2 ingredient snap peas I tossed some diced potatoes in dressing, put them in the oven at the same time as the chicken. When it was time to uncover the chicken, I added the dressing-tossed snap peas. The timing worked out great!

    I’m making your dump & bake pepper steak tonight, will let you know how it turns out.

  25. 5 stars
    This is a great recipe, Blair, and definitely one of our favorite “Dump and Bake” recipes of yours. It is so easy and so delicious! I used smoked mozzarella which I had on hand for pizza but otherwise followed the ingredient list and directions exactly. Thanks for another goodie!

  26. 5 stars
    Excellent recipe, easy and fast to put together. My family said it was delicious I made a side of garlic bread to go with it.

    1. You can never go wrong with garlic bread! We’re so glad you and your family enjoyed the recipe, Des.

    1. Hi, Stacy! Yes, you’ll probably want extra sauce to serve with however much pasta you choose to make. You can also just serve the chicken with crusty bread, on sandwiches, or with rice. Hope you enjoy the meal!

  27. 5 stars
    I used skinless, boneless chicken thighs. Also shredded the parmesan cheese for added flavor and used provolone on top of the thighs. Delish! My husband loved the recipe.