Healthy Chicken Parmesan

mains recipes May 04, 2022

When I say that this is a new staple in our house, I’m not exaggerating. Chicken parmesan is one one of my husband, Sam’s, all-time favorite meals, so making a healthy, Goodness With G Spin has been long overdue!

I was truly so surprised by just how simple and easy this was to whip up, and it’s even suitable for those avoiding gluten and dairy! The result is a super flavorful, protein-packed meal that the whole family will enjoy.

Let’s start with the chicken, as it’s really the star of the show. I wanted to find a more nutritious, gluten-free option than breadcrumbs for the breading, and almond meal does just the trick. Almond meal/flour is also one of my most frequently used ingredients in both sweet and savory recipes as it’s super versatile and has a great texture.

You’ll just mix the almond meal with spices like garlic powder, onion powder, paprika and cayenne for a little extra flavor and kick. I actually recommend slicing your chicken breasts in half (lengthwise), so they’re thinner and easier to cook.

Once you have them sliced more thinly, dredge your chicken breasts in an egg wash, then coat it in the almond meal mixture. When you bake this up, it creates a golden outside with a little bit of a crunch.

Top it off with a little bit of pasta sauce/marinara and shredded mozzarella for even more flavor. If you’re wanting to make this dairy free, use a vegan mozzarella alternative. I used the Follow Your Heart brand and loved it this recipe!

But what is chicken parm without pasta? You’re more than welcome to use whatever type of pasta you have in your pantry or prefer, but I’ve really been loving the Jovial Foods brown rice pasta for a gluten-free alternative. Plus, it has really great texture!

Toss your pasta in the sauce of your choice - I personally love the Tomato Basil Marinara from Whole Foods - then top it all off with some fresh basil for flavor.

Serve this up with a side green salad for a well-rounded, incredibly tasty meal that’s perfect for both date night as well as dinner for the family.

Let me know if you give this one a try!

YIELDS 4 Servings

Ingredients

2 lbs chicken breasts
1 large egg, or 2 smaller
1 cup almond meal
1 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp cayenne
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp ground black pepper
1 jar marinara sauce
shredded mozzarella, dairy-free optional
fresh basil
pasta of choice

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, and set aside.

2. Place almond meal, paprika, cayenne, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper and salt in a bowl, and stir to combine.

3. Crack egg into another bowl, and whisk.

4. Slice chicken breasts in half lengthwise.

5. Dredge the chicken in egg, then place in the almond meal mixture. Cover completely.

6. Place chicken on the parchment-lined baking sheet. Repeat for the rest of your chicken breasts.

7. Bake chicken in the oven for 10 minutes, flip, and bake for another 10 minutes.

8. Remove from the oven. Top each chicken breast with a couple spoonfuls of marinara and a sprinkle of mozzarella. Bake for another 3-5 minutes, until cheese is melted.

9. Serve with pasta of your choice (I used the rest of the marinara as my sauce).

10. Top with fresh basil, serve, and enjoy!