Healthier Oven Baked Chicken Parmesan

Chicken Parmesan is one of those foods that it seems like everyone likes. But what’s not to like? The chicken is breaded and then deep fried, smothered in cheese and sauce, and then put on top of delicious pasta. Delicious yes, healthy, no.

Look at how crispy and golden brown that is! No fryer necessary!

To begin, pound your chicken. Place your chicken in a zip lock bag, sealed tightly, and pound the chicken using a meat mallet.

The chicken once it is pounded down. These are gigantic!

Trim any fat off the chicken. Season each breast with a sprinkle of salt and pepper. Then move on to your breading station.

These breading trays are from Pampered Chef and are one of my favorite kitchen tools. I highly recommend them.

The first tray gets the cup of flour, the second tray has the two eggs, beaten with 3 tablespoons of milk, and the third tray gets the Italian breadcrumbs, panko crumbs, Parmesan cheese, garlic clove, salt, and pepper. First dip your chicken in the flour, shaking off excess, then the egg mixture, then the breadcrumbs. Place each breast on a baking sheet sprayed with cooking spray. Spray each breast with cooking spray on both sides to help it crisp up.
Bake your chicken for about 15 minutes, or until the top begins to get golden brown. Flip your chicken to the other side at the 15 minute mark, and bake about another 10 minutes, or until golden brown and chicken juices run clear when pricked with a fork. (These cooking times are approximate based on how thick and big your chicken is. Please cook your chicken thoroughly! ) Remove chicken from oven and put two slices of fresh mozzarella cheese on each piece. Return to the oven for 5 minutes. Remove from oven and put desired amount of sauce on each piece. Serve immediately and enjoy!