Heart Healthy Chicken Parmesan

(5.0)
By Judy Capodanno
Updated 3/25/2025
Dietitian Reviewed: Jane Schwartz, RDN, CLT
Approved for These Diets:
Heart Healthy | Diabetic
Heart Healthy Chicken Parmesan

This heart-healthy Chicken Parmesan recipe transforms a classic chicken breast recipe into a delightful heart-healthy meal that's perfect for people looking for cardiac diet recipes. Made with crispy, healthy chicken breasts and melted part-skim mozzarella, this heart healthy recipe is both low sodium and diabetic-friendly. A fragrant tomato-basil sauce and a light sprinkle of Parmesan bring rich flavors with less fat or low salt. This easy, heart-healthy dinner is a deliciously simple recipe for healthy chicken parmesan.

Chicken Parmesan can also be made quickly in an air fryer. Check out our recipe for Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan HERE!

If you are looking for more heart-healthy dinner ideas, check out all of our healthy chicken breast recipes!

Total Time
60 minutes
Servings
4
Calories
263
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Why You’ll Love This Healthy Chicken Parmesan Recipe

No need for a lot of fuss or many ingredients when making this heart healthy diet recipe for a low-sodium chicken parmesan. Besides the chicken breasts and cheese, you’ll need just four ingredients and a few spices. This delicious heart healthy dinner recipe is ready to serve in under an hour. And the best part is that you can feel good knowing you’re serving a healthy meal that is low calorie, low fat, and low sodium, but high in protein.

Chicken parmesan is a classic recipe but it can be loaded with fat and calories. But the good news is that while this healthy version lowers the stats on fat, sodium and calories, it doesn’t skimp on taste. In fact, it may be one of the best chicken parmesan recipes you’ve ever made! To get the taste you crave with less fat and calories, you’ll simply bake the succulent chicken breasts rather than frying them. This will give them a crispy coating while keeping them juicy on the inside. Then you’ll reap tons of flavor from the homemade tomato sauce topped with two kinds of cheese.

Chicken parmesan may not come to mind when you’re thinking of heart healthy foods, but it turns out that this chicken dinner recipe can fit perfectly into a heart healthy diet. One serving contains only 3g of saturated fat. It’s also a low sodium chicken dish, clocking in at a mere 246g for a full meal-size serving. Since keeping your weight in check also helps to keep your heart healthier, you’ll be happy to know that a serving of this Italian classic only contains 263 calories. And with only 9g of carbs but a whopping 34g of protein, this may become a new favorite recipe if you’re following a diabetes-friendly meal plan.

You may be used to eating chicken parmesan on top of a big plate of spaghetti, but if you are trying to watch your calorie and carb intake, having a large serving of pasta may not be in your best interest. If you are looking for a healthy side to enjoy with your Italian-inspired chicken dish, why not try some Garlic Green Beans and Tomato or start with this classic Greek Salad? You can also serve this healthy chicken recipe with a small serving of whole grain pasta, rice or potatoes.

Ingredients

Recipe yields 4 servings

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Helpful How-To Video

How to Make Chicken Parmesan

  1. Step 1

    Preheat oven to 375°. Lightly coat a baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray.

  2. Step 2

    In a small saucepan, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add the onion and sauté for 2 minutes. Add the garlic and sauté for 30 seconds. Add the tomato sauce, basil and pepper. Reduce heat to low and cook, stirring occasionally, for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.

  3. Step 3

    Place egg and bread crumbs in separate shallow bowls. Dip chicken breasts into egg and then dredge in bread crumbs.

  4. Step 4

    Arrange chicken breasts on baking sheet. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through.

  5. Step 5

    Spread half of the tomato sauce in a casserole dish. Place baked chicken on tomato sauce and spread remaining sauce over chicken. Sprinkle mozzarella and Parmesan over chicken. Cover with foil.

  6. Step 6

    Bake for an additional 3 to 5 minutes, or until cheese is melted.

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Nutrition Facts

Serving Size:
4 oz chicken

263
Calories
9
g
Fat
120
mg
Cholesterol
246
mg
Sodium
9
g
Carbs
3
g
Sat. Fat
0
g
Fiber
34
g
Protein
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