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You are here: Home / Recipes / Main Dishes / Chicken / Grilled Chicken Parmesan

Grilled Chicken Parmesan

March 11, 2021 by Mahy, Updated July 28, 2021 34 Comments

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long pin skinny grilled chicken parmesan

This Grilled Chicken Parmesan Recipe is the ultimate guilt free version of a beloved classic Chicken Parmesan. Tender juicy and flavorful pan grilled chicken breasts are topped with basil pesto, parmesan and mozzarella cheese, and baked in a fresh quick homemade marinara sauce.

Grilled Chicken Parmesan right out of the oven, close up held up above the plate.

Say hello to the perfect Italian comfort food to serve with pasta, salad or crusty bread! Not only a skinny version, but a really delicious one too!

I’ve always loved chicken parmesan, and if you’ve been to Italy or even been invited to Italian homes you’ll feel this is a classic that symbols comfort.

And like many other comfort foods, this lovely chicken dish will taste differently from place to another and from home to another. Much of the taste relies on the marinara sauce used, and the breading used to pan fry the chicken.

 

 

 

CHICKEN PARMESAN RECIPE

Chicken Parmesan is basically breaded chicken breasts, pan fried and baked over marinara sauce with cheese over the chicken.

It’s probably the ultimate Italian comfort chicken recipe. And while I LOVE it, I prefer this skinny grilled version so much more!

Since we’re on Italian food, can I just say, you need to try this Spaghetti aglio e olio – Olive oil Pasta. Life’s simplest ingredients make the best meals sometimes! Video includes for the spaghetti recipe too! 

WHY GRILLED CHICKEN PARMESAN

Grilling the chicken here adds a layer of extra flavor to the chicken. You don’t even need to use an outdoor grill, I’ve used an indoor grill today and it was perfect!

If you think you’ll loose the flavor from the fried crusted chicken, well I’ve added a much better one here and a secret ingredient. I added basil pesto! Yes! A teaspoon of basil pesto over each chicken takes this chicken Parmesan recipe to another level.

Another thing I’ve also added in order to keep the flavor level up is a sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese over the chicken.

Now I can promise you this chicken parm doesn’t lack flavor a single bit, and even more, it doesn’t leave you feeling heavy like the fried chicken one! So I know you’ll be making it over and over!

HOW TO MAKE CHICKEN PARMESAN

I start out by seasoning the chicken breasts with salt, pepper and dried oregano, and pan grill them till they’re nice and golden.

Chicken Breasts seasoned and on the grill.

Then I use my favourite Quick Homemade Marinara Sauce because i love the flavors and freshness it adds to this dish.

Grilled chicken on a bed of marinara sauce and topped with pesto sauce

Then once the chicken is beautifully placed on the marinara sauce, it gets a teaspoon of my homemade basil pesto, parmesan cheese, more marinara and finally a sprinkle of parmesan and mozzarella cheeses! Baked in the oven and ready to devour! For the record–my friend calls it spaghetti sauce not marinara sauce, so either way you call it, it works!

parmesan cheese tops the pesto and more marinara covers up the chicken

I had a little ( ok, a lot) of help from my oldest daughter helping out here—and yes she insisted on showing off her fancy nail polish! And showing off her love for the yummy grilled chicken parmesan dinner.

Bake the chicken parm for under 30 minutes. I feel 20 mins is perfect, however I know some ovens run at different temperatures, plus the fan/convection factor may speed things up. So keep an eye on it after 15 minutes.

A hand sprinkling more parmesan and mozzarella on top of the chicken breasts and marinara sauce.

Make this Chicken Parmesan tonight and serve it with salad, pasta, crusty bread or whatever makes you happy!:) Enjoy.

CHICKEN PARMESAN RECIPE TIPS

  • Use fresh chicken breasts and slice each in half by length so the chicken cooks faster.
  • If you want to keep the chicken breasts without slicing in half lengthwise, increase the cooking time on each side by 3 minutes.
  • Add some garlic powder or onion powder if you prefer that flavor.
  • Use store bought Marinara sauce if you think the homemade one is a hassle, but add a teaspoon of basil pesto to your store bought marinara for a boost of flavor!
  • Adding basil pesto over each chicken breast creates incredible flavor to the chicken parmesan along with some grated fresh parmesan.
  • Make the whole recipe in advance and freeze it for up to 3 months. Or make it ahead of time and refrigerate it for 4 days before serving.
  • Make the chicken parmesan into individual long ramekins rather than a single shallow dish or baking dish.

Grilled Chicken Parmesan cooked and sliced to see juicy chicken inside.

CHICKEN RECIPES

Italian Balsamic Chicken Salad Recipe–loaded with goodness and flavor! 

Pecan Crusted Baked Chicken Tenders — the best way to crust your chicken fingers! Lemon Artichoke Garlic Roast Chicken with Salsa–sheet pan chicken with self made salsa/sauce.

Lemon Caper Artichoke Chicken Piccata — The best speedy weeknight dinner!

Pan Seared Chicken Breast with Walnut Sauce — My grandma’s recipe with a twist!

Korean Fried Chicken Strips – My friend’s recipe which we adore!

Grilled Chicken Parmesan -This recipe story at a glance!

Lemon Chicken Hummus Platter – Best Lemon Chicken on the grill and served with a hummus platter!

Instant Pot Chicken Pasta Dinner – One pot Dinner Wonders!!

Best Salad with this Chicken Parmesan is my Caprese Salad and video recipe!

ENJOY!

Skinny Griled Chicken Parmesan
4.16 from 80 votes
Print

Grilled Chicken Parmesan

This grilled chicken parmesan recipe is the ultimate guilt free version of a beloved classic. Tender juicy and flavorful pan grilled chicken breasts are topped with basil pesto, parmesan and mozzarella cheese, and baked in a fresh quick homemade marinara sauce. The perfect Italian comfort food to serve with pasta, salad or crusty bread! 

Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Keyword chicken parmesan, chicken parmesan recipe, grilled chicken parmesan, how to make chicken parmesan
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings 4 servings
Calories 430 kcal
Author Mahy

Ingredients

  • 4 boneless chicken breast boneless skinless chicken breasts ( about 2 pounds)
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 teaspoon oregano dried
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 marinara sauce batch of quick homemade
  • 4 teaspoons basil pesto
  • 1/2 cup parmesan cheese grated
  • 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese shredded

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
  2. Bring out a 9 inch by 13 inch oven safe plate and pour tow thirds of the marinara sauce at the bottom of the plate. Set aside.
    Skinny Griled Chicken Parmesan
  3. Preheat a cast iron grill pan (or any skillet of your choice) over medium heat and add in the olive oil.
  4. Season the chicken breasts with salt, pepper and dried oregano on both sides.
  5. When the pan is ready, sear the chicken on one side for 3 minutes and then flip it and sear it for an extra 3 minutes. Lower the heat to medium low and flip the chicken one last time,and continue to cook for another 2 minutes.
    Skinny Griled Chicken Parmesan
  6. Remove the chicken onto the marinara sauce in the oven safe plate.
  7. Place a teaspoon of nut free basil pesto on top of each chicken breast and spread it on the entire piece of chicken and then place 2 tablespoons of marinara sauce on top of each chicken breast ( or more to your taste) making sure to cover the entire surface.
    Skinny Griled Chicken Parmesan
  8. Sprinkle the cheeses on top ( about 1/4 cup of cheese in total per chicken piece).
    Skinny Griled Chicken Parmesan
  9. Place the plate in the oven and bake for 15-25 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the chicken absorbs much of the marinara flavour.

    Skinny Griled Chicken Parmesan

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes

CHICKEN PARMESAN RECIPE TIPS

  • Use fresh chicken breasts and slice each in half by length so the chicken cooks faster.
  • If you want to keep the chicken breasts without slicing in half lengthwise, increase the cooking time on each side by 3 minutes.
  • Add some garlic powder or onion powder if you prefer that flavor.
  • Use store bought Marinara sauce if you think the homemade one is a hassle, but add a teaspoon of basil pesto to your store bought marinara for a boost of flavor!
  • Adding basil pesto over each chicken breast creates incredible flavor to the chicken parmesan along with some grated fresh parmesan.
  • Make the whole recipe in advance and freeze it for up to 3 months. Or make it ahead of time and refrigerate it for 4 days before serving.
  • Make the chicken parmesan into individual long ramekins rather than a single shallow dish or baking dish.
Nutrition Facts
Grilled Chicken Parmesan
Amount Per Serving (1 breast)
Calories 430 Calories from Fat 189
% Daily Value*
Fat 21g32%
Saturated Fat 6g38%
Cholesterol 164mg55%
Sodium 889mg39%
Potassium 858mg25%
Carbohydrates 1g0%
Protein 55g110%
Vitamin A 360IU7%
Vitamin C 2.7mg3%
Calcium 238mg24%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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Filed Under: American Recipes, Chicken, Cuisine Category, Gluten Free, Holidays, Parties, Quick & Easy, Recipes Tagged With: baked chicken parmesan, best chicken parmesan, chicken parmesan, chicken parmesan recipe, easy chicken parmesan, grilled chicken parmesan, healthy chicken parmesan, how to make chicken parmesan

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Casey

    March 16, 2022 at 3:26 pm

    5 stars
    I can’t believe how easy and delicious this was!! My whole family just loved it!!!

    Reply
  2. Chenée

    March 11, 2021 at 6:24 pm

    5 stars
    I love chicken parmesan but it’s even better to find a lighter version of it with this delicious recipe! The addition of pesto is amazing!

    Reply
  3. Lindsay

    March 11, 2021 at 6:22 pm

    5 stars
    Up until right now I’d never thought about grilling chicken for chicken parm, but I’m definitely going to try it this week! Grilled chicken is always so flavorful and juicy.

    Reply
  4. Michelle Boule

    March 11, 2021 at 6:12 pm

    5 stars
    Love this new way to have chicken parm! We just brought out the grill too!

    Reply
  5. Tara

    March 11, 2021 at 5:08 pm

    5 stars
    What a delicious meal! I love that you made the chicken parmesan with grilled chicken. The flavors sound amazing!

    Reply
  6. Andrea

    March 11, 2021 at 4:56 pm

    5 stars
    Grilling the chicken and pesto on this sounds amazing! Definitely going to be a big hit in my house,

    Reply
  7. Chris Collins

    March 11, 2021 at 4:39 pm

    5 stars
    Love the grilled version of the classic chicken parma! Will definitely be giving this a go for a midweek dinner 🙂

    Reply
  8. Michael N.

    August 22, 2020 at 1:12 pm

    5 stars
    I was looking for a non-breaded chicken parmesan recipe because my girlfriend doesn’t like breaded anything. I found this one and it looked good and had good reviews. I was not prepared for what I got! It looked good enough that I bought high end ingredients and prepared exactly as the recipe stated. The first time I do a recipe, I like to cook how the chef intended. This was the most amazing thing I’ve cooked in the recent past. The marinara alone is worth making over and over. I’ll use this marinara recipe for pasta’s for a long time to come I’m sure. I will make this dish again!

    Reply
    • Mahy

      August 22, 2020 at 10:08 pm

      Thank you so much Michael! So HAPPY you enjoyed this recipe too!!

      Reply
  9. Kaycee

    June 15, 2020 at 7:05 pm

    5 stars
    This is so good! Made using jar sauce that I jazzed up by using the deglazed drippings from the chicken breast sautéed with garlic, fresh basil and oregano, mushrooms, and sliced colored baby tomatoes. I didn’t have pesto, so I used an Italian herbs paste. Served over spaghetti noodles… family loved it!

    Reply
    • Mahy

      June 24, 2020 at 11:10 pm

      Thanks Kaycee for letting me know!! So happy you enjoyed this you made my day!!

      Reply
  10. Heidy L. McCallum

    January 9, 2020 at 11:51 am

    5 stars
    Parm is my favorite, growing up in a family that came from Italy my mom and grandmother only made eggplant parm so I never got to have the chicken parm until I was in college. I really enjoyed your version and will be making it again.

    Reply
  11. Tonje

    January 9, 2020 at 11:38 am

    5 stars
    Made this today and it was such a hit with my family. This is definitely added to our dinner rotation from now!

    Reply
  12. Shadi Hasanzadenemati

    January 9, 2020 at 11:10 am

    5 stars
    Can’t wait to try this recipe, I know my family will love it!

    Reply
  13. Demeter

    January 9, 2020 at 10:58 am

    5 stars
    Love that you still get all that amazing flavor but with a healthier twist. Fantastic!

    Reply
  14. Karen @ Seasonal Cravings

    January 9, 2020 at 10:55 am

    5 stars
    Love how you skinnyed this up! This type of dinner is on regular rotation at my house so lightening it up is greatly appreciated. Can’t wait to try this out on my teens!

    Reply
  15. Rachel

    June 3, 2019 at 9:39 pm

    5 stars
    I really enjoyed this. I had some basil in my garden that I wanted to pick, so this was the perfect opportunity. The chicken did take longer than the recipe said, but I also did not split the breasts.

    Reply
    • Mahy

      June 7, 2019 at 10:37 am

      Yaay Rachel! So glad you’ve enjoyed this recipe as much as we do! Can you share how long your chicken took so I can add a note in the recipe for those who don’t split the chicken? Thanks 🙂

      Reply
  16. Rachel

    June 3, 2019 at 9:37 pm

    5 stars
    I really enjoyed this. I had some basil in my garden that I wanted to pick, so this was the perfect opportunity. The chicken did take longer than the recipe said, but I also did not split the breasts.

    Reply
    • Mahy

      June 7, 2019 at 10:37 am

      Oh fresh basil is the best!!!

      Reply
  17. Desiree

    January 30, 2019 at 12:13 pm

    5 stars
    I made this the other night and it turned out pretty dang amazing. I’m not a fan of breaded chicken and wanted to find a receipe that didn’t have it and found this great website. I didn’t make homemade sauce, I used Bertolli Olive oil, basil, and garlic sauce and it tasted amazing and used pesto from a jar as well. We had zucchini noodles with this for a healthy alternative. This will definitely be a staple in our rotation.

    Reply
    • Mahy

      January 30, 2019 at 2:15 pm

      Hi Desiree, Thanks so much for letting me know!! So happy you enjoyed this like we do!!I love Bertolli Basil Sauce too, I’ll try it next time!! 🙂

      Reply
  18. Donna

    June 18, 2018 at 6:46 pm

    5 stars
    I can’t thank you enough for sharing this recipe! I just made this using chicken tenders and it was amazing! I couldn’t believe how much more I like this over the regular breaded style recipe. I don’t think I will be ordering this at restaurants anymore when I can make it better! Thanks again!

    Reply
    • Mahy

      July 6, 2018 at 12:07 pm

      Hey Donna!! Oh YAY you made my day!! Thanks for making it and so happy you enjoyed it more than breaded style too!! 🙂

      Reply
  19. Natalie

    May 13, 2017 at 1:09 am

    I made this today, and it was absolutely delicious. The pesto was definitely the icing on the cake. Thank you!

    Reply
    • Mahy

      May 15, 2017 at 11:43 am

      Thank YOU Natalie!! So glad you enjoyed it and oh yes the pesto makes it pop out!! Thanks again 🙂

      Reply
  20. katelynn

    May 3, 2016 at 9:24 pm

    amazing recipe my whole family loves it!! but the cook time deffinatly is alot longer in my oven 🙁

    Reply
    • Mahy

      May 6, 2016 at 8:49 pm

      Katelynn I’m so happy you and your family enjoyed it!! 🙂 Does your oven have a convection (fan) function? That would make it cook faster, and if not, when you’re rushed you can always raise the temperature to 400 degrees. 🙂

      Reply
  21. Mahy

    April 5, 2016 at 8:34 pm

    Christine Thanks!! Hope you enjoy it 🙂

    Reply
  22. Danielle

    February 26, 2016 at 3:08 am

    This is the best!

    Reply
    • Mahy

      February 29, 2016 at 8:45 pm

      Thanks Danielle!! So glad you enjoyed this! 🙂

      Reply
  23. Amanda

    February 24, 2016 at 5:38 am

    This looks so delicious, I’m going to make this on the weekend for my family. Is there a recipe that I’m missing for your homemade marinara sauce?? Thanks so much

    Reply
    • Mahy

      February 25, 2016 at 2:57 pm

      Hey Amanda thanks so much!! Hope you and your family enjoy this as much as we do! 🙂 Here’s a link to my quick homemade marinara sauce: https://www.twopurplefigs.com/quick-homemade-marinara-sauce/
      Enjoy 🙂

      Reply
  24. Mahy

    February 22, 2016 at 7:33 pm

    Mica–thanks so much!! It really tastes fabulous too 🙂

    Reply
4.16 from 80 votes (62 ratings without comment)

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