Homemade Baked Chicken Parmigiana Recipe

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Healthy, Homemade Chicken Parmigiana Dinner Recipe - Cut the Calories and Fat, not the Taste!

The problem with most homemade chicken parmigiana recipes, like most Italian food, is the high calorie and fat content. By baking, you can reduce the amount of fat drastically. This healthy, homemade baked chicken parmigiana recipe doesn't lack any of the taste, and actually can be crispier than the pan fried version. Top it with some fresh tomato sauce, serve with some pasta, and you've got an entire Italian feast on your hands!
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Ingredients for Homemade Baked Chicken Parmigiana

Simple, fresh ingredients make this an easy to make dinner anytime!

The great thing about chicken parmigiana is that the ingredient list is very short. All you'll need is some great fresh garden salad, bread and pasta to go along with it for a full Italian feast.

Ingredients:

* 1 fresh mozzarella ball
* 1 package of lean chicken breasts, trimmed and cut in half lengthwise
* 2 Tablespoons of fresh chopped basil
* 1 (28 oz) can of crushed tomatoes
* 1 (28 oz) can of diced tomatoes
* 2 Tablespoons of olive oil
* 1 cup Italian breadcrumbs
* 2 whole eggs, beaten
* 1 Tablespoon minced garlic

You can find some of the cookware I used for this recipe that I recommend on this page.
Tomatoes hanging overhead by sylvar
tomato in square by jacki-dee
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Cherry Tomatoes by bucklava
Tomatoes by St0rmz
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Muir Glen Diced Organic Tomatoes - the Can You See in this Recipe Photo

In case you can't find these delicious canned tomatoes in the store...

Muir Glen Organic Diced Tomatoes, 28-Ounce Cans (Pack of 12)

Amazon Price: $34.80 (as of 02/14/2012)Buy Now

Can't find these delicious organic tomatoes in your local grocery store? They're one of the best canned diced tomatoes in the grocery store today, with a full, fresh taste unlike most other brands. What's the difference? Other brands sometimes have a "canned last year" taste, while these ones taste firm, plump, have a lot of taste, and have a great color for recipes. They're also organic, so they're healthier for you and the environment. You can get this full case of Muir Glen diced organic tomatoes shipped to your door so you'll always have some on hand. Keep them in the cellar and they'll store just fine for quite some time, but you'll probably go through them far before the expiration date.

Basil (Ocimum basilicum) by The Marmot
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Basil -  Ocimum basilicum by Jasmine&Roses
Holy Basil by FotoosVanRobin
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Directions for this Baked Chicken Parmigiana

How to make this simple baked Italian dish!

Have this simple baked chicken parmigiana dish ready and on the table in no time flat with these simple directions!

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Lightly spray a large glass baking pan with cooking spray, or lightly rub with olive oil.

2. Prepare the beaten eggs in a separate dipping bowl, and the breadcrumbs in a separate dipping bowl. Dip each piece of chicken in the egg mixture, then the breadcrumbs. Coat both sides. Place in the glass cooking dish.



3. After all of the pieces have been dipped and coated, place the chicken in the oven for approximately 30 minutes, until the chicken is fully cooked and not pink. Internal temperature for chicken should be 165 degrees F when chicken is done.

4. Meanwhile, while the chicken is cooking, place minced garlic and olive oil in a large saucepan. Lightly brown the garlic and olive oil on low heat, then add the diced tomatoes. Cook the diced tomatoes until slightly softened, then add the basil and crushed tomatoes. Simmer the sauce for approximately 20 minutes, stirring frequently. Add salt and pepper to taste.

5. Top the chicken with small pieces of fresh sliced mozzarella. Bake the chicken for an additional 5-10 minutes, until melted. Serve immediately with fresh cooked pasta and tomato sauce.



Eating Italian Food the Healthy Way: A Weight Watchers Book

Cut down on fat and calories and don't even notice it with these excellent Italian recipes

The problem with most diets is that you have such a giant sacrifice to make that you don't want to commit to it. With these recipes from Weight Watchers, they take what you already eat, as well as brand new recipes you probably haven't tried, and make them healthier through use of more vegetables and alternative ingredients. This isn't just about using lower fat cheese, it's about finding the right spices to make ingredients taste better and make them delicious without a sacrifice.

Weight Watchers Simply the Best Italian: More than 250 Classic Recipes from the Kitchens of Italy

Amazon Price: $19.67 (as of 02/14/2012)Buy Now
Used Price: $1.34

You won't even notice that these recipes are good for you. The biggest flaw with Italian American cooking is perhaps the high fat content. Cheese, carbohydrates, fats and oils make a dish loaded with calories, fat, and in Weight Watchers terms, points. Don't worry - Weight Watchers had managed to trim the fat from all of these recipes while increasing your vegetable intake, reducing your calories, and still feeding you those mouth water Italian dishes you've come to know and love. Some examples and favorites are the lentil soup, Chicken Marsala, polenta, three cheese pizza, chicken breast stuffed with hazelnuts, and the usually fat laden penne with vodka cream sauce.

Mozarella-bullar på Whole Foods by Erik
DSC_0860 by visztani
miam by tangi_bertin
Caprese - 03 by L. Marie
tomato salad (slice of tomato, basil leaf, avocado chunk, mozarella slice, olive oil, black pepper) - cook in 9th dec 2005 by eightysixx
DSC05228 by acme
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Fresh Ingredients Make All the Difference

Use fresher ingredients for more taste (and less fat)



Fresh ingredients can make all the difference between taste and blandness. Use fresh basil to give sauce a good garden fresh taste, while fresh mozzarella can pack huge flavor by just using a small sliver. If you're trying to cut back on calories, the use of fresh garden spices instead of the dried variety will actually make your recipes taste better instead of missing flavor when switching to lower fat variety cheeses.

You can reduce the fat and calories even further by using nonstick cooking spray and lower fat variety mozzarella cheese. Whole grain pasta and bread are also great substitutions.

Other Healthy Italian Cooking Recipes on the Web

More Italian recipes you should try out!

Carrot Chicken Farfalle
Chicken with a unique, chicken flavored carrot sauce. Healthy and very flavorful!
Healthy Chicken Marsala
It's usually full of fat, but this version is full of taste, and uses fresh ingredients to replace the fat.
Spaghetti with Bell Pepper Marinara
Make this recipe with whole grain pasta for a healthier, more filling meal.
Eating Healthy in Italian Restaurants
How to eat healthier in Italian restaurants while still enjoying your experience out.
Butternut Squash Stuffed Shells
Add some vegetables and curb the fat intake by using part skim ricotta in this delicious recipe.
Italian Stuffed Bell Peppers
Some whole grain risotto in this recipe, or stuffing prepared with chicken broth instead of butter, will be full of flavor and still a great addition to your meal.
Veggie Paninis
Hold the meat, hold the calories, and have a delicious veggie panini instead!
Homemade Baked Eggplant Parmigiana
This easy eggplant recipe is similar to this chicken parmigiana recipe, so if you like this, you'll probably love the eggplant version too.
Stir Fry Italian Squash Recipe
Just a little olive oil and a fresh squash makes this a tasty side dish during the summer, when this is in peak season!

More Baked Chicken Parmesan Recipes on the Web

Updated every 30 minutes with a brand new recipe!

Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurants and General Growth Properties Sign Multi ...
The menu will include generous portions of quality house-made cuisine including such favorites as freshly baked Lasagna, Spaghetti with Meatballs "as big as your head," Shrimp Fra Diavolo and Chicken Parmigiana, all served "Family-Style.
What We're Reading
I still miss her melanzane parmigiana, her roast spring lamb, her spaghetti con bottarga, her pasta con le sarde (that ur-Sicilian dish of bucatini, sardines, wild fennel, pine nuts, and raisins). Our meals were served outside, under a violet-flowering ...
DINING PROFILE: Bohemian Feel For Favorite Pizza Place
Chicken dishes include Chicken Stir Fry Alfredo, Chicken Parmigiana, New England Chicken Grill, Chicken Porto Fino (chicken breast and mushrooms), Honey Mustard Chicken, Rosemary Roasted Chicken or Salmon, Chicken Saltimbocca, Pollo Marsala and Pollo ...
Hollywood Glam night at A' Famosa
The dinner for two serves an array of delectable dishes such as balsamic salad and crab meat and cream of pumpkin soup, chicken parmigiana with pasta, double baked snapper with caper sauce, and rainbow mousse along with live music band and dance ...

Italian Hats to go Along with Your Feast!

Know an Italian? Help them celebrate their heritage with these cool gift ideas!


These Italian heritage themed hats come in several styles and color from Biscotti Mafia. Drop by the store and see the many more hats, t-shirts, onesies and other Italian themed products in store!
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More Homemade Italian Dinner Recipes...

Check out these other Italian recipes for another dinner idea!

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Italian Girl Baby Shirt shirt
Italian Girl Baby Shirt
Cute organic onesie - great gift idea for newborns!

Everyone loves an Italian girl! This cute baby onesie shirt is 100% organic cotton, with beautiful red and pink hearts all over the onesie. A classic style and gift for any newborn Italian! You can find many more Italian themed onesies, t-shirts, bumper stickers, mugs and other gifts by visiting our store, or by browsing some of the product pages below:



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Chicken Parmesan Sandwich

chicken parmesan sandwichTo make those great tasting leftover chicken parmesan sandwiches, you can use these simple tips on how to make them to perfection. First, you'll need to follow the instructions for the perfect homemade baked chicken parmigiana, then you'll continue onto this page to reap the benefits of the leftovers!

Do You Make Chicken Parmigiana Sandwiches?

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How to Make Chicken Parmesan Sandwiches

Simple instructions for a mouth watering, delicious sandwich!

Easy Chicken Parmesan Sandwich Recipe

Make it quick and easy with these simple steps

The Single Chef - Chicken Parmesan Sandwich
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One of the best ways to cut fat from any fried recipe is to simply bake it! more »

Feeling creative? Create a Lens!

If You Decide to Fry It... 

The best way to fry chicken parmesan

Kitchen Essentials® from Calphalon® Covered Hard-Anodized Nonstick Jumbo Frying Pan - 12"

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If you decide to go the frying route, first, go light on the oil. Second, use a pan like this one to cut back on the oil that you'll need. This nonstick surface will cut back on oil and make frying up your poultry or veggies to a golden brown color a snap. This is the pan I personally use, and it's served me well over the years. It also cleans well, with just a light scrubbing with a soft sponge. With more stubborn food substances, just soak it a little with water (a couple hours is usually fine), then wash.

Light Cooking Chicken Cookbook 

Great healthy chicken recipes!

Cooking Light Cook's Essential Recipe Collection: Chicken: 58 essential recipes to eat smart, be fit, live well (the Cooking Light.cook's ESSENTIAL RECIPE COLLECTION)

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Chicken is the basis for many great meals. It's lean, it's versatile, and it tastes great. AND, it doesn't have to be fried or smothered in a high fat sauce to make taste unbelievable. Read all of these incredible recipes, then taste them yourself! Great reviews from customers.

The North End Italian Cookbook 

Make authentic Italian dishes the way they were supposed to be made!

The North End Italian Cookbook, 5th

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Of all of the Italian American neighborhoods, the North End may stand out as the best of the best. With hundreds of restaurants, pizzerias, cafes, and bakeries, this little neighborhood in Boston boasts some great good. Now, you can replicate these timeless recipes which have been carried over from Italy and perfected in America with the help of this book!