This gluten free chicken parmesan is a delicious, low carb version of the Italian classic! Crispy baked chicken smothered in sauce and mozzarella cheese. An easy, 30-minute dinner!

2 bowls of pasta topped with chicken parmesan surrounded by sauce and cheese in nesting bowls

What Makes This Recipe Great

Growing up, Chicken Parmesan used to be my favorite thing to order at Italian restaurants. The crispy breaded chicken topped with marinara, mozzarella cheese, and fresh basil is just so delicious! Now that I’m gluten-free, I had to recreate this favorite dish and wow, it turned out AMAZING!

For this Gluten Free Chicken Parmesan, I use a combination of almond flour and coconut flour with Italian herbs and spices for the “breading”. Then, it gets fried in a pan with some ghee and olive oil and finished in the oven.

This dish has all of the flavors of my old favorite without the carbs or gluten!

Recipe Highlights

  • Simple Ingredients
  • 30-Minute Recipe
  • Kid-Friendly
  • Endless side options!
  • Gluten-Free, Grain Free, Keto, Low Carb, & Dairy Free option!

Ingredient Notes

ingredients for making healthy chicken parmesan

Chicken Cutlets: I used 3 chicken breasts cut in half long ways to create 6 thinner breasts, then pounded them to 1/2 inch thickness.

Breading: I used a mix of Almond flour and Coconut flour to create a keto-friendly, gluten-free breading.

Marinara Sauce: You can always make a homemade version, but my favorite jar is Rao’s Homemade.

Mozzarella Cheese: You can sub vegan cheese if dairy free, or omit the cheese for Whole30!

Recipe Step by Step

the first four steps for making chicken parmesan on the stove
  1. Preheat the oven to 425. Spray a 9×13 inch casserole dish with cooking spray. Pound your halved chicken breasts to 1/2 inch thickness. Crack the eggs in a shallow bowl and beat using a fork. Add the almond flour, coconut flour, Italian seasoning, salt, and garlic powder to a separate shallow bowl and mix well.
  2. Heat the ghee and oil together in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Dip each piece of chicken first in the egg, then in the almond flour mixture to coat.
  3. Cook the chicken breasts for 2-3 minutes until golden brown.
  4. Flip and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes. You may need to do this in 2 batches depending on the size of your chicken breasts. 
  5. Place the chicken into the casserole dish.
  6. Once all 6 pieces of chicken are in the casserole dish, add 1/3 cup of marinara sauce to the top of each piece.
  7. Add a piece of mozzarella on top of the sauce.
  8. Bake for 15 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and the cheese is melted. Serve topped with chopped basil and enjoy!
the last 4 steps for making gluten free chicken parmesan

Mary’s Tips & Tricks

How to Serve: I served the chicken parmesan with some Natural Heaven noodles – spaghetti made from Hearts of Palm! It’s a great way to sneak in veggies and only 4 carbs per serving! You can use code MARYSWHOLELIFE to get 10% off your order here!

Fried Chicken Cutlets: You can also omit the sauce and cheese for some really delicious “fried” chicken cutlets – they can be used for so many meals!

Storage: Store leftover gluten free chicken parmesan in an airtight container in the refrigerator without the sauce and cheese. Reheat over a skillet with some olive oil and top with marinara, cheese, and basil and serve!

6 pieces of chicken parmesan in a white baking dish topped with basil

Recipe FAQs

What goes best with chicken parmesan?

You can serve this dish with gluten-free sides like pasta, salad, mashed potatoes, roasted veggies, and more!

What can I use instead of eggs for chicken parmesan?

You can make a “paste” with equal parts gluten free flour and water to serve as the egg for this recipe. brush it on the sides of your chicken and dip it into the flour to make the coating.

What can I use instead of breadcrumbs or flour for the breading?

You can use a variety of things to make a “crispy coating” for the chicken: crushed almond flour crackers, potato chips, gluten-free Chex cereal, nuts, and more!

How many carbs are in this dish per serving?

There are just 7 net carbs per serving (2 pieces), making this a keto-friendly version!

a bowl of spaghetti topped with chicken parmesan being cut with a fork and knife

More Gluten-Free Italian Recipes

Keto Eggplant Parmesan

Gluten-Free Italian Meatballs with Homemade Marinara

Sheet Pan Italian Sausage and Peppers

Instant Pot Lasagna

Sausage Broccolini Pasta

Gluten-Free Chicken Piccata Meatballs

Easy Grilled Bruschetta Chicken

Gluten-Free Risotto with Peas

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gluten free chicken parmesan in a casserole dish topped with basil
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Gluten Free Chicken Parmesan

Yield: 4 people
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 21 mins
Total Time: 31 mins
This gluten free chicken parmesan is a delicious, low carb version of the Italian classic! Crispy baked chicken smothered in sauce and mozzarella cheese. An easy, 30-minute dinner!
5 from 10 votes
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Ingredients

  • 2 lbs chicken breasts, I cut 3 chicken breasts in half to create 6 thinner breasts- pounded to 1/2 inch thickness.
  • 2 eggs, beaten
  • ¾ cup almond flour
  • 2 tbsp coconut flour
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
  • 1 tsp sea salt
  • ½ tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tbsp ghee
  • 1 tbsp olive oil or avocado oil
  • 2 cups sugar free marinara sauce
  • 6 pieces mozzarella cheese, sub vegan cheese for dairy free or omit for Whole30
  • fresh basil, chopped, for garnish

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 425. Spray a 9×13 inch casserole dish with cooking spray.
  • Pound your halved chicken breasts to 1/2 inch thickness. Crack the eggs in a shallow bowl and beat using a fork. Add the almond flour, coconut flour, Italian seasoning, salt, and garlic powder to a separate shallow bowl and mix well.
  • Heat the ghee and oil together in a large skillet over medium high heat. Dip each piece of chicken first in the egg, then in the almond flour mixture to coat. Cook the chicken breasts for 2-3 minutes on each side until golden brown, then place into the casserole dish. You may need to do this in 2 batches depending on the size of your chicken breasts.
  • Once all 6 pieces of chicken are in the casserole dish, add 1/3 cup of marinara sauce to the top of each piece. Add a piece of mozzarella on top of the sauce. Bake for 15 minutes until the chicken is cooked through and the cheese is melted. Serve topped with chopped basil and enjoy!

Notes

How to Serve: I served the chicken parmesan with some Natural Heaven noodles – spaghetti made from Hearts of Palm! It’s a great way to sneak in veggies and only 4 carbs per serving! You can use code MARYSWHOLELIFE to get 10% off your order here!
Fried Chicken Cutlets: You can also omit the sauce and cheese for some really delicious “fried” chicken cutlets – they can be used for so many meals!
Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator without the sauce and cheese. Reheat over a skillet with some olive oil and top with marinara, cheese, and basil, and serve!

Nutrition

Calories: 524kcal, Carbohydrates: 14g, Protein: 58g, Fat: 27g, Saturated Fat: 6g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 6g, Trans Fat: 0.04g, Cholesterol: 237mg, Sodium: 1476mg, Potassium: 1244mg, Fiber: 6g, Sugar: 5g, Vitamin A: 726IU, Vitamin C: 11mg, Calcium: 95mg, Iron: 4mg
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 524
Author: Mary Smith

This post was originally published on July 22, 2020 and updated with new photos and copy on September 22, 2022.