This low carb and keto chicken parmesan is a quick and simple one-pan chicken recipe that can go from stovetop to oven to your table with 10 ingredients in 30 minutes or less! Like traditional chicken parmesan, this chicken is "breaded" but uses almond flour and parmesan coating instead. This recipe is also high-protein and gluten free.
You'll Love This Keto Parmesan Chicken
Easy
This recipe is made just like traditional chicken parmesan, and the coated chicken is seared in a skillet. From there, it is topped with marinara and cheese and baked the rest of the time. It's quite easy and one of our favorite family recipes!
This recipe uses an oven-proof 12" cast iron skillet so you literally make this in one pan from stovetop to oven - then table. (p.s. If you don't own an ovenproof skillet, you can transfer to a casserole dish to finish baking).
Delicious
Chicken parmesan is one of my favorite things to order in a restaurant. We don't actually eat out a lot anymore, so I've been experimenting in the kitchen to get a healthy version of my favorite Italian recipe. This recipe is the result!
Healthy
This recipe is high in protein, keto, gluten-free, low carb, and has no added sugar. Be sure to use a low net carb and no sugar added marinara sauce! If you are buying bottled go for the best sauce! It really does make a difference.
Chicken Parmesan Keto Ingredients
Here are the ingredients and tools you'll need to make this keto parmesan chicken:
- Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts - pounded to ½" thick, uniform thickness
- Olive Oil
- Egg
- Almond Flour
- Parmesan Cheese - finely grated, I used the "granular" kind
- Garlic Salt
- Italian Seasoning
- Pepper
- Marinara Sauce - be sure to use a no added sugar, low carb marinara sauce. We used Rao's.
- Mozzarella Cheese Slices
Equipment you'll need:
- 12" cast iron skillet (or other oven proof skillet)
For exact ingredient quantities, please see the recipe card below!
Be sure to pin this pin to Pinterest to save for later! 🙂
Variations and Substitutions
- Add extra vegetables. You add up to 2 cups of vegetables (diced zucchini, sliced mushrooms, steamed cauliflower, and steamed broccoli work well). After searing your chicken, remove it and keep warm. Saute vegetables until tender, then add the chicken back to the pan and top with marinara and cheese.
- If you do add vegetables - they will add moisture to your sauce, making it slightly runnier. No big deal! You can offset this by adding a little thickener or consider the extra sauciness a bonus and serve over steamed vegies, zoodles, or priced cauliflower or pasta. 🙂
- You can cut the chicken into bite-size pieces after searing if you prefer. Serving this recipe with the chicken in bite-sized pieces helps the recipe go further and makes it easier to portion out for your family. If you are in a hurry, skip this step and leave the pieces whole.
How to Make Keto Chicken Parmesan
This is intended as an overview only. For detailed instructions, please see the recipe card below. Enjoy!
Make Coating
In a shallow bowl mix almond flour, parmesan, garlic salt, italian seasoning, and pepper.
Coat the Chicken
In a small bowl whisk egg. Dredge chicken in the egg then dip both sides into coating. Set on a plate until ready to sear chicken.
Sear Chicken
Add olive oil to an ovenproof skillet that has been preheated over medium-high. Place each piece of chicken into the pan and sear for 4 minutes, turn over and sear an additional 3 minutes. Remove from heat.
Top with Sauce and Cheese
Pour marinara sauce over the top of the chicken and then top each chicken piece with a slice of cheese.
Bake
Bake 18 to 20 minutes or until chicken is done. Remove from oven and let sit, covered, for about 5 minutes. Serve and enjoy!
How to Serve Keto Baked Chicken Parmesan
Because chicken parm is full of flavor you only need a simple vegetable side dish or something to drizzle all that saucy goodness over. Here's what to eat with chicken parmesan:
- A little side of zucchini noodles, riced, steamed, or roasted vegetables go great with this recipe.
- Serve with a fresh green salad with a favorite dressing such as Blue Cheese Dressing or Thousand Island Dressing
- Overnight layered salad - I often make this salad over the weekend, usually Sunday, then eat on it for several days and take it for lunches too.
- Anyone not following a low carb or keto diet will love this dish with some cooked pasta drizzle with a little olive oil (or butter) salt and pepper.
Chicken Parmesan Keto Top Tips
- Make sure your skillet is hot before attempting to sear the chicken. Preheat the oil in the skillet before adding the chicken. The chicken should sizzle when you add it to the pot. If it doesn't sizzle, the oil and pan are not hot enough.
- A total of 24 ounces of chicken breast is required for this recipe. The portion of chicken for each person is 4 ounces. If you are unable to buy chicken breasts in this size, you can cut larger ones in the correct portion.
- Pound your chicken to ½" thick for consistent cooking as it finishes off in the oven.
- Test the doneness of your chicken with an instant read thermometer. According to the USDA chicken should be cooked to 165 degrees F.
FAQs
Yes, you can definitely freeze this caserole. Make sure it is cool first, then put it in a freezer-proof, airtight container. Freeze for up to 4 months.
This chicken recipe will keep up to 4 days in your refrigerator. If you want to save it from there, you can freeze it until you are ready to eat.
Good news! this chicken parmesan recipe is keto because the coating is made with almond flour, parmesan, and seasoning. The sauce used is low carb, with no added sugar.
However, traditional chicken parmesan is typically NOT keto-friendly because it is often thickly coated breading made with or white flour.
No worries! You can still make this parmesan chicken. Sear the chicken in a skillet then transfer to a casserole dish (coated with nonstick spray). Bake 20 to 25 minutes until the chicken is done.
The recipe will take a little longer to bake since the casserole dish is not as hot as the skillet is in the original recipe.
According to the USDA, the safe minimum cooking temperature of chicken should be 165 degrees F.
Can I ask you a favor?
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📖 The recipe.
Keto Chicken Parmesan Recipe
Ingredients
- 6 (4 ounce) chicken breasts, boneless and skinless (pounded to ½" thick)
- ⅛ cup olive oil
- 1 egg
- ⅓ cup almond flour
- ⅓ cup parmesan cheese (finely grated)
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt
- 1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 24 ounces marinara sauce (keto use sugar free)
- 4 slices mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Prep and assemble all of your ingredients.
- In a small bowl whisk the egg.
- In a shallow bowl mix almond flour, parmesan, garlic salt, Italian seasoning, and pepper.
- Dredge chicken in the egg then dip both sides into the coating. Set on a plate until ready to sear the chicken.
- Add olive oil to an ovenproof skillet that has been preheated over medium-high. Place each piece of chicken into the pan and sear for 4 minutes, turn over and sear an additional 3 minutes. Remove from heat.
- Pour marinara sauce over the top of the chicken and then top each chicken piece with a slice of cheese.
- Bake 18 to 20 minutes or until chicken is done. Remove from oven and let sit, covered, for about 5 minutes. Serve and enjoy!
Video
Kori's Tips
- Don't miss all of our helpful hints, substitution ideas, cooking tips, and other delicious recipes can be found in our post. Check it out!
- Make sure your skillet is hot before attempting to sear the chicken. Preheat the oil in the skillet before adding the chicken. The chicken should sizzle when you add it to the pot. If it doesn't sizzle, the oil and pan are not hot enough.
- A total of 24 ounces of chicken breast is required for this recipe. The portion of chicken for each person is 4 ounces. If you are unable to buy chicken breasts in this size, you can cut larger ones in the correct portion.
- Pound your chicken to 1/2" thick for consistent cooking as it finishes off in the oven.
- Test the doneness of your chicken with an instant read thermometer. According to the USDA chicken should be cooked to 165 degrees F.
Nutrition
© 2025 Seeking Good Eats™
👍 If you're a chicken parm lover, be sure to try this casserole version (also low carb and keto)!
Penelope
Hi there, Kori,
I bet all your friends say, let's go eat at Kori's house!
Made the Chicken Parmesan Casserole. Best recipe I've ever made for this popular dish.
Made my own marinara sauce which is keto friendly and complimented your recipe to a tee.
Thankyou so much for sharing all this goodness. It's like Christmas every time you send me recipes. Take care, enjoy the fall and take time just for yourself.
Penny K.