Parmesan chicken casserole (low carb) is a tasty one-pan healthy dinner idea! This is good stuff, and your family will go NUTS! An easy recipe from stovetop to oven to table in 30 minutes. This is a low carb, gluten-free, no added sugar, keto chicken parmesan casserole.
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❤️ Keto Chicken Parmesan Casserole
"What I love about this easy chicken parmesan is that it tastes just like traditional chicken parm - only now it's a family-friendly low carb keto casserole. It's utterly delicious AND made all in one pan. It makes great leftovers, AND you can freeze it. What's not to love?" 🙂 -Kori
One Pan Cast-Iron Convenience
This recipe uses an oven-proof 12" cast iron skillet, so you literally make this chicken casserole in one pan - no transferring to a casserole dish (unless you don't own an oven-proof skillet, of course).
Cast iron chicken parmesan from stove to oven to table - YES, thank you!
Comfort Food
Casseroles are real comfort food. There is just nothing like a warm cheesy casserole right out of the oven. This parmesan chicken casserole goes over like a treat with the family too - trust me 🙂
Healthy
This keto chicken parmesan casserole is also 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.
This chicken casserole should fit nicely into your dietary requirements with only 8.1 grams of net carbs, 22.5 grams of fat, and 47.9 grams of protein.
You can find the complete nutritional analysis at the bottom of the recipe card, but here are the most important numbers if you are following a low carb and ketogenic diet:
22.5 g fat | 8.1 g net carbs | 47.9 g protein
How to Serve
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 how to serve and what to eat with chicken parmesan casserole:
- A little side of zucchini noodles, riced, steamed, or roasted vegetables go great with this casserole.
- 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 casserole with some cooked pasta drizzle with a little olive oil (or butter) salt and pepper.
Ingredients and Tools
Here are the ingredients and tools you'll need to make keto low carb chicken parmesan casserole. For exact amounts, see recipe card! 🙂
Ingredients
Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts - pound your chicken into 1/2" thick pieces so they are uniform in size.
Egg
Parmesan Cheese - use the finely grated granular parmesan cheese.
Garlic Salt
Italian Seasoning
Pepper
Olive Oil
Fresh Baby Spinach
Marinara Sauce - use a good quality, low carb sauce, with no added sugar.
Ricotta cheese - use full fat or low fat. You can also substitute cottage cheese.
Mozzarella Cheese - fresh grated is always best for melting and taste. I never buy grated cheese.
Tools
- 12" Cast Iron Skillet - alternatively you can use another type of oven-proof skillet or you can transfer to a casserole dish right before baking.
- Shallow bowls - one for egg and one for breading (or you can use a plastic bag for the breading)
- Gallon sized plastic bag - an easy way to make the coating!
- Cutting Board
- Chef Knife
- Measuring Cups
- Measuring Spoons
- Cheese Grater
Variations
Here are several ways that you can make substitutions or customize your parmesan chicken casserole:
- Add extra vegetables. You add up to 2 cups of vegetables. Saute extra vegetables such as diced zucchini, sliced mushrooms, steamed cauliflower, and steamed broccoli work well.
- You can use rotisserie chicken or cooked shredded chicken in this recipes, but you will lose the flavor of the seasoning coating.
- If you do add vegetables - they will add moisture to your casserole, making it runnier. No big deal! You can offset this by adding a little thickener or just consider the extra sauciness a bonus and serve over steamed vegies, zoodles, or priced cauliflower or pasta. 🙂
- You do not have to dice the chicken in this recipe. Serving the casserole with the chicken in bite-sized pieces helps the casserole 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.
Instructions
Here's how to make this healthy chicken parm casserole:
Prep Ingredients
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Prep and assemble all of your ingredients.
Make the Coating
In a small bowl, whisk egg.
In a shallow bowl or a gallon-sized plastic bag, mix almond flour, parmesan, garlic salt, Italian seasoning, and pepper.
Bread the Chicken
Dredge chicken in the egg, then dip both sides into the coating. Set on a plate until ready to sear the chicken.
Sear Chicken
Add olive oil to an oven-proof skillet that has been preheated to medium-high. When the pan is hot, place each piece of chicken into the pan and sear for 4 minutes or until golden brown.
Turn over and sear for an additional 3 minutes.
Remove chicken to a cutting board and set aside.
Saute Spinach
Reduce heat to medium and saute spinach until wilted, about 2 minutes.
Stir in Remaining Ingredients
Cut the seared chicken into 1" bite-size pieces - be careful as it will still be warm.
Add the chicken back to the pan. Stir in marinara sauce, ricotta cheese, and half of the mozzarella cheese. Mix it all together. Top with remaining mozzarella cheese.
Bake
Bake 375 degrees F for 20 to 22 minutes until cheese is bubbly and chicken is cooked.
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.
- Cut your chicken into uniform pieces 1" for consistent cooking as it finishes off in the oven. When you go to cut the chicken, be careful as the chicken may still be quite warm.
FAQs
Here are the most common questions that people ask us:
Do I have to cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces?
No, you do not have to cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces. Cutting the chicken into bite-sized pieces makes this casserole easier to portion out and serve. The recipe is based upon searing 4 (6 oz) boneless skinless chicken breasts.
Remove the chicken so you can saute the spinach. Add the marinara sauce, then ricotta and mozzarella, and mix together. Add the chicken breasts back to the pan, top with mozzarella, and bake.
Can I use pre-cooked chicken?
Yes, you can use pre-cooked chicken, but you will lose the seared parmesan taste. Eliminate the almond flour and add 1/3 cup of parmesan cheese when you add the ricotta and mozzarella.
Can I freeze parmesan chicken casserole?
Yes, you can definitely freeze this casserole. Make sure it is cool first, then put it in a freezer-proof, airtight container. Freeze for up to 4 months.
How long will this casserole keep?
This casserole 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.
More Casserole Recipes
Chicken Casseroles
Here are a few more chicken casseroles you might enjoy:
- EASY Jalapeño Popper Chicken Casserole
- Keto Chicken Pot Pie Casserole
- Healthy Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole
- Chicken Fajitas Bake (Low Carb and Keto)
- Creamy Chicken and Asparagus Bake
More Casserole Recipes
- Zucchini Ground Beef Taco Casserole
- Reuben Bake With Meatballs
- Fusion Philly Cheesesteak Casserole Recipe
- Leftover Ham Casserole
📋 Recipe
Parmesan Chicken Casserole (Low Carb)
Ingredients
- 4 (6 ounce) boneless skinless chicken breasts (pounded into ½" thick pieces)
- 1 egg
- ⅓ cup almond flour
- ⅓ cup parmesan cheese finely grated
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 ounces fresh baby spinach
- 16 ounces marinara sauce (low carb with no added sugar)
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 2 cup mozzarella cheese grated
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Prep and assemble all of your ingredients.
- In a shallow bowl whisk an egg.
- In a shallow bowl or a gallon-sized plastic bag, 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 to medium-high. When the pan is hot, place each piece of chicken into the pan and sear for 4 minutes or until golden brown. (Tip: make sure your pan is hot enough that the chicken sizzles)
- Turn chicken over and sear for an additional 3 minutes.
- Remove the chicken to a cutting board and set it aside.
- Reduce heat to medium and saute spinach until wilted, about 1 to 2 minutes. Turn off heat.
- Cut the seared chicken into 1" bite-size pieces - be careful as it will still be warm.
- Add the chicken back to the pan. Stir in marinara sauce, ricotta cheese, and half of the mozzarella cheese. Mix it all together. Top with remaining mozzarella cheese.
- Bake 375 degrees F for 20 to 22 minutes until cheese is bubbly and chicken is cooked.
Video
Notes
- Don't miss all of our helpful hints, substitution ideas, cooking tips, and other delicious recipe ideas that 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.
- Cut your chicken into uniform pieces 1" for consistent cooking as it finishes off in the oven. When you go to cut the chicken, be careful as the chicken may still be quite warm.
- SERVING SUGGESTIONS: Serve with a side of steamed, roasted, or "riced" vegetables. Anyone not following a low-carb diet will love it with a side of pasta or rice.
Nutrition
© 2023 Seeking Good Eats™
Parmesan chicken casserole is a delicious recipe made super convenient in one pan! A delicious and easy chicken parmesan recipe can be made in 30 minutes. This healthy casserole is a low carb, gluten-free, keto chicken parmesan casserole. The perfect family dinner! #chicken #casserole #chickenparmesanrecipe #parmesanchicken #onepan #skillet #lowcarb #glutenfree #keto #SeekingGoodEats
Janet Bradley says
I for one, would love to see the notes put into the printable version of the recipes. So I don't have to waste tooooo much paper printing 2 different things for one recipe.
Thanks a million, I love all your suggestions regarding the recipes that do not end up in the printable version.
Kori says
Hello and THANK YOU so much for trying my recipes! 🙂 I do try and add the most important notes and tips in the bottom of the recipe card wherever possible. I wish I could add many more notes but there is a character limit. Is there a particular note you'd like added for future reference? I'm happy to add it for you 🙂