These seasoned chicken breasts cook fast, taste delicious and are healthy and diet friendly.
This recipe is low in calories and fat, easy to prepare and cooks fast. It's a great staple for weeknight meals, and the flavors are popular enough to please even the smallest family members. There are ideas here for variations, side dishes and alternative cooking methods. Start with the basic recipe, and try alternate flavors until you find your new favorite chicken dinner.
Chicken Breasts
Choose organic chicken whenever possible, and don't plan to keep it in your refrigerator more than a day or two before cooking. To cook chicken faster and ensure a tender, moist breast, pound any pieces thicker than 1/2" by covering with wax paper and smashing with a meat mallet or rolling pin.
Recipe Variations
Try any hard grating cheese in this dish. Romano, Asiago and Manchego would be great too as would Swiss. If time permits, buy a hard block of cheese and grate it yourself. The flavor is much better than pre-grated cheese. Omit the paprika and use parsley or basil instead. If you'd rather not turn the oven on, this recipe works well fried in a skillet too, but it won't take 30 minutes. Cook on both sides until no longer pink in the middle.
Side Dishes
Aim for side dishes that are as quick and easy as the main course, and just as healthy. Toss a pre-washed bag of spinach into a large pot with a splash of olive oil, diced onions and a splash of balsamic vinegar. A salad from the salad bar is always a fast, easy and healthy choice. Or cut potatoes into fry-sizes, toss with oil, salt and pepper, and bake in the oven at the same time the chicken goes in.
Healthy Fast Food
Chicken is high in protein, which will keep you satisfied, and low in fat and calories. Skinless breast meat is the lowest of all chicken parts in fat and calories. The cheese in this recipe adds a smidgen of fat, but not enough to make the dish unhealthy, and the added flavor will also help you feel satisfied. A satisfied eater is much less likely to snack. Simply choosing healthy foods is a great weight loss plan.
Parmesan Chicken Recipe
Serves 4
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 4 chicken breast halves
- Salt & Pepper to taste
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- 2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees
- Spread olive oil over bottom of baking sheet
- Place chicken in baking sheet
- Sprinkle chicken with salt, pepper, paprika and cheese
- Turn chicken pieces over
- Sprinkle other side with remaining salt, pepper, paprika and cheese
- Bake 30 minutes
