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I first came across this recipe for easy baked chicken parmesan from a fellow member at one of my Weight Watchers At Work meetings. She told me it was a dish her whole family loved — and as soon as she described it, I knew I had to try it.

Unlike the classic version that’s breaded and fried, this healthy chicken parmesan recipe keeps things lighter and simpler. Juicy chicken breasts are brushed with a touch of mayo, coated in crispy Panko, then topped with fresh tomato slices, basil leaves, and just enough cheese to make it melty and satisfying. Everything bakes together in the oven for a fresh and family-friendly dinner you can feel good about.

The original recipe comes from the Weight Watchers Simply Delicious: 245 No-Fuss Recipes All 8 Points or Less (affiliate link) cookbook (now on my Amazon wish list). I’ve been making WW-friendly chicken parmesan for years by baking instead of frying, usually with marinara and mozzarella, but this tomato-and-basil twist was such a refreshing change — one I’ll definitely be making again.

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Why You’ll Love This Easy Oven-Baked Chicken Parmesan

  • Simple prep, big flavor – Just a few everyday ingredients come together for a dish that tastes restaurant-worthy without the fuss.
  • Lightened-up classic – All the cheesy, crispy goodness of chicken parmesan, but baked instead of fried.
  • Fresh and wholesome – Juicy tomato slices and fresh basil add a bright, refreshing twist to the traditional version.
  • WW-friendly – A lighter option that still feels comforting and satisfying, perfect if you’re watching calories or points.
  • Family-approved – Quick enough for a weeknight but special enough to serve to guests.

How Many Calories and WW Points in this Oven Baked Chicken Parmesan?

According to my calculations, each serving has about 297 calories.

To see your WW Points for this recipe, track it in the WW App!
(You must be logged into WW on a smartphone or tablet.)
8 PointsPlus (Old plan)

Ingredients

  • Boneless, skinless chicken breasts – Pounded to even thickness so they cook quickly and evenly. You can also use chicken cutlets or chicken tenders if that’s what you have on hand.
  • Salt – Enhances flavor and helps season the chicken. You could also use garlic salt or a favorite seasoning blend for extra flavor.
  • Reduced-fat mayonnaise – Adds moisture and helps the bread crumbs stick to the chicken without the need for egg. Light Greek yogurt makes a great tangier substitute.
  • Panko bread crumbs – Give the chicken a light, crispy coating. Regular bread crumbs or whole-wheat Panko also work well. For gluten-free, use crushed cornflakes or gluten-free bread crumbs.
  • Fresh tomato slices – Add juiciness and freshness to balance the crispy coating. If tomatoes aren’t in season, roasted red peppers or even a spoonful of marinara sauce can be used instead.
  • Olive oil – Helps toast the bread crumbs and adds richness. Can be swapped with avocado oil or a light cooking spray if you’re keeping points or calories lower.
  • Fresh basil leaves – Bright, fragrant flavor that makes this dish taste like summer. If fresh basil isn’t available, substitute with dried basil or even baby spinach for a milder twist.
  • Reduced-fat mozzarella or provolone cheese – Melts beautifully for that gooey, cheesy topping. Part-skim mozzarella, Italian cheese blend, or even a slice of fresh mozzarella are all good options.
  • Grated Parmesan cheese – Adds nutty, salty flavor. Pecorino Romano or Asiago can be substituted for a sharper taste.

How to Make this Baked Chicken Parmesan Recipe

  1. Preheat the oven to 425°F. Lightly coat a baking sheet (affiliate link) with nonstick cooking spray (or line it with parchment paper for easy cleanup).
  2. Season the chicken. Sprinkle both sides of the chicken breasts with salt, then brush with a thin layer of reduced-fat mayonnaise. This helps lock in moisture and gives the crumbs something to stick to.
  3. Coat with crumbs. Place the Panko bread crumbs in a large zipper-close plastic bag. Add one chicken breast at a time, seal, and shake until the chicken is evenly coated. Repeat with the remaining pieces.
  4. Arrange on the baking sheet (affiliate link). Place the coated chicken breasts in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet.
  5. Add toppings. Place two slices of tomato over each chicken breast. Drizzle lightly with olive oil. Top each tomato slice with a basil leaf, then sprinkle with mozzarella or provolone cheese.
  6. Bake. Transfer the baking sheet to the oven and bake until the chicken is cooked through (165°F on a meat thermometer (affiliate link)), and the cheese is melted, bubbly, and just starting to turn golden, about 12–18 minutes depending on thickness.
  7. Finish and serve. Remove from the oven, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese, and serve warm.

Recipe Notes & Variations

  • Serving suggestion: This lighter, fresher version of chicken parmesan is a refreshing change from the traditional saucy dish. Rod and I enjoyed it so much we ended up having it two nights in a row — that’s how you know it’s a keeper!
  • Crispy coating: For extra crunch, I swapped in Panko bread crumbs instead of the plain dry crumbs many recipes call for. The bigger flakes bake up lighter and crispier, giving you that satisfying texture without frying.
  • Moist and tender: Brushing the chicken with reduced-fat mayonnaise before coating it helps the crumbs stick and keeps the meat juicy. Light Greek yogurt works as a good substitute if you prefer a tangier flavor.
  • Portioning: As you can see from the photos, my chicken breasts were larger than the 4-ounce portions listed. I used my digital kitchen scale (affiliate link) to divide them into reasonable servings, which worked out perfectly.
  • Cheese options: I used reduced-fat mozzarella, but provolone or part-skim Italian blend would be just as tasty. For an extra layer of flavor, try smoked mozzarella or even a slice of fresh mozzarella if you don’t mind a few more points.
  • Tomato alternatives: If fresh tomatoes aren’t in season, roasted red peppers or a spoonful of marinara sauce under the cheese make a nice variation.

How Many Calories and WW Points in this Oven Baked Chicken Parmesan?

According to my calculations, each serving has about 297 calories.

To see your WW Points for this recipe, track it in the WW App!
(You must be logged into WW on a smartphone or tablet.)
8 PointsPlus (Old plan)

If you like this Low Carb Baked Chicken Parmesan, be sure to check out my other easy Weight Watchers friendly recipes including: 2-Ingredient Slow Cooker Italian Chicken, WW Spaghetti with Chicken Meatballs, Crock Pot Chicken Marbella, Chicken and Polenta with Zucchini Tomato Sauce and 3-Ingredient Slow Cooker Creamy Italian Chicken

If you’ve made this Low Carb Parmesan Chicken, please give the recipe a star rating below and leave a comment letting me know how you liked it. And stay in touch on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for the latest updates.

Lightened Up Chicken Parmesan
4.60 from 45 votes

WW Baked Chicken Parmesan Recipe

A ightened-up version of the Italian-American classic – topped with sliced tomatoes and basil instead of sauce and baked instead of fried – this easy healthy baked chicken parmesan is sure to become a family favorite!
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 18 minutes
Total: 33 minutes
Servings: 4
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Ingredients 

  • 4 (4 ounces each) boneless, skinless chicken breasts, pounded to even 1/2-inch thickness
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 tablespoons reduced-fat mayonnaise
  • 1/2 cup Panko bread crumbs
  • 1 large tomato, cut into 8 slices
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 8 basil leaves
  • 1/2 cup shredded reduced-fat mozzarella or provolone cheese
  • 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions 

  • Preheat the oven to 425F degrees. Coat a baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray.
  • Sprinkle the chicken breasts with salt and then brush both sides of them with the mayonnaise.
  • Place the crumbs in a large zipper-close plastic bag. Add the chicken breasts, one at a time, and shake to coat evenly with the crumbs.
  • Place the chicken on the prepared baking sheet.
  • Top each piece of chicken with the tomato slices and then drizzle evenly with the oil.
  • Top each tomato slice with the basil and then sprinkle evenly with the mozzarella cheese.
  • Bake until the chicken is cooked through and the cheese is melted and bubbly and beginning to turn lightly golden, 12 to 18 minutes.
  • Sprinkle with the Parmesan and serve.

Notes

Serving size: 1 chicken breast
WW Points: 5
Check the WW Points for this recipe and track it in the WW app.
(Must be logged into WW on a smartphone or tablet.)
8 PointsPlus (Old plan)
To increase the crispy factor of this healthy baked chicken parmesan, I used Panko instead of the plain dry bread crumbs called for.
And following the instructions to brush the chicken with reduced-calorie mayonnaise before coating with the crumbs kept the chicken incredibly moist and tender.

Nutrition

Serving: 1chicken breast, Calories: 297kcal, Carbohydrates: 3g, Protein: 31g, Fat: 13g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 5g, Trans Fat: 0.02g, Cholesterol: 85mg, Sodium: 669mg, Potassium: 563mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 2g, Vitamin A: 550IU, Vitamin C: 8mg, Calcium: 159mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Tried this recipe?Mention @simplenourishedliving or tag #simplenourishedliving!

Source: Slightly adapted from Simply Delicious: 245 No-Fuss Recipes All 8 Points or Less (affiliate link) by Weight Watchers

More Video Recipes for Baked Chicken Parmesan

Watch this video to see how Dani from Clean & Delicious makes her own version of Baked Chicken Parmesan:

This video from Betty’s Kitchen demonstrates how she makes crispy oven-baked parmesan chicken breasts:

More WW Friendly Chicken Breast Recipes

Want More Easy WW-Friendly Comfort Food Recipes?

If you love cozy recipes like this WW Baked Chicken Parmesan you’ll find even more WW-friendly comfort food favorites in my Ultimate eCookbook Bundle.

About Martha McKinnon

Weight Watchers Lifetime Member, Yoga Practitioner and Blogger who loves to share her passion for trying to create a happy, healthy, balanced life in what often feels like an overwhelming out of control world.

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4.60 from 45 votes (34 ratings without comment)

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17 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    This came out great but I did make some changes for my own personal taste. I made it ahead of time, so I brushed one side of each breast with the mayo, then I used breadcrumbs instead of panko. I used the panko the first time but it didn’t seem to adhere as well as the breadcrumbs and it didn’t have as much flavor as the breadcrumbs did. I patted the breadcrumbs onto the mayo to make sure it stuck, then seasoned with salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika and my favorite all-purpose seasoning. I placed the breasts onto the prepared baking dish, seasoned side down and repeated the ingredients on the other side of the breasts. I followed the same directions as the recipe for all the toppings, except I added sliced mozzarella on top and it melted so wonderfully and tasted fantastic. Put in the fridge and took it out an hour before baking it for dinner. Served with a sprinkling of Parmesan cheese as the recipe called for along with a salad. Definitely a keeper. Will certainly make again. Thanks so much for this easy dinner.

  2. Am I supposed to add 2 slices of tomato to each breast? For 4 breasts, it should be 4 slices of tomato each but you said to cut the tomatoes into 8 slices.

    1. Hi Kazy,
      The recipe is written for 2 slices of tomato for each breast for a total of 8 slices. But you can modify the recipe to suit your tastes. Hope this helps. ~Martha