High Protein Chicken Parm Cottage Cheese (Print Version)
Crispy breadcrumb-topped chicken with marinara and protein-rich cottage cheese, ready in 30 minutes.
# What You Need:
→ Chicken
01 - 1 large boneless, skinless chicken breast (approximately 7 ounces), cooked and chopped
02 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
03 - 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning blend
04 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
05 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
→ Sauce & Cheeses
06 - 2/3 cup low-fat cottage cheese (about 5.5 ounces)
07 - 1/2 cup marinara sauce
08 - 1/4 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese (approximately 1 ounce)
09 - 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
→ Toppings
10 - 2 tablespoons whole-wheat panko breadcrumbs
11 - 1/2 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
12 - Fresh basil leaves, chopped for garnish
# Directions:
01 - Set your oven broiler or toaster oven to high heat setting for melting and bubbling the cheese topping.
02 - Heat olive oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Add panko breadcrumbs and toast, stirring constantly, until golden brown and crispy, approximately 2 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
03 - Combine the chopped cooked chicken with garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Toss well to evenly distribute the seasonings.
04 - Divide the seasoned chicken evenly between two oven-safe serving bowls. Spread the chicken in an even layer at the bottom of each bowl.
05 - Spoon marinara sauce over the chicken in each bowl, then distribute the cottage cheese evenly on top of the sauce layer.
06 - Sprinkle shredded mozzarella and grated Parmesan cheeses over the cottage cheese layer in both bowls.
07 - Transfer the bowls to the oven and broil for 3 to 5 minutes, watching closely, until the cheese is completely melted and beginning to bubble and brown slightly.
08 - Carefully remove the bowls from the oven using oven mitts. Top each bowl with the toasted panko breadcrumbs and fresh chopped basil. Serve immediately while hot.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- You get all the cheesy, saucy satisfaction of chicken parmesan in about 20 minutes flat
- The cottage cheese secretly transforms into something creamy and rich while packing in ridiculous protein
02 -
- Oven-safe bowls are non-negotiable here—regular bowls will crack under the broiler
- The cottage cheese curds will be visible but they soften beautifully under the heat
03 -
- Rotisserie chicken is your best friend here—skip the cooking step entirely
- If your broiler runs hot, check at 2 minutes to prevent scorching the cheese