High Protein Chicken Parm Cottage Cheese (Print Version)

Nutritious Italian-American bowl featuring seasoned chicken, marinara, cottage cheese, and crispy breadcrumbs. Ready in 30 minutes.

# What You'll Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 1 large boneless, skinless chicken breast (approximately 7 oz), cooked and chopped
02 - 1/2 tsp garlic powder
03 - 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
04 - 1/4 tsp salt
05 - 1/4 tsp black pepper

→ Sauce & Cheeses

06 - 2/3 cup low-fat cottage cheese
07 - 1/2 cup marinara sauce
08 - 1/4 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
09 - 2 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese

→ Toppings

10 - 2 tbsp whole-wheat panko breadcrumbs
11 - 1/2 tsp olive oil
12 - Fresh chopped basil for garnish

# Step-by-Step Guide:

01 - Turn on your oven broiler or toaster oven to the highest setting, allowing it to reach full temperature before assembling the bowls.
02 - Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the panko breadcrumbs and toast, stirring frequently, until they achieve a golden brown color, approximately 2 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside for final garnish.
03 - Combine the chopped cooked chicken with garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Toss thoroughly to ensure even distribution of all seasonings.
04 - Divide the seasoned chicken evenly between two large, oven-safe serving bowls, spreading it across the bottom to create an even base layer.
05 - Spoon the marinara sauce evenly over the chicken in both bowls. Top with dollops of cottage cheese, distributing it as evenly as possible across the surface.
06 - Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella and grated Parmesan cheeses generously over the top of each bowl, ensuring complete coverage of the cottage cheese layer.
07 - Place the bowls under the preheated broiler. Watch carefully as the cheeses melt and begin to bubble, approximately 3 to 5 minutes. Remove when the cheese reaches your desired golden consistency.
08 - Carefully remove the hot bowls from the oven. Sprinkle the toasted panko breadcrumbs over the top, followed by fresh chopped basil. Serve immediately while hot.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • You get all the flavors of chicken parmesan in a fraction of the time with way less cleanup
  • The cottage cheese melts into the sauce creating this incredibly creamy texture without the heavy cream
  • Each bowl packs 46 grams of protein while still feeling like comfort food
02 -
  • Oven-safe bowls are non-negotiable here. Regular glass or ceramic can shatter under the broiler so check your bowls first.
  • The cottage cheese might look strange going in but trust the process. It transforms completely under the broiler.
  • Watch the broiler like a hawk. Things go from perfect to burnt in thirty seconds flat.
03 -
  • Let the bowls sit for 2 minutes after broiling so the cheese sets slightly
  • Use small curd cottage cheese for the best melting texture

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