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This Instant Pot Chicken Parmesan is the easiest healthy chicken dinner you can make in under 20 minutes right in the Instant Pot. Serve it over seasoned spaghetti squash or pasta for a healthy complete meal the whole family will love!
I am super busy with life right now and this Instant Pot Chicken Parmesan has become one of those go-to meals I can make in under 20 minutes that everyone loves, even the kids!
Tender cooked chicken covered in a zesty, tomato sauce topped with melted mozzarella and parmesan cheese. This lighter chicken parmesan recipe is also low-carb and gluten-free, but also super delicious!
Now, I also make this Healthy Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan and this Gluten Free Chicken Parmesan all the time but sometimes I like to switch it up and give my Instant Pot some attention.
Trust me! This is an easy Instant Pot Chicken Parmesan Recipe you need in your life!
Ingredients you’ll need
- Chicken breasts – I used pasture-raised, organic boneless, skinless chicken breasts that I trimmed myself then sliced each one in half to make cutlets. You can also buy chicken breast cutlets and use those.
- Tomato sauce – You can use store-bought or a homemade marinara like this homemade san Marzano tomato sauce.
- Olive oil – Olive oil or avocado oil both work well in this recipe.
- Mozzarella + parmesan cheese – Again you can use pre-shredded or buy blocks of each cheese and shred it yourself.
- Garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt & pepper – Use any seasoning you like. I chose this combination for that real Italian flavor we all love in a good chicken parmesan recipe.
Recommended Kitchen Tools
- Cutting board + knife
- Instant Pot
- Tongs
- Meat mallet
Get the complete list of ingredients and recipe instructions in the recipe card below.
How to make chicken Parmesan in the Instant Pot
- Brown the Chicken: Set the Instant Pot to “SAUTE” and add olive oil. Slice the chicken breasts in half to make 4 cutlets, season with salt, pepper, and spices. Brown the chicken on both sides, then remove it from the pot.
- Cook the Chicken in Sauce: Add tomato sauce to the pot, stir, and cook briefly. Return the chicken to the pot, submerging it in the sauce. Spoon some sauce over each piece. Secure the lid, set to “SEALING,” and cook on high manual for 3 minutes. Manually release the pressure, then remove the lid and top each cutlet with cheese. Cover and let the cheese melt for 2-3 minutes.
- Garnish and Serve: Transfer the chicken to a plate, garnish with fresh basil or parsley, and sprinkle with more Parmesan.
How to serve instant pot chicken parmesan
There are several ways to enjoy this amazing easy chicken dinner. We love it over some zucchini noodles or butternut squash noodles. Regular pasta is okay too!
You can also serve it all on its own with a quick and easy salad or some sautéed spinach with garlic.
Tips for making healthy chicken parmesan in the Instant Pot
- Use chicken cutlets since they cook faster and are easier to work with. You can make your chicken cutlets by slicing whole chicken breasts in half and then using a meat mallet to thin them out.
- You can use a homemade sauce or store-bought. Letting the sauce heat up in the pot before adding the chicken back in will allow all of the flavors of the sauce to wake up and create much more flavor.
- You can use any type of shredded cheese in this recipe. I used a combination of mozzarella and parmesan for that classic chicken parmesan taste.
- Make sure to nestle each piece of chicken in the sauce so it cooks nice and evenly and stays juicy and tender while it cooks.
- Secure the lid of the Instant Pot well and set the valve to the “SEALING” POSITION before you cook the chicken. To check the doneness of the chicken, you can use a meat thermometer. Once the chicken reaches 165 degrees then it is done.
Storing and reheating tips
- To store: You can easily store this cooked chicken parmesan in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- To Reheat: The very best method for reheating this chicken parmesan is to place it into an oven-safe dish and cover it with some foil. Then bake it at 350 degrees F for 15-20 minutes until the chicken is warmed through and the cheese is nice and melty.
More easy and healthy chicken recipes to try:
- Healthy Baked Lemon Pepper Chicken Wings
- 10 Minute Roasted Chicken and Vegetables
- 15 Minute Air Fryer Chicken Thighs
- Rainbow Chicken Pad Thai
- Easy Veggie Chicken Pizza Bake
- One Pot Healthy Chicken Soup
- Instant Pot Shredded Chicken
Did you make this instant pot chicken parmesan recipe? If you did, then please leave a rating and comment below. You can also tag me on Instagram @pinchmegoodfood so I can see your creation.
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Instant Pot Chicken Parmesan
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
This Instant Pot Chicken Parmesan is the best healthy chicken dinner you can make in under 20 minutes in your Instant Pot. The chicken is perfectly cooked nestled in zesty tomato sauce, and topped with melty cheese. It is low-carb and gluten-free and great served over buttered pasta or spaghetti squash.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or avocado oil
- 2 (6-ounce) chicken breasts or 4 chicken cutlets
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 cups marinara or tomato sauce – store-bought or homemade
- ¼ –½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ¼ cup shredded parmesan cheese
- ¼ cup fresh sliced basil
Instructions
- Season and brown the chicken. Set the Instant pot to the “SAUTE” setting and add some olive oil to the bottom of the pot. Slice the chicken breasts in half so you have 4 chicken cutlets and season both sides of the chicken with the seasoning, salt, and pepper. Add the chicken to the Instant Pot and brown it for a few minutes on each side then remove it from the pot. Note: If the chicken is uneven then place a piece of plastic wrap over each piece of chicken and use a meat mallet to even it out.
- Add the sauce and cook the chicken. Turn the Instant Pot off, then spread the sauce into the bottom of the pot and stir and cook it for a few minutes. Then add the chicken back to the pot and nestle it nicely in the sauce, making sure the pieces of chicken are not overlapping. Spoon some of the sauce over the top of each piece of chicken. Secure the lid, set the valve to the “SEALING” position and cook the chicken in manual mode on high for 3 minutes. Manually release the pressure after 3 minutes. Remove the lid and add the cheese to the top of each chicken cutlet, place the top back onto the Instant Pot for 2-3 minutes to allow the cheese to melt.
- Garnish and serve. Remove the chicken parmesan from the Instant Pot and place it onto a plate or serving dish. Garnish with fresh herbs such as sliced basil or parsley and another sprinkle of shredded parmesan cheese.
Equipment
Notes
- Use chicken cutlets since they cook faster and are easier to work with.
- You can use a homemade sauce or store-bought. Letting the sauce heat up in the pot before adding the chicken back in will really allow all of the flavors of the sauce to wake up and create much more flavor.
- You can use any type of shredded cheese in this recipe. I used a combination of mozzarella and parmesan for that classic chicken parmesan taste.
- Make sure to nestle each piece of chicken in the sauce so it cooke nice and evenly and stays juicy and tender while it cooks.
- Secure the lid of the Instant Pot well and set the valve to “SEALING” POSITION before you cook the chicken.
- To check the doneness of the chicken, you can use a meat thermometer. Once the chicken reaches 165 degrees then it is done.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave until warmed through.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Healthy Dinner Ideas
- Method: Instant Pot
- Cuisine: Italian
I loved this recipe! So easy and quick. My husband loved it also. I will definitely make again.
One question, are the calories correct? Seems so low.
Are the nutrition facts right? I feel like it had to have more than 7 g of protein.
Hi Heather, nutritional information is only an estimate. If you want accurate grams of protein the best way would be to weigh the chicken before you cook it. I like to weigh it raw and then calculate the protein.