19 Healthy Recipes Every Parmesan Cheese Lover Needs to Make

October 22, 2019
Parmesan cheese makes everything better. It’s rich, bold, nutty flavor is cheesy perfection. Try our healthy Parmesan-packed dishes like baked Eggplant Parmesan, Skillet Chicken Parmesan, Baked Parmesan Zucchini Curly Fries, Panko-Parmesan Crusted Baked Scallops and more. We have pulled together our favorite cheesy recipes that are sure to satisfy even the most hard-core Parmesan lover.
Start Slideshow

1 of 19

Panko- & Parmesan-Crusted Baked Scallops

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

These easy baked scallops have a delightful balance of crunchy, golden-brown topping and tender, sweet scallops. They feel decadent like scallops should, thanks to the tasty lemon-butter sauce. Look for uniform scallops; if they're particularly large, you might need to bake them for more than 10 minutes.

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 19

Baked Parmesan Zucchini Curly Fries

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This healthy recipe combines two bar food favorites—fried zucchini and curly fries—into one tempting package. Serve these baked zucchini fries with a simple dipping sauce made with ranch dressing and marinara sauce for a crowd-pleasing appetizer or a side dish for burgers, chicken or pizza. No matter what you serve them with, they're a fun way to eat more vegetables for kids and adults alike.

3 of 19

EatingWell's Eggplant Parmesan

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This lighter take on eggplant parmesan maintains all the flavors of the classic dish but is baked instead of fried. There are also 11 grams of filling protein in this hearty vegetarian side dish.

Advertisement

4 of 19

Best Caesar Salad with Crispy Parmesan

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

For a nutrient-packed twist, this healthy Caesar salad features spinach and kale in addition to romaine. But it's the Parmesan crisps that make this salad holiday-worthy. Serve it for Thanksgiving or any other special meal.

5 of 19

Chicken Parmesan-Stuffed Spaghetti Squash

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This filling, hearty stuffed spaghetti squash is a lower-carb version of your traditional chicken Parmesan with pasta. This chicken Parmesan recipe is still full of cheesy goodness, but has the added benefit of sweet winter squash. If you can't find two small squashes, use one (3-pound) squash and cut each half into two portions when ready to serve.

6 of 19

Baked Spiralized Butternut Squash Fries

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Sweet spiralized butternut squash is encased in a salty, extra-crunchy exterior for a serving of slightly sweet curly fries. You can pair these baked butternut squash shoestring fries with any protein of your choice, but we're partial to grilled fish or chicken. Look for pre-spiralized squash in the refrigerated produce section.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 19

Easy Stuffed Mushrooms

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This healthy stuffed mushroom appetizer is a nice balance of soft mushrooms, creamy filling and crunchy topping. This combination tastes downright decadent, but it's actually good for you. Be sure to get all of the moisture out of the chopped mushrooms before moving on to the next step; if not, the filling will be soggy and make the mushroom caps watery.

8 of 19

Skillet Chicken Parmesan

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

If you can't find cutlets for this easy chicken Parmesan recipe at your supermarket, place a boneless, skinless breast flat on a cutting board, hold it steady with your palm and, using a sharp knife, slice the breast horizontally into two thin pieces.

9 of 19

Spiralized Onions with Crispy Parmesan Breadcrumbs

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

You may not have considered onions as candidates for the spiralizer, but you should. They create beautiful ribbons that make this recipe reminiscent of fried shoestring onions. And because this onion ring-inspired recipe is baked rather than fried, they're really easy to make. Serve them as a side with burgers or as a crunchy healthy snack for game night.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 19

Slow-Cooker Cheesy Rice with Broccoli

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This dish is sure to be a kid favorite that adults will crave, too. Broccoli and cheese is a classic pairing for a reason, and when served with rice and umami-rich mushrooms, the combo is even more comforting. Garnish with shaved Parmesan and additional kosher salt and black pepper, if desired.

11 of 19

Balsamic-Roasted Green Beans with Parmesan

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Sweet balsamic vinegar and nutty Parmesan cheese complement roasted green beans and shallots in this easy and healthy side dish. Roasting the green beans gives them a sweet, caramelized flavor while they still retain some bite. Serve with chicken, fish, pork—you name it. These green beans are also a wonderful addition to your Thanksgiving meal.

12 of 19

Creamy Lemon Chicken Parmesan

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This riff on classic chicken Parmesan replaces the usual marinara with a luscious lemony cream sauce. We've lightened it up by using half-and-half instead of cream, with just-as-delicious results. Serve this lemony chicken dinner with whole-wheat pasta or brown rice.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 19

Zucchini Parmesan

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Nothing goes to waste in this twist on eggplant Parmesan, as the scooped-out zucchini flesh gets mixed into the meat sauce. Use long, straight zucchini for this dish, which are easier to hollow out for stuffing.

14 of 19

Broiled Fennel with Parmesan Cheese

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

The nutty saltiness of Parmesan cheese is an excellent match for the sweet, delicate licorice flavor of fennel in this quick and easy side dish recipe.

15 of 19

Crunchy Zucchini and Tomato

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Zucchini and tomato slices are sprinkled with a tasty panko bread crumb mixture, and then broiled until crisp. This side dish is quick to make and pairs well with any protein.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

16 of 19

One-Pan Chicken Parmesan Pasta

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This chicken Parmesan pasta uses the one-pot pasta method to cook your noodles, chicken and sauce all in one skillet for a fast and easy dinner with minimal cleanup. Finish the dish under the broiler to achieve a delicious melted cheese crust.

17 of 19

Skillet Chicken Parm

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

We skipped breading in this healthy one-dish chicken Parm recipe to save time. There's still plenty of gooey cheese, and the garlic, pepper flakes and oregano lend big flavor. Serve with pasta or in a hoagie roll with the sauce (there's lots of it) spooned on top. In sandwich form, it's easily wrapped in foil and eaten on the go.

18 of 19

Chicken & Spinach Skillet Pasta with Lemon & Parmesan

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This one-pan pasta that combines lean chicken breast and sautéed spinach for a one-bowl meal is garlicky, lemony and best served with a little Parm on top. I call it "Mom's Skillet Pasta" and she called it "Devon's Favorite Pasta." Either way it's a quick and easy weeknight dinner we created together and scribbled on a little recipe card more than a decade ago, and it remains in my weekly dinner rotation to this day. It's a simple dinner the whole family will love.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

19 of 19

Creamy Parmesan Garlic Mushroom Chicken

View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

A rich and creamy sauce coats chicken breasts in this quick and comforting dinner. If you don't have chicken cutlets (thin-sliced boneless chicken breast) on hand, you can make your own by slicing two 8-ounce chicken breasts in half horizontally.

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Up Next