Healthy Parmesan Cheese Recipes

Find healthy, delicious parmesan cheese recipes from the food and nutrition experts at EatingWell.

Staff Picks

Chicken & Spinach Skillet Pasta with Lemon & Parmesan

Rating: 4 stars 63
This one-pan chicken pasta combines lean chicken breast and sautéed spinach for a one-bowl meal that's 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.
By Devon O'Brien

Roasted Garlic-Parmesan Cabbage

Rating: 5 stars 1
Cabbage gets transformed in the oven with garlic, Parmesan and olive oil in this simple vegetable side. This irresistible side dish would make a welcome addition to any meal—try serving it alongside chicken or steak.
Portrait of Wendy Lopez
By Wendy Lopez

Minestra Maritata (Italian Wedding Soup) 

Rating: 4.5 stars 16
Forget the marble-size meatballs you find in many versions of this Italian Wedding Soup. In this easy recipe, they're full-size, full-flavored and plenty filling.
By Robin Bashinsky

One-Pan Chicken Parmesan Pasta

Rating: 4.5 stars 29
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.
Hilary Meyer
By Hilary Meyer

Chicken Parmesan Casserole

Rating: 4 stars 9
We took the best parts of chicken Parmesan--ooey-gooey cheese, crispy breadcrumbs and plenty of tomato sauce--and spun them into an easy family-friendly casserole. We simplified it by skipping the breading on the chicken and, instead, loaded the top of the casserole with cheese and breadcrumbs. Serve with a crisp green salad to complete the meal.
By Carolyn Casner

One-Pot Lentil & Vegetable Soup with Parmesan

Rating: 4.5 stars 14
This lentil-vegetable soup is packed with kale and tomatoes for a filling, flavorful main dish. If you have it, the Parmesan cheese rind adds nuttiness and gives the broth some body. If you avoid cheese made with rennet, look for vegetarian Parmesan cheese, which is made without it.
Paige Grandjean headshot
By Paige Grandjean

Easy Pea & Spinach Carbonara

Rating: 4 stars 18
Fresh pasta cooks up faster than dried, making it a must-have for fast weeknight dinners like this luscious yet healthy meal. Eggs are the base of the creamy sauce. They don't get fully cooked, so use pasteurized-in-the-shell eggs if you prefer.
By Adam Hickman

Oven-Fried Panko-&-Parmesan-Crusted Zucchini

Rating: 4 stars 2
These oven-fried panko- and Parmesan-crusted zucchini rounds are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with a hint of Parmesan cheese in the crust. Dip them into marinara, pesto or ranch dressing for an irresistible snack or appetizer.
By Carolyn Casner

Creamy Lemon-Parmesan Chicken Casserole

Rating: 5 stars 1
This creamy chicken casserole recipe pops with lemon and savory Parmesan cheese. It's also loaded with vitamin C-packed broccoli. Using whole-wheat orzo ups the fiber content in this healthful and comforting dinner.
By Carolyn Casner

Cheesy Spinach-&-Artichoke Stuffed Spaghetti Squash

Rating: 4 stars 21
This spaghetti-squash-for-pasta swap slashes both carbs and calories by 75% for a delicious, creamy casserole you can feel good about eating. It's worth roasting the squash versus cooking it in the microwave if you have the time: the flavor gets sweeter and more intense.
By Carolyn Malcoun

Creamy White Bean Soup

Rating: 4 stars 4
This light, creamy white bean soup recipe is richly flavored thanks to plenty of beans, veggies and Parmesan cheese.
Jasmine Smith
By Jasmine Smith

Chicken & Vegetable Penne with Parsley-Walnut Pesto

Rating: 4 stars 10
Homemade pesto may seem daunting, but in this quick pasta recipe you can make a simple sauce in minutes while the pasta water comes to a boil. You can substitute frozen green beans and cauliflower for fresh; in Step 4, cook the frozen vegetables according to package directions before tossing with the pasta and pesto.
Patsy Jamieson
By Patsy Jamieson
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Inspiration and Ideas

9 Chicken Parmesan Recipes Perfect for Weeknight Dinners
Chicken parmesan is a comforting, Italian classic and these recipes are a fun take on the traditional dish. Whether you turn your chicken parmesan into meatballs, stuff them into peppers or simply pair it with pasta, these chicken parmesan recipes are delicious and satisfying. Recipes like Chicken Parmesan Pizza and Chicken Parmesan-Stuffed Spaghetti Squash are flavorful, healthy and the perfect dinner for any weeknight.
One-Pot Chicken Alfredo
Rating: Unrated 5
This creamy, simple chicken Alfredo recipe is incredibly comforting and cheesy from the combination of Parmesan and cream cheese. You'll taste a nice pop of pepper and nutty notes from the whole-wheat pasta, too. Plus, it's a one-pot meal, which means less cleaning for you and a dish that will quickly become your best chicken Alfredo recipe.
Zucchini & Tomato Casserole
Rating: 4.5 stars 2

The combination of sweet tomatoes and zucchini with melted cheese in this zucchini-tomato casserole tastes like a summer-fresh pizza. It's the perfect easy side dish for any summer meal.