These chicken parmesan muffins have all the flavor of chicken parmesan in little meatloaf muffin form!
Two words that usually make me cringe when I see them on a menu: chicken parmesan.
Why?
Because it epitomizes crap Italian-American food, restaurants with a white, green and red color scheme on their sign (something that will immediately deter me from ever entering) and a deep fried piece of dry meat slathered in a jarred red sauce.
And, the saddest part is that most Americans think that’s what actual Italian food is.
That, fried calamari and mozzarella pronounced like it’s related to the applesauce company. I know we all can’t be Giada, but the “motts-a-rella” thing kills me.
Killlllls me.
I’m not trying to be some elitist American of Italian descent, but chicken parm should be light, full of fresh herb flavor with a hint of a salty bite from the parmesan cheese.
Not doused in sodium filled marinara sauce with enough grease dripping off of it to fry 10 pounds of potatoes.
So, when I accidentally picked up ground chicken instead of turkey a couple of weeks ago, I decided to run with the whole parmesan thing but in a meatloaf, muffin kind of way.
It was either that or make my ground chicken sausage patties for easy breakfasts. Both delicious options but chicken parm won out this time around.
A way that incorporated all the flavors of what chicken parmesan should be without the typical American bastardization (<—that’s kind of a fun word to use) of it.
They ended up coming out moist, filled with plenty of freshness from the parsley and basil, just enough salt from the parmesan and plenty of flavor from the sun dried tomatoes.
Topped with a dollop of sauce and shaving of fresh parmesan, it’s what Italian should taste like.
I made them with the intent of having a pre-made high protein quick option to add to meals for the week (similar to the turkey quinoa muffins) and they lasted all of 2 days between the two of us eating them at every meal we could justify (breakfast would’ve been a little weird).
No gaudy flag inspired decor, no grease, no nasty sauce.
Love light Italian flavored recipes like these chicken parmesan muffins? Be sure to try these turkey zucchini meatballs too!
And for another Italian classic with a twist, try this tomato butter stuffed chicken marsala!
Chicken Parmesan Muffins
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground chicken breast
- 1/2 cup rolled oats
- 1/2 cup yellow onion diced
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1/4 cup parsley chopped
- 1/4 cup basil chopped
- 1/4 cup sun dried tomatoes chopped
- 1 egg
- 2 tablespoon liquid egg whites
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese grated
- salt & pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees and grease a muffin tin or line with muffin cups.
- Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and mix together with hands until ingredients are fully distributed.
- Roll into balls to fit muffin tin (the mixture will be pretty wet) and drop in.
- Bake for approximately 35 minutes.
- Use a knife to help remove muffins once cooked and let cool on a wire rack.
- Top with fresh tomato sauce, basil and parmesan cheese.
Nutrition Facts
This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition information can vary for a variety of reasons. For the most precise nutritional data use your preferred nutrition calculator based on the actual ingredients you used in the recipe.
Gina Matsoukas is the writer, founder, photographer and recipe developer of Running to the Kitchen — a food website focused on providing healthy, wholesome recipes using fresh and seasonal ingredients as much as possible. Her work has been featured in numerous media outlets both digital and print, including MSN, Huffington post, Buzzfeed, Women’s Health and Food Network.
Mandee aka The Kitchen Wife
Friday 9th of January 2015
These look so yummy and the pictures are wonderful! What a great way to broaden your child's pallet as well. :)
Renee - Kudos Kitchen
Thursday 8th of January 2015
Wow these look good. I just pinned them and can't wait to try your recipe!
Bianca
Wednesday 14th of May 2014
I think your recipe sound very good, but I'm italian, and we haven't, in our traditin, a plate called "chicken parmigiana/ parmesean" It's just an American's invention!!! :)
Lila
Saturday 20th of October 2012
Hello from Greece....googling for chicken recipes found your site! I'll be visiting over!
Erin @ Dinners, Dishes, and Desserts
Friday 27th of July 2012
I have made these 2 times now, love them!! I have only changed it slightly, great recipe! Now if only I could get a half way decent picture like yours I might post about them :)
Running to the Kitchen
Friday 27th of July 2012
It's hard to make meat muffins look appealing. That shoot took forever! haha Who cares if they taste good, right? :)