Healthy Chicken Parm with Asparagus

Healthy Chicken Parm with Asparagus

2 Large chicken breasts, cut in half to make each piece THINNER
1 jar marinara sauce
1 bunch asparagus, rinsed and bottoms snapped off
1 egg, lightly beaten
3/4 C panko bread crumbs
1/8 C Parmesan cheese plus some to sprinkle on top
garlic salt, garlic powder, ground pepper ground cayenne pepper, pepper flakes, onion powder
Mozzarella cheese or Italian cheese blend, shredded

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a bowl, coat chicken pieces with a beaten egg. In a separate bowl combine panko bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, and spices listed to taste (can't go wrong).  Pour bread crumb contents over the chicken covered in egg and make sure chicken is coated evenly.
3.. Add oil or butter to a medium sized pan on  med-high and, when hot, add the coated chicken pieces to sear each side. Do not cook all the way through.
4. In a 8x8 or 9x9ish sized baking dish pour in half of the marinara sauce then push the seared chicken into the sauce.
5. In same pan add a tablespoon more oil/butter and cook asparagus on medium until crisp tender. Optionally, half way through cooking asparagus, add a dash of white wine and let it cook out.
6. Add cooked asparagus to top of chicken then pour the rest of the marinara sauce over top and add as much mozzarella cheese as desired.
7. Bake for about 35 minutes. Cheese should be melted and chicken should be cooked all the way through to moist perfection.

In Pictures

 Coat the chicken in egg then Bread Crumb/Parmesan/spice mixture.

 

Sear each side without cooking the chicken all the way through.

 

 Push chicken into sauce.

 Cook asparagus until crisp tender.

  Asparagus on top.

Add cheese and bake approx 35 minutes.

EAT!