Ingredients
Chicken Coating
- 2 cups almond meal or ground almonds
- 2/3 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese (plus more for garnish)
- Sea salt and pepper to taste
- 2 large eggs
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts (cut in half lengthwise, butterflied or pounded thin)
Tomato Sauce
- 2 large cloves garlic (thinly sliced)
- 1/4 teaspoon red chili flakes
- 1 1/2 pounds mixed fresh tomatoes (heirloom, vine or cherry tomatoes), roughly chopped
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup roughly torn basil leaves (divided)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (for sauce)
Additional
- Olive oil (for greasing the baking sheet)
- 8 ounces Buffalo mozzarella (thinly sliced)
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and drizzle a thin layer of olive oil over it, using your fingers or a brush to evenly grease the surface.
- Prepare Coating Mixture: In a shallow bowl or plate, combine the almond meal, grated Parmesan cheese, and 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Beat the eggs in a separate shallow bowl. Season each chicken breast generously with salt and pepper.
- Coat Chicken: Dip each chicken breast first into the beaten eggs, then press into the almond-Parmesan mixture thoroughly to cover all sides. Shake off any excess coating and place the coated cutlets on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake Chicken Part 1: Bake the chicken for 10 to 15 minutes, until the bottom crust begins to brown and becomes golden. Check for golden crumbs on the baking sheet as an indicator.
- Flip and Continue Baking: Carefully flip the chicken cutlets using two flat spatulas. Continue baking for another 5 to 10 minutes until the coating on the other side is golden brown and firm to the touch.
- Prepare Tomato Sauce: While the chicken bakes, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the sliced garlic and red chili flakes, cooking for about a minute until garlic is sizzling and starting to turn golden brown. Add chopped tomatoes and 1 teaspoon salt. Simmer the sauce for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes soften and most of the liquid has evaporated. Stir in half of the torn basil leaves and remove from heat.
- Top Chicken with Cheese and Sauce: Once chicken is baked, top each piece with slices of Buffalo mozzarella, tearing the slices into smaller pieces if needed. Spoon the tomato sauce over the mozzarella, making sure to leave some areas of the crust uncovered to maintain crispness. Save any extra sauce for serving on the side.
- Bake Chicken Part 2: Return the topped chicken to the oven and bake for an additional 5 minutes, or until the mozzarella has melted thoroughly.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove the chicken from the oven, garnish with the remaining basil leaves and additional grated Parmesan if desired. Serve warm directly from the baking sheet, accompanied by any remaining tomato sauce.
Notes
- Using almond meal provides a gluten-free alternative while adding a nutty flavor and crunchy texture.
- Butterflying or pounding the chicken breasts thin ensures even cooking and a crispier coating.
- The fresh tomato sauce can be made ahead of time to save time.
- Adjust red chili flakes quantity to control the heat level of the sauce.
- Use fresh mozzarella or Buffalo mozzarella for the best melting quality and flavor.
- Leaving some crust uncovered like a pizza avoids sogginess and keeps the coating crisp.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Gluten Free