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Sugarfreechic
Dinner

Parmesan Chicken Club

Method

  1. Set up two shallow bowls: beaten eggs in one, and the parmesan, garlic powder, and pepper mixed in the other.
  2. Dip each chicken breast in the egg, then press into the parmesan breading.
  4. In a non-stick skillet, flash-fry the chicken in melted butter until golden brown.
  5. Move the chicken to a baking sheet and finish in the oven until it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
  6. Top each breast with ham and brie.
  8. Mix the mashed avocado with garlic salt and spoon it over the chicken. Enjoy!
Parmesan crusted chicken topped with ham, melted brie, and mashed avocado
Parmesan chicken club, a club sandwich gone gourmet

This Low Carb parmesan crusted chicken club is a club sandwich gone gourmet: a chicken breast breaded in parmesan instead of breadcrumbs, then stacked with ham, melted brie, and mashed avocado. There is no bun and no panko, so it comes in around 3 grams of net carb and still eats like comfort food.

This is my husband's favorite dish. It consists of a chicken breast that has been breaded in parmesan cheese and topped with ham, brie, and mashed avocado. I like to refer to this creation as a club sandwich gone gourmet. I have found that for most recipes that call for breading you can substitute grated parmesan cheese, and in my opinion it tastes way better than breading ever did. Panko bread crumbs have nothing on parmesan cheese. When living a low carb lifestyle you have to start cooking with the food you can eat, not trying to replace something you shouldn't be eating in the first place. This is one of the first true Low Carb recipes that I created and it is still one of our favorites. I hope you love this recipe as much as my husband does.

Parmesan instead of breadcrumbs

The whole trick here is the crust. Dry grated parmesan, the shelf-stable kind, fries into a golden, crisp coating that breadcrumbs cannot touch on flavor, and it carries almost no carbs where panko brings a pile of them. Dip the chicken in egg, press it into the seasoned parmesan, and do it twice for a crust thick enough to crunch. It is the same swap that works on wings, fish, and cutlets, so once you trust it you stop missing the flour entirely.

Build the club and cook it through

Pound the breasts flat so they cook fast and evenly, which keeps the parmesan crust from scorching before the center is done. Take the chicken to an internal temperature of 165°F, the safe minimum for poultry, then layer on the ham and brie and broil until the cheese bubbles. The mashed avocado goes on last, standing in for the mayo and the third slice of bread in a classic club. Serve it with a cobb salad on the side, and if you like this parmesan crust, the crispy garlic parmesan wings use the same idea. There are more Low Carb dinner recipes where this came from.

Sources:

USDA FoodData Central, nutrient reference for chicken breast, parmesan, brie, and avocado
USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service, safe minimum internal temperature for poultry
Sugarfreechic test kitchen, parmesan-crusted chicken notes

Frequently asked questions

Is parmesan crusted chicken keto?

Yes. Swapping breadcrumbs for grated parmesan drops nearly all the carbs, so this club lands around 3 grams of net carb, most of it from the avocado on top.

Does parmesan really work as breading?

It does. The dry, shelf-stable grated kind crisps into a golden crust when fried, with the savory edge breadcrumbs never had and no grain at all.

What temperature should chicken breast be cooked to?

165°F in the thickest part, the USDA safe minimum for poultry. Pounding the breasts flat helps them cook through quickly and evenly before the parmesan crust burns.

Can you make it ahead?

Bread and fry the chicken ahead, then add the ham, brie, and a fresh broiler just before serving. Mash the avocado at the last minute so it stays green.

More Low-Carb Dinner Recipes