A classic Italian favorite gets a light and breezy makeover in this Low-Carb Chicken Milanese with Summer Garden Relish. Traditionally made with breaded and pan-fried chicken cutlets, this version substitutes Carbquik, a low-carb baking mix that delivers the same golden, crispy coating, without the extra carbs.
The chicken is tender, flavorful, and pan-fried to perfection, making it a satisfying option for both weeknight dinners and casual summer get-togethers. What sets this dish apart is the vibrant garden relish: a medley of juicy tomatoes, tender yellow squash, and fresh Italian herbs that brings a burst of seasonal flavor to every bite.
Spoon the relish generously over the crispy chicken cutlets for a fresh, colorful topping that adds brightness and balance. It’s a simple, wholesome dish that feels just a little bit special, without a lot of extra effort.
The crispness of the Low-Carb Chicken Milanese, combined with the fresh, garden-style summer relish, calls for light-to-medium-bodied wines with bright acidity to complement both the fried texture and the fresh vegetables.
Here are some wine suggestions to pair beautifully with this dish (the following wine suggestions were found from various sources):
White Wines
- Pinot Grigio (Italy)
- A classic pairing for Milanese-style dishes. Crisp, citrusy, and refreshing; it perfectly matches the brightness of the tomato and squash relish.
- Try: Santa Margherita Pinot Grigio or Alois Lageder Dolomiti Pinot Grigio
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Zesty and herbaceous, with notes of lemon and green herbs that highlight the freshness of the summer vegetables.
- Try: Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc (New Zealand) or Pascal Jolivet Sancerre (France)
- Vermentino
- A Mediterranean white with floral and citrus notes, plus a touch of salinity that pairs beautifully with fried foods and garden vegetables.
- Try: Poggio al Tesoro Solosole Vermentino (Italy)
- Chardonnay (Unoaked)
- Clean and mineral-driven, with just enough body to stand up to the crispy chicken without overpowering it.
- Try: Domaine des Terres Dorées Beaujolais Blanc or Mer Soleil Silver Unoaked Chardonnay
Rosé
- Provence Rosé
- A dry, pale rosé offers the best of both worlds—refreshing acidity and subtle red fruit flavors that complement the dish without competing with it.
- Try: Whispering Angel or Château d’Esclans Rock Angel
Light Reds (if you prefer red wine)
- Pinot Noir
- Light, fruity, and low in tannins, Pinot Noir pairs gently with the chicken while complementing the tomato-based relish.
- Try: Meiomi Pinot Noir or La Crema Pinot Noir
- Gamay (Beaujolais-Villages)
- Bright, juicy, and food-friendly—an excellent red for warm-weather fare with vegetables and light proteins.
- Try: Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais-Villages or Marcel Lapierre Morgon
Ingredients
1-1/2 lb. chicken breasts, flattened
1 cup Carbquik
1 tsp. garlic powder
Salt and pepper to taste
3 eggs, beaten
3/4 cups grated Parmesan
2 Tbsp. fresh thyme chopped
1-1/2 cups Italian Keto breadcrumbs
1/2 cup fresh parsley, chopped
2 lemons, 1 zested and 1 cut in wedges
Extra virgin olive oil
3 heirloom tomatoes, diced
1/2 red onion, chopped
1/2 cup fresh basil, torn
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 small yellow squash, diced into the size of corn kernels
1 tsp. Italian seasoning
Instructions
Flatten the chicken with a mallet. Set aside on a plate.

In a bowl, combine the Carbquik, garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Pour into a pie plate. In a separate pie plate, whisk the eggs. Set aside. You may need more eggs, depending on the size of your chicken pieces. In a third pie plate, combine the Parmesan, thyme, parsley, Keto breadcrumbs and lemon zest.
Dredge the chicken in the Carbquik mixture. Then, dip in the egg. Finally, dip the chicken in the breadcrumb mixture. Place chicken on a baking sheet. Repeat until all the chicken is breaded.



Heat oil in a skillet. Place the chicken in the hot oil. My chicken pieces were sizable, so I had to fry them one at a time. Fry on each side until golden brown, about 2-3 minutes per side.

Remove from the skillet and drain on a baking sheet lined with paper towels.

In a medium-sized bowl, add the chopped tomatoes, red onion, basil, minced garlic, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper. Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil.


Serve the tomato relish on top of the Chicken Milanese. Garnish with a wedge of lemon to squeeze over the top.

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Low-Carb Chicken Milanese with Summer Garden Relish
Equipment
- 1 mallet
- Parchment paper or plastic wrap
- 1 measuring cup
- Measuring spoons
- 1 knife
- 1 medium spoon
- 1 whisk
- 3 pie plates or shallow dishes
- tongs
- 1 large baking sheet
- Paper towels
- 1 skillet
- 1 medium-sized bowl
Ingredients
- 1-1/2 lb. chicken breasts flattened
- 1 cup Carbquik
- 1 tsp. garlic powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 3 eggs beaten
- 3/4 cups grated Parmesan
- 2 Tbsp. fresh thyme, chopped
- 1-1/2 cups Italian Keto breadcrumbs
- 1/2 cup fresh parsley chopped
- Extra virgin olive oil
- 3 heirloom tomatoes diced
- 1/2 red onion chopped
- 1/2 cup fresh basil torn
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 small yellow squash diced into the size of corn kernels
- 1 tsp. Italian seasoning
Instructions
- Flatten the chicken with a mallet. Set aside on a plate.
- In a bowl, combine the Carbquik, garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
- Pour into a pie plate.
- In a separate pie plate, whisk the eggs. Set aside. Depending on how big your chicken pieces are, you may need more eggs.
- In a third pie plate, combine the Parmesan, thyme, parsley, Keto breadcrumbs and lemon zest.
- Dredge the chicken in the Carbquik mixture.
- Then, dip in the egg.
- Finally, dip the chicken in the breadcrumb mixture.
- Place chicken on a baking sheet. Repeat until all the chicken is breaded.
- Heat oil in a skillet.
- Place the chicken in the hot oil.
- Fry on each side until golden brown, about 2-3 minutes per side.
- Remove from the skillet and drain on a baking sheet lined with paper towels.
- In a medium-sized bowl, add the chopped tomatoes, red onion, basil, minced garlic, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper.
- Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil and stir.
- Serve the tomato relish on top of the Chicken Milanese.
- Garnish with a wedge of lemon to squeeze over the top.

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