Valentina Ablaev
This chicken parmesan casserole is the perfect oven-baked pasta dish. This recipe is the casserole version of the classic chicken parmesan. Layers of tender pasta, juicy chicken, and topped with loads of cheese and crispy bread crumbs – the perfect comfort meal.
Chicken Parmesan Casserole vs Chicken Parmesan
This casserole is a baked pasta mixed with chicken, cheese, and the best sauce. Chicken parmesan features a crispy cutlet, topped with a homemade marinara sauce and melted cheese. Although we love a crispy cutlet, this dish features pan-seared chicken breast, making it a healthier alternative, just like in our chicken parmesan pasta recipe!
Ingredients for Chicken Parmesan Casserole
You may already have all of the ingredients at home!
- Chicken breast – Pan-seared chicken strips make the perfect addition of protein.
- Pasta – Use your favorite short pasta shape. We like to use rotini pasta for this casserole.
- Marinara sauce – Use our homemade marinara sauce, or jarred pasta sauce; there’s no judgment here!
- Basil – Fresh basil is the perfect addition to this creamy dish.
- Mozzarella cheese – Loads of shredded cheese melt on top of the casserole, to make a cheesy bite.
- Breadcrumbs – Crispy panko breadcrumbs add the perfect crunch to this casserole.
See the recipe card below for a complete list of ingredients and quantities.
Tools for this Recipe
Shop all of Valentina’s favorite kitchen essentials, gadgets, and kitchen must-haves!
- We use a non-stick pan to sear the chicken to a juicy and crispy finish.
- This chicken parm is baked in a 9×13” casserole dish.
Substitutions and Variations
- Cheese it up! Add dollops of ricotta cheese into the casserole, just like we do in our cheesy baked ziti!
- Add vegetables! Bulk up the casserole by adding sauteed mushrooms, broccoli, zucchini, or even spinach.
How to Make Chicken Parmesan Casserole
The easiest step-by-step recipe:
- Season chicken. Season the chicken breast on both sides. Heat a large skillet up to medium-high heat and coat it with oil.
2. Cook chicken. Sear the chicken on both sides and cover the pan with a lid. Cook on low until the chicken is cooked through.
3. Slice chicken. Remove the cooked chicken from the pan and let it cool before slicing it into strips.
4. Pasta. In a large pot of salted water, cook the pasta to al dente. Drain and add to a casserole dish.
3. Assemble. To the pasta, add a layer of marinara sauce, chicken, and parmesan cheese.
4. Combine. Mix the pasta until everything is evenly distributed.
5. Garnish. Top the casserole with extra mozzarella, parmesan cheese, and breadcrumbs.
6. Bake. Add the dish to the oven and bake at 375°F for 20-25 minutes, or until it is bubbling. Garnish with fresh herbs.
Expert Tips:
- Cook pasta to al dente.To prevent overcooking the pasta in the oven, ensure that you boil the pasta only until it is al dente.
- Don’t skip the topping. The crisp panko topping is a must for this casserole!
- Garnish. Top the casserole with fresh basil or parsley for a beautiful presentation.
Serving Suggestions
- Side salad: This casserole pairs perfectly with a side salad. Our homemade Caesar salad is a classic accompaniment to pasta.
- Soup: Serve your chicken Parmesan casserole with a side of homemade Zuppa Toscana.
- Bread: Bake a loaf of Italian bread to serve alongside your chicken Parmesan pasta casserole.
Store & Reheat
- Storage. Keep leftover casserole in the refrigerator for up to 3 days in an airtight container.
- Reheat. Warm up leftovers in the oven at 350°F for 10-15 minutes.
- Freeze. To freeze casserole, simply transfer it to a freezer-safe container. Store in the freezer for up to 3 months. Reheat: Warm up frozen casserole in an oven-safe dish at 350°F for 20-25 minutes.
More Baked Recipes
If you enjoyed this chicken parmesan casserole recipe, be sure to try our other popular oven-baked recipes; here are some of our favorites:
Casseroles- One Pan Meals
- One Pan Meals
- Seafood
- Casseroles
- Grains and Pasta
- Potatoes
If you’ve tried this chicken parmesan casserole recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a star rating and let me know how it turned out in the comments below – we appreciate it!
Chicken Parmesan Casserole
Ingredients
chicken-
- 2 chicken breasts 1 ½ pounds
- 1 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp italian seasoning
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
casserole-
- 8 ounces rotini
- 24 ounces of marinara sauce
- 1 tsp italian seasoning
- 1/4 cup parmesan cheese
topping-
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup panko bread crumbs
- 1 Tbsp fresh herbs chopped, garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F.
- Cut the chicken in half lengthwise and beat the chicken breast until it is evenly thick. In a small bowl, combine the salt, pepper, garlic, and italian seasoning and season the chicken on both sides.
- Over high heat, heat oil in a large skillet. Once the oil is hot, sear the chicken for 2 minutes per side.
- Turn the heat down to low, close the lid of the skillet, and cook another 5-6 minutes, until chicken is tender. Slice the chicken into strips and set aside.
- Meanwhile, cook pasta al dente according to package directions. Once cooked, drain the water.
- To a 9×13-inch casserole dish, add the pasta, marinara sauce, italian seasoning, parmesan cheese, and chicken. Mix everything together.
- Top the casserole with mozzarella cheese, parmesan cheese, and breadcrumbs.
- Bake uncovered 20-25 minutes until the marinara is bubbly and the topping is browned.
- Top with fresh herbs.
- Serve and enjoy, friends.
Notes
- Cook pasta al dente. To prevent the pasta from becoming overcooked in the oven, boil it just until al dente.
- Don’t skip the topping. The crispy panko topping adds essential texture.
- Add a garnish. Sprinkle with fresh basil or parsley before serving for a vibrant, finished look.
- Storage. Store any leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Reheating. Reheat in the oven at 350°F for 10–15 minutes until warmed through.
- Freezing. To freeze, transfer the casserole to a freezer-safe container and store for up to 3 months.
- Reheat from frozen. Bake in an oven-safe dish at 350°F for 20–25 minutes until heated through.
Nutrition
Recipe FAQs
Yes, you can absolutely use breaded crispy chicken in this casserole.
To make this casserole gluten-free, use your favorite gluten-free pasta and a gluten-free panko breadcrumb.
We use mozzarella and parmesan, but feel free to use what you have on hand!
