Valentina Ablaev
This chicken parmesan pasta is the perfect dish that brings comfort, flavor, and ease together! This meal tastes incredible, and all it takes is 30 minutes in the kitchen! This pasta recipe is inspired by our classic chicken parmesan recipe, making it a complete meal. So what are you waiting for? Let’s get to cooking!
This chicken parmesan pasta is that meal you put together when you don’t have the time to spend in the kitchen but still need a hearty meal to feed your family. I think we’ve all been there, right? My favorite part about easy dishes like these is that these are all ingredients you likely already have in the pantry. No last-minute grocery runs, just 30 minutes and a pantry cleanout!
My favorite part about cooking is taking classy dishes that you would get at a restaurant and making them easy to make with simple ingredients. Italian-American recipes make the best 30-minute meals, with everything from creamy shrimp alfredo to our hearty ground beef lasagna soup! You can never go wrong with a pasta dinner!
The Best Pasta Recipe
The flavors in this chicken parmesan recipe are incredible; you would be shocked at how simple it was to make. This recipe is a sure crowd-pleaser; even the pickiest eater will leave their plate clean.
Ingredients for Chicken Parm Pasta
- Pasta – penne pasta is perfect in this recipe.
Substitute: Rigatoni, rotini, bowtie, or any short pasta shape may be used instead. - Skinless chicken breast – seasoned with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and italian seasoning is the perfect protein in this dish.
- Garlic – freshly minced garlic adds a great flavor to this dish without being overpowering.
Substitute: Garlic lover? No shame in that; to make a garlic-forward dish, double up on the fresh garlic! - Marinara sauce – jarred marinara sauce works perfectly for this recipe.
Substitute: To make marinara sauce from scratch, see our homemade meatballs and sauce recipe! - Cheese – combine parmesan and mozzarella cheese to make a creamy, cheesy pasta recipe.
See the recipe card below for a complete list of ingredients and quantities.
How to Make Parmesan Chicken Pasta
- Cook the pasta. Boil the pasta per package instructions in a large pot of salted water. Once the pasta is cooked, drain it and set aside.
- Season the chicken. Beat each chicken breast into a thin chicken cutlet. Season both sides of each chicken breast with our seasoning blend.
- Cook the chicken. Heat a large skillet with oil. Add each chicken breast to the pan and sear on both sides. Cover the chicken with the lid once you get a good crust, and allow it to finish cooking. Once the chicken is cooked, remove it from the pan and set aside.
- Make the sauce. Add butter to the same pan, and saute the chopped onion. Once softened, add the minced garlic. Add the marinara sauce, stir, and bring to a light simmer.
- Combine. Cut the chicken into strips and add to the sauce. Mix in the pasta, parmesan, and mozzarella cheese. Cook for a few minutes, and top with more parmesan cheese!
Other Cooking Methods:
- Instant pot: We love an instant-pot pasta recipe, like our instant-pot chicken alfredo recipe. The process is similar to making this chicken parmesan in the pressure cooker! Add all the ingredients to a pressure cooker, cook on high pressure for 10 minutes, and allow the pressure to release naturally.
(Chef’s tip: The key is to pre-cook the chicken but add the pasta uncooked.)
- Slow cooker: Like our crockpot alfredo recipe, you can make this dish in the slow cooker. Add the uncooked pasta, chicken strips, and the remaining ingredients to the slow cooker. Cook on low for 7-9 hours.
- Oven-baked: Make a chicken parmesan pasta bake with this recipe! Like our baked ziti recipe, add the boiled pasta, cooked chicken strips, sauce, and cheese to a casserole dish and bake at 350°F for 20-25 minutes. The key is extra cheese on top to make a delicious cheese pull!
Add-ins to The Dish:
You can add your favorite ingredients to the chicken parmesan, here are some of our favorite add-ins:
- Add vegetables. Bulk up this dish and sneak some veggies in! Sliced mushrooms, zucchini, and even broccoli all make incredible additions to this dish.
- Serve like a pro: Top each bowl of pasta with extra parmesan and fresh parsley for a beautiful presentation and flavor.
- The perfect garnish. Finish this dish with fresh basil, parsley, and parmesan cheese, for the perfect meal, that looks stunning.
What is the Difference Between Chicken Parmigiana & Parmesan?
“Parmigiana” is simply the authentic way to pronounce parmesan! Other than that, there are no other differences. Ha! Who would have thought?
Next time you host, use parmigiana to impress your guests.
Serving Suggestions
There are endless possibilities for how to serve the easy chicken pasta dish. Here are some of our favorite sides to add to this comfort food:
- Bread: It’s not pasta without a serving of fresh bread, and our garlic breadstick recipe makes the best easy breadsticks. Bonus points if you serve the breadsticks with a homemade olive oil dip! The combination is out of this world!
- Salad: A simple spring salad is exactly what this pasta dish needs!
FAQ’s
We love short pasta with chicken parmesan, but you can also use angel hair, spaghetti, and linguine!
Our favorite pasta sauce is Bertolli’s Organic; it has half the sugar other brands do. Use your favorite jarred marinara sauce with excellent results.
Swap marinara sauce for homemade parmesan alfredo sauce to make your chicken alfredo recipe!
You can absolutely make this recipe with chicken thighs.
Store & Reheat
- Storage. Leftovers can be kept in the fridge in an airtight container for 3-5 days.
- Reheat. Warm up leftovers on the pan until thoroughly reheated. Add more cheese, serve, and enjoy!
- Freeze. Freeze the pasta so it’s ready for an easy freezer meal down the line! Portion out the pasta into single servings and freezer-safe containers. Freeze the pasta for up to 3 months! Reheat: Thaw in the refrigerator overnight or heat up in the microwave in intervals until thoroughly reheated.
More Pasta Recipes
If you enjoyed this chicken parmesan pasta recipe, be sure to try our other easy pasta recipes; here are some of our favorites:
If you tried this parmesan chicken pasta recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a star ratingand let me know how it went in the comments below – we appreciate it!
Chicken Parmesan Pasta
Ingredients
- 16 oz penne pasta
chicken and seasoning-
- ½ tsp salt or to taste
- ¼ tsp ground black pepper or to taste
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp italian seasoning
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast
- 2 tsp olive oil
sauce-
- 4 Tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 medium onion finely diced
- 4 garlic cloves minced
- 24 oz marinara sauce
- 1 1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese divided
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese
Instructions
- In a large pot of salted water, cook the pasta according to package instructions. Drain the pasta and set aside.
- In a small bowl, combine all the seasonings.
- Beat the chicken breasts until even in thickness. Season both sides of each chicken breast.
- Add oil to a large skillet and heat over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the chicken breast to the pan.
- Sear the chicken on both sides until golden brown. Turn the heat down to low, cover the pan, and cook until the chicken reaches 165°F internal temperature.
- Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside.
- Add butter and diced onion to the same skillet; saute on medium heat until softened.
- Add the minced garlic and cook until fragrant.
- Add the marinara sauce to the skillet and bring it to a simmer.
- Slice the chicken into thin strands and add to the marinara sauce. Add ¾ cup of mozzarella, parmesan cheese, and pasta; stir to combine.
- Top with the remaining mozzarella cheese. Cover the skillet with the lid and cook until the cheese melts.
- Serve and enjoy, friends!
Notes
- Add veggies: Make this dish extra hearty with your favorite vegetables! Sauteed mushrooms, zucchini, or broccoli make this pasta extra delicious!
- Store: Keep leftovers in the fridge for up to 5 days. Reheat them in a pan until warmed up.
- Freeze leftovers: This pasta can be frozen to make an easy meal! Add the pasta to a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 3 months. Reheat in the microwave or on a pan until warm and bubbly.
