Description
🍗✨ This Chicken Parmesan Casserole is a comforting dish packed with rich flavors and cheesy goodness, perfect for a satisfying family meal! ✨🍗
🍅🧀 Quick to prepare and loaded with wholesome ingredients, it’s a time-saving recipe you’ll want to make again and again! 🧀🍅
Ingredients
– ¾ pound of rigatoni or 16 ounces of penne pasta
– 2-6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
– 32 to 48 ounces of marinara sauce
– 3 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese
– 1/3 cup of grated Parmesan cheese
– Flour for breading
– Seasoned salt for breading
– Pepper for breading
– Italian breadcrumbs for breading
– Eggs for coating the chicken
– Vegetable oil or butter for frying
– Fresh parsley for seasoning
– Garlic for seasoning
– Optional hot red pepper flakes
– Mayonnaise or Greek yogurt (optional)
– Garlic powder (optional)
– Seasoning salt (optional)
– Panko bread crumbs for topping
– Extra Parmesan cheese for topping
– Herbs for topping
Instructions
1. Start by gathering all ingredients needed for the Chicken Parmesan Casserole recipe.
2. Cook ¾ pound of rigatoni or 16 ounces of penne pasta until al dente, then drain and set aside.
3. Prepare the chicken by breading it. Dip chicken pieces into flour, followed by beaten eggs, and coat with Italian breadcrumbs. Alternatively, use frozen chicken tenders or leftover rotisserie chicken for convenience.
4. Fry breaded chicken in a skillet with vegetable oil or butter until golden brown, flipping as needed. Alternatively, for a healthier option, bake the breaded chicken in the oven at 400°F until cooked through.
5. Preheat your oven to 350°F-375°F.
6. Grease a 9×13 inch casserole dish to prevent sticking.
7. Start assembling the casserole by layering ingredients. Begin with half of the cooked pasta, followed by a layer of marinara sauce, then place half of the fried chicken pieces on top.
8. Sprinkle half of the shredded mozzarella cheese and grated Parmesan cheese over the chicken.
9. Repeat this layering process with the remaining pasta, marinara sauce, chicken, and cheese to create a second layer.
10. Prepare the topping by mixing Panko bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, and herbs. Sprinkle the mixture evenly over the assembled casserole.
11. Bake the casserole uncovered in the preheated oven for 25-40 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and slightly browned.
12. For extra crispiness, increase the oven temperature to 425°F for the last 5-10 minutes of baking.
13. Remove the casserole from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes before serving.
14. Garnish with fresh parsley or optional red pepper flakes for added flavor if desired.
15. Serve the Chicken Parmesan Casserole warm and enjoy.
Notes
1. Use quality ingredients like fresh chicken, authentic cheeses, and your favorite pasta for the best flavor in Chicken Parmesan Casserole.
2. Experiment with variations by adding spices, fresh herbs, or extra veggies to customize your Chicken Parmesan Casserole.
3. Properly layer your casserole to achieve the perfect balance of pasta, sauce, chicken, and cheese in every bite.
- Prep Time: 15
- Cook Time: 25
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian