Description
Cheesy Chicken Parmesan Casserole brings your dinner table to life with layers of crispy chicken, melted cheese, and zesty marinara that make weeknight meals seriously delicious. Grab your favorite casserole dish and get ready to watch your family devour this comforting classic in record time.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breast
- 2 cups marinara sauce
- 1½ cups uncooked rotini or penne pasta
Supporting Ingredients:
- 1¼ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Seasonings and Liquids:
- 1½ cups water or chicken broth
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper
- Optional: fresh basil or parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F and spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Dump 1½ cups uncooked rotini pasta directly into the prepared baking dish.
- Add 1 lb diced chicken breast on top of the pasta, spreading it evenly across the dish.
- Pour 2 cups marinara sauce over the chicken and pasta, ensuring complete coverage.
- Sprinkle ½ tsp garlic powder and ½ tsp Italian seasoning across the surface.
- Season with salt and pepper to your taste preferences.
- Carefully pour 1½ cups water or chicken broth over the entire mixture.
- Thoroughly stir all ingredients until well combined and evenly distributed.
- Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil.
- Bake covered at 375°F for exactly 35 minutes.
- Remove foil and immediately sprinkle 1¼ cups mozzarella cheese across the top.
- Scatter ¼ cup Parmesan cheese over the mozzarella layer.
- Return uncovered dish to oven and bake for 10-15 minutes until cheese turns golden and bubbly.
- Remove from oven and let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving.
- Optional: Garnish with chopped fresh basil or parsley for extra color and flavor.
Notes
- Use chicken breasts cut into uniform pieces for even cooking and better texture.
- Swap marinara with homemade sauce for richer flavor and control over sodium levels.
- For gluten-free version, replace regular pasta with chickpea or rice pasta.
- Make ahead and refrigerate assembled casserole for up to 24 hours before baking, which helps flavors meld together perfectly.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 45-50 minutes
- Category: Casseroles
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 375 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 620 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg