Description
Chicken Parmesan Casserole brings classic Italian comfort right to your dinner table with layers of crispy chicken, marinara sauce, and melted cheese. Baked to golden perfection, this simple weeknight dish delivers maximum flavor with minimal effort.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 3 cups boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Dairy:
- 2 cups shredded whole milk mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Seasoning and Additional Ingredients:
- 2 cups marinara sauce
- 1 cup seasoned bread crumbs
- 3 cloves fresh garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 375°F and coat a 9×13 inch casserole dish with cooking spray.
- Rub 3 cups of chicken breasts with 1 tsp Italian seasoning, ½ tsp salt, and ¼ tsp black pepper.
- Warm 2 tbsp olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat and sear chicken for 4-5 minutes per side until golden brown.
- Pour 1 cup marinara sauce across the bottom of the casserole dish, creating an even layer.
- Arrange the seared chicken pieces directly on top of the sauce.
- Drizzle the remaining 1 cup marinara sauce over the chicken, covering completely.
- Sprinkle 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese across the entire surface, ensuring full coverage.
- In a separate bowl, combine 1 cup bread crumbs, 1 cup grated Parmesan, and 2 tbsp olive oil until the mixture feels slightly damp.
- Distribute the bread crumb mixture evenly across the cheese layer.
- Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 25 minutes at 375°F.
- Remove foil during the final 5 minutes to create a crispy, golden topping.
Notes
- Make sure to pat chicken dry before seasoning to help achieve a golden-brown sear and prevent steaming.
- When sautéing chicken, use a heavy-bottomed skillet to ensure even heat distribution and perfect browning.
- For a gluten-free version, swap regular breadcrumbs with almond meal or crushed gluten-free crackers.
- If you prefer extra crispy topping, broil the casserole for 2-3 minutes after baking, watching carefully to prevent burning.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Casseroles
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 490 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 43 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg