Chicken Parmesan Casserole (Printer-friendly)
Tender chicken baked with marinara, mozzarella, and a crunchy Parmesan breadcrumb topping.
# What You Need:
→ Chicken
01 - 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
02 - 1/2 tsp salt
03 - 1/4 tsp black pepper
→ Sauce & Cheese
04 - 2 cups marinara sauce
05 - 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
06 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
→ Breading Topping
07 - 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
08 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
09 - 1/2 tsp dried Italian herbs
→ Garnish
10 - 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley (optional)
# How to Make It:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
02 - Season chicken pieces evenly with salt and black pepper and arrange in the baking dish.
03 - Pour marinara sauce evenly over the chicken.
04 - Sprinkle shredded mozzarella over the sauce, followed by grated Parmesan.
05 - Mix panko breadcrumbs, melted butter, and dried Italian herbs until evenly coated.
06 - Spread breadcrumb mixture evenly over cheese layer and bake uncovered for 30 to 35 minutes, until chicken is cooked and topping is golden brown.
07 - Allow to rest for 5 minutes before garnishing with chopped parsley if desired.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- It comes together in under an hour, which means weeknight dinner just became your secret weapon.
- The contrast between the crunchy top and creamy cheese underneath keeps you coming back for more.
- Everyone at the table will think you spent all afternoon cooking, even though you didn't.
02 -
- Don't skip the melting step for the butter; dry breadcrumb topping will taste sandy and underwhelming no matter how good everything else is.
- If your casserole starts browning too fast, lay a piece of foil loosely on top—the residual heat will still finish cooking the chicken while the topping stays golden.
03 -
- If you're short on time, rotisserie chicken works beautifully and cuts your baking time down by about ten minutes since it's already cooked.
- Make the breadcrumb topping mixture while the oven preheats so you're not juggling steps—a little advance prep keeps the whole process relaxed.