Description
This easy Baked Chicken Parmesan Casserole transforms the classic Italian-American favorite into a family-friendly one-dish meal. Tender chicken pieces are layered with rich marinara sauce, melted mozzarella, and Parmesan cheese, then topped with crispy seasoned breadcrumbs. It’s all the flavor you love with half the work!
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts (or thighs), cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 cups marinara sauce (homemade or quality store-bought)
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
- ¾ cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided
- 1 cup Italian-style breadcrumbs (or panko)
- 2 tablespoons butter, melted
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- ¼ cup fresh basil leaves, chopped (for garnish)
- Cooking spray for greasing baking dish
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat your oven to 375°F. Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.
- Season the Chicken: Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces (about 1-inch cubes) and season with salt and pepper.
- Brown the Chicken: Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken pieces in a single layer (work in batches if needed) and cook for 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown. The chicken doesn’t need to be fully cooked through at this stage. Transfer browned chicken to the prepared baking dish.
- Sauté Garlic: In the same skillet, add remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil and minced garlic. Sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant but not browned.
- Add Sauce: Pour marinara sauce into the skillet with garlic, stirring to combine. Let it warm through for 2-3 minutes, then pour sauce over the chicken in the baking dish.
- First Cheese Layer: Sprinkle 1 cup of mozzarella cheese and ½ cup of Parmesan cheese evenly over the chicken and sauce.
- Prepare Breadcrumb Topping: In a small bowl, combine breadcrumbs, remaining ½ cup Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, and melted butter. Mix until breadcrumbs are evenly coated.
- Add Toppings: Sprinkle the breadcrumb mixture evenly over the cheese layer, then top with remaining 1 cup mozzarella cheese.
- Bake Covered: Cover the baking dish loosely with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes.
- Bake Uncovered: Remove foil and continue baking for an additional 15 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly, breadcrumbs are golden brown, and chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
- Rest and Garnish: Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes. Garnish with fresh chopped basil before serving.
Notes
- For extra crispy topping, broil for 1-2 minutes at the end of cooking (watch carefully to prevent burning)
- If using chicken thighs instead of breasts, cooking time may increase by 5-10 minutes
- Casserole can be assembled up to 24 hours in advance and refrigerated until ready to bake
- Leftovers keep well in the refrigerator for up to 4 days
- This recipe is easily doubled for larger gatherings
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/8 of casserole (approximately 1.5 cups)
- Calories: 385
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 890mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 34g
- Cholesterol: 95mg