Chicken Parmesan Baked Casserole

5 from 1 vote

You won’t believe how easy it is to make this classic chicken parmesan casserole, and it’s the perfect option for an easy dinner on a busy weeknight.

Prep Time15

Cook Time20

Total Time35

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American, Italian

Keyword: Chicken Parmesan Casserole Recipe

Servings:

Calories: 676kcal

Preheat oven to 350°F.
Cook pasta in a pot of salted water according to package instructions. Drain pasta and return to the pot.
Add the marinara sauce, Italian seasoning, chicken, 1 cup of mozzarella, and ½ cup of parmesan.
Stir the mixture together, then transfer into a 9x13 casserole dish.
Top with the remaining cheeses (1 cup mozzarella and ½ cup parmesan).
In a small bowl, mix together melted butter and breadcrumbs. Sprinkle the breadcrumb mixture over the top of the cheese in the casserole dish.
Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes.
Remove the aluminum foil and broil for 3 to 5 minutes longer to toast the breadcrumbs.
Remove from the oven and top with freshly chopped basil.

Note that 8 ounces of pasta is HALF of a standard box. If you use a whole box of pasta, it will fit in your 9x13 dish, but you do need to double the sauce, chicken, and cheese for proper balance.
This casserole cooks up quickly in the oven because the main layer is already warm (from the cooked pasta) going into the oven. You can prepare the whole casserole in advance and refrigerate it overnight. Cover and bake for 45-60 minutes until the casserole is bubbly and heated through and the cheese has melted.
The pasta will cook further while baking the casserole, so it’s best to cook it al dente beforehand if you don’t want it overly soft.
Oven temperatures vary and may need to be recalibrated periodically to ensure they are accurate. Make sure to keep a close eye on your casserole as the suggested cook time approaches.