Chicken Parmesan Casserole is a weeknight dinner favorite! We take the classic flavors of chicken parm, and turn it into a more macro-friendly pasta dish with protein pasta, tomato sauce, chopped spinach, and a crispy panko crust.
This pasta bake is hearty, filling, and perfectly seasoned throughout. Instead of dirtying up tons of extra dishes and shallow frying chicken cutlets, get all of the flavors of a chicken parmesan dish with an easy-to-make pasta meal!
The Coined Breakdown
- Total Cost per serving: $1.40
- Total Cost (about 6 servings): $8.44
- Those Other Guys: $16.99 per serving
Ingredients
- Seasoned Chicken Breasts - We're keeping lean with chicken breasts as the protein of choice in this recipe. Chop them up and undercook them just a tad before adding everything to the pasta; they will fully cook in the oven but still turn out juicy.
- Pasta - If you can, I recommend the protein pasta brands for extra nutrients! Any hearty noodle like rotini or penne will work great.
- Pasta Sauce - Either homemade or store-bought; grab your favorite pasta sauce for this recipe. I love using tomato-basil flavored.
- Panko Breadcrumbs - Grab some plain panko breadcrumbs (we'll season them during cooking) as the crispy crust for the casserole.
- Grated Parmesan - You can't have chicken Parmesan without some tasty grated parmesan!
- Spinach - To add a little green to our dish.
Variations and Substitutions
Protein: You can use chicken thighs, or even sprinkle in rotisserie chicken to save some time. For a fun twist, chop up my Juicy Chicken Meatballs and stir in.
Vegetarian Stuffed Shells: Need a meatless pasta dish? These jumbo stuffed shells have spinach, mushrooms, and tons of creamy ricotta inside.
How to Make Chicken Parmesan Casserole
Step 1: To begin, season and cook your chicken breasts, You want to slightly undercook the chicken so it doesn't dry out completely in the oven.
In a glass baking dish, mix together the pasta, chopped chicken, tomato sauce, and some chopped spinach for fiber.
Step 2: Top with panko breadcrumbs, a bit of Italian seasoning, and grated parmesan. I also like to spray the top with cooking spray for moisture.
Step 3: Finally, bake for about 10 minutes covered, then remove the cover and broil until the breadcrumb topping is golden brown. That's it!
What to Serve Alongside Chicken Parm Pasta Bake?
- Roasted Vegetables. Get your greens in with veggie sides like Garlic-Herb Green Beans, Roasted Asparagus, or Balsamic Brussels.
- Fresh Salads. This Shredded Brussels Salad is made with a light vinaigrette. Or keep it classic with a Caesar Salad with homemade dressing.
- Fluffy Breads. Hearty breads like focaccia or sourdough are so good with this dish! You could also do a light and fluffy bread option like my Homemade Yeast Rolls.
Recipe FAQs
Sure! I love using chicken breasts as they are lean and still juicy, but feel free to use chicken thighs or chicken legs. You can also use rotisserie chicken if you want.
I've seen dairy-free grated parmesan at the grocery store - you can try that, or you can use nutritional yeast! (It'll be yellow, but still tastes nice and cheesy.)
I do! Check out my cookbook Plate Night In - there's a chicken parm recipe for two that goes great over creamy mashed potatoes.
Sure - add any leftovers to a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 3 months! When you're ready to eat, let defrost in the fridge overnight before reheating.
Other Easy Dinners You'll Love!
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Chicken Parmesan Casserole
Equipment
- Air Fryer
- Chef's Knife
- Large Pot
- Strainer
- Casserole Dish
- Large Serving Spoon
- Cooking Spray
- Aluminum Foil
Ingredients
- ½ tablespoon salt (plus more for boiling)
- ½ tablespoon garlic powder
- ½ tablespoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 12 ounces chicken breasts
- 2 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 8 ounces pasta (rotini or penne)
- 2 ½ cups pasta sauce
- 1 handful chopped spinach
- ¾ cup panko breadcrumbs (plain)
- ½ cup grated parmesan
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasonings
Instructions
- Mix together all the spices (except the Italian seasoning) in a small bowl.½ tablespoon salt, ½ tablespoon garlic powder, ½ tablespoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon black pepper
- Sprinkle half of the seasoning bowl onto the chicken, along with the olive oil. Rub everything in.12 ounces chicken breasts, 2 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
- Air fry your chicken at 360℉ for 6 minutes. Remove, chop into small pieces, and set aside. Don't worry - the chicken will finish cooking in the oven.You can also bake in the oven at 360℉ for 7-8 minutes.
- Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil.
- Add in the pasta and cook for about 6 minutes, then drain and set aside (reserving a little pasta water).8 ounces pasta
- Preheat your oven to 350℉.
- In a baking dish, add in the drained pasta.
- Pour the pasta sauce and pasta water over the noodles. Add the cooked chicken and chopped spinach on top.2 ½ cups pasta sauce, 1 handful chopped spinach
- Stir everything together until combined.
- Top the pasta with the breadcrumbs and grated parmesan, then season with the remaining half of the seasoning bowl from earlier.¾ cup panko breadcrumbs, ½ cup grated parmesan
- Sprinkle on some Italian seasoning and spray the breadcrumb topping with cooking spray.1 teaspoon Italian seasonings
- Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake for 8 - 10 minutes.
- Remove the foil, and turn the oven to broil for 1 to 2 minutes for a beautiful golden-brown crust.
- Serve with a green veggie or hearty salad. Enjoy!
Did you make this recipe? Let me know what you think!