This dump-and-bake chicken parmesan casserole is a one-dish dinner that’s healthy, easy to prepare, and incredibly family-friendly. Just combine the raw ingredients in a pan and pop it in the oven — no prep work necessary!
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If you love the ease of dump-and-bake dinners, be sure to try this dump-and-bake shrimp alfredo, this pasta alfredo chicken pasta, this chicken pasta casserole, this chicken divan casserole, a pan of dump-and-bake healthy General Tso chicken, honey soy chicken, and this dump-and-bake chicken taco casserole, too!
Hi, I just made this for dinner and it’s delicious! So easy to prepare, no pots to wash, my 6 y/o loves it and it’s WW friendly! I followed the recipe exactly except I seasoned everything with my own Italian favorites…
– Karen
A chicken parmesan casserole recipe that’s easy, healthy, and kid-friendly! What’s not to love?! The lightened-up dish is a perfect example of a simple and nutritious supper that brings the family together — even on busy evenings — and keeps you out of the kitchen with very little prep work.
Instead of breading and frying cutlets in a skillet, this version takes advantage of my favorite dump-and-bake method to eliminate tedious prep work. There’s no need to boil the pasta in advance or use pre-cooked chicken. Instead, all of the ingredients mingle, share seasonings, and cook together in one big pan.
A Few Notes Before You Get Started
- Dice the chicken into small, bite-size pieces before adding it to the dish. It will cook faster this way, and it will be easier to eat without cutting.
- Don’t have penne pasta? You can substitute with other similar short pasta shapes such as rotini, rigatoni, or elbows. Just pick a pasta that has a similar cooking time as the penne (about 11-12 minutes recommended on the package) — otherwise you’ll need to adjust the casserole’s baking time in the oven.
- Pick a high-quality, flavorful marinara sauce. A delicious sauce will yield a delicious meal. I like Rao’s brand, but any similar variety will work. Or, use pomodoro sauce for a slightly different taste.
- Use Panko bread crumbs instead of regular breadcrumbs. They give the topping a delicious, crispy texture that’s similar to the fried coating on traditional chicken parmesan!
- Total cooking time will vary depending on the type of pan that you use, your brand of pasta, and your individual oven. Glass or ceramic baking dishes will take longer than metal pans, for instance. To know when your casserole is done, taste a bite of the pasta. The noodles should be al dente and much of the liquid should be absorbed.
Serving Suggestions
Pair the healthy chicken parmesan casserole with garlic bread, no-knead cast iron focaccia, roasted broccoli, roasted yellow squash, or a green side salad with red wine vinegar salad dressing. It’s one of those great meals that the whole family can agree on!
Preparation and Storage Tips
- Make Ahead: You can assemble the casserole a few hours in advance, or even leave it covered in the refrigerator overnight before baking. The pasta will start to soften and absorb some of the liquid as it sits, so you may need to decrease the baking time slightly. You don’t want to overcook the casserole or you’ll end up with gummy, mushy pasta.
- Storage: This casserole is best enjoyed immediately from the oven. Leftovers will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. The pasta will dry out a bit as it sits.
- I do not recommend freezing this casserole because pasta has a tendency to get gummy and mushy when thawed.
I just made this for dinner and it turned out perfect. The extra liquid I observed after the first half hour of cooking had disappeared after I added the cheese and bread crumbs. Such an easy meal to put together … And delicious too!
– Deb
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Dump-and-Bake Chicken Parmesan Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 (16 ounce) package uncooked penne pasta
- 3 cups marinara sauce (about 1 24-ounce jar)
- 3 cups water
- 1 teaspoon salt
- Ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 ½ lbs. raw chicken breast, diced into bite-sized pieces
- 1-2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese or Italian cheese blend
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup Panko breadcrumbs
- Optional garnish: fresh chopped herbs such as fresh basil or fresh parsley
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F. Spray a 13-inch by 9-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. In the prepared baking dish (or in a separate large bowl), stir together uncooked pasta, marinara sauce, water, salt, pepper, and raw chicken. Tips: See my suggestions below if you'd like to add even more flavor to the dish (like red wine, garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, or crushed red pepper flakes).
- Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish. Cover tightly with aluminum foil. Make sure that your dish is covered tightly so that none of the moisture escapes (the pasta needs to absorb the liquid as it cooks). Bake the covered dish for 30 minutes. Uncover and give the pasta a good stir. At this point the pasta will still be firm and there will still be quite a bit of liquid in the dish. That's fine! Spread mozzarella over the top and sprinkle with breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese.
- Bake uncovered for 10-15 more minutes (or until cheese is melted, top is golden brown, pasta is tender, and chicken is cooked through).
- Garnish with fresh herbs, if desired. Serve!
Notes
- Total cooking time will vary depending on the type of pan that you use, your brand of pasta, and your individual oven. Glass or ceramic baking dishes will take longer than metal pans, for instance. To know when your casserole is done, taste a bite of the pasta. The noodles should be al dente and much of the liquid should be absorbed.
- Be careful not to overcook the pasta or it will become mushy.
- Add more flavor to the dish by replacing some of the water with red wine.
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Nutrition
Chicken Parmesan Casserole Recipe Variations
- Stir in some veggies. If your kids like peas, zucchini, sliced mushrooms, or frozen broccoli, stir that into the dish as well! If you’re using a larger vegetable with a longer cooking time (like broccoli), you may want to steam the vegetables first before adding to the dish. For something small like frozen peas, you can just add them (still frozen) straight to the baking dish towards the end of the cooking time.
- Add more flavor to the dish by replacing some of the water with red wine.
- Jazz up the casserole with 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ¼ teaspoon onion powder, crushed red pepper flakes, and/or sundried tomatoes.
- Use chicken tenderloins or boneless skinless chicken thighs as a sub for the boneless skinless chicken breasts.
- If you’d like to start with cooked chicken (such as shredded rotisserie chicken) rather than raw meat, that works too. You’ll need about 3-4 cups of cooked, shredded or diced chicken.
- For a similar dish with slightly different flavors, try this dump-and-bake chicken pot pie pasta.
More Chicken Parmesan Recipes
Easy Chicken Parmesan Recipe
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Chicken Parmesan Casserole
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Healthy Chicken Parmesan
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This post was originally published in November, 2015. It was updated in September, 2024.
So good! I seasoned the chicken with Italian seasoning and garlic powder before baking. Yum!
We’re so glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for trying it out and taking the time to leave a review.
Easy and delicious. My family loved it! Making for the 2nd time tonight.
We’re so happy to hear, this Andrea! Thank you for trying it out and taking the time to leave a review.