Dump-and-Bake Chicken Parmesan Casserole

Square overhead shot of a pan of chicken parmesan casserole.

4.96 from 41 votes

Dump-and-Bake Chicken Parmesan Casserole

This easy one-dish dinner is healthy, easy to prepare, and incredibly family-friendly!

Course Dinner

Cuisine Italian

Keyword chicken parm casserole, chicken parmesan casserole, chicken parmesan casserole with pasta, healthy chicken parmesan, parmesan chicken casserole

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 40

Total Time 50

Servings people

Calories 421kcal

Author Blair Lonergan

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.
Jazz up the casserole with Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, crushed red pepper flakes, and/or sundried tomatoes.

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