Chicken Parmesan Pasta Bake has the same traditional flavors of a classic chicken parmesan, except it’s so much easier to make, and it’s ready in 35 minutes! The pasta mixture is topped with a layer of cheese, followed by toasted panko breadcrumbs making it the perfect comfort food.
When it comes to easy weeknight meals, I love making a good pasta dish for the whole family! Especially when it’s a simplified version of one of our favorites! To keep this easy, we use store-bought jarred sauce, but if you have a little extra time, I encourage you to try my homemade tomato sauce: homemade marinara! Try our other favorite pasta dish that has homemade meatballs in it Baked Ziti and Meatballs!
Serve this Italian dish with a simple salad (Olive Garden copycat) or a side of roasted veggies. For those who can’t turn down a good appetizer, go with these easy fried raviolis or fresh garlic knots. End the night with a sinfully good Italian hot chocolate or the best homemade cannoli.
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Why You’ll Love Easy Chicken Parm Pasta
- A nice twist on a traditional Italian meal, Chicken Parmesan.
- Quick and easy recipe to make.
- Can be whipped up ahead of time.
- Leftovers reheat well and taste delicious!
🍝 Ingredients:
- Rotini pasta – ziti and penne pasta will work as well.
- Marinara sauce – choose your favorite store-bought sauce to save time.
- Italian seasoning – this is a mix of all the classic Italian herbs.
- Cooked chicken – can also use rotisserie chicken
- Mozzarella cheese – Shredded
- Parmesan or romano cheese – this adds the sharp bite to the creamy sauce.
- Salted butter – i use salted butter, it enhances the flavors
- Panko breadcrumbs – for the topping
- Fresh basil – garnish
For a full list of ingredients and their measurements, 📋 please view my printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.
Substitutions and Variations
- For a saucier casserole, add an additional ½-1 jar of marinara sauce OR add a can of drained tomatoes. You can swap out Tomato sauce for the marinara. You may need to add more italian seasonings.
- This recipe calls for a ½ box of pasta. If you decide to go with a full box, you will also need to double the sauce, chicken, and cheese.
- Add more flavor to the breadcrumb topping by using black pepper, red pepper flakes, parmesan cheese, or additional Italian seasoning.
- You can choose your favorite bite size pasta for this. We have tried penne, ziti, and fusilli but choose your favorite.
- For the chicken you can use a rotisserie chicken for simplicity or grill a chicken thigh or chicken breast and dice it up. Or for a more traditional chicken filet, use chopped breaded chicken strips or chicken tenders.
- Some like to use Italian sausage in place of chicken to try something different!
- You can also use bread crumbs instead of the Panko crumbs. The Panko just ads a little crunch to each bite.
🔪 Instructions:
PREP: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Step 1: Cook the pasta in a large pot of salted water following the package directions.
Step 2: Strain pasta and return back to the pot. Add the marinara or pasta sauce, seasoning, bite-sized pieces of chicken, and the cheese.
Pro Tip: Don’t over-boil the pasta. Instead, cook until the noodles are al dente. They will continue to cook as the casserole bakes.
Step 3: Stir to combine. Pour into a 9×13 baking dish.
Step 4: Sprinkle with remaining cheese.
Step 5: Mix together the melted butter with the breadcrumbs and cover the pasta bake.
Step 6: Cover and bake for 20 minutes.
Step 7: Remove the foil and bake for another 3-5 minutes to toast the breadcrumbs until they are golden brown.
Step 8: Sprinkle fresh basil on top and serve!
GARNISH/SLICE/SERVE: GARNISH/SLICE/SERVE: To make this a complete meal, enjoy your Chicken Parmesan Casserole with Pasta with a side salad and piece of garlic bread!
- To make this dish ahead of time, follow the instructions for assembly then cover and refrigerate for up to 3 days. When you are ready to cook, baking time will need to increase to 45 – 60 minutes.
Fun Fact
Recipe Tips for Baked Chicken Parmesan Pasta
In Italy, chicken parmesan is known as Pollo alla parmigiana.
Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days or in the freezer for 2 months. This reheats great after being frozen. Simply place in the refrigerator overnight to defrost before heating.
Nothing! Both of these terms refer to the exact same recipe just different names!
More Amazing Pasta and Casserole Recipes
If you tried this Chicken Parmesan Pasta Bake Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you liked it in the 📝 comments below.
Chicken Parmesan Pasta Bake
Ingredients
- 8 oz. rotini pasta
- 24 oz. jar marinara sauce
- 1 teaspoon italian seasoning
- 2 cups cooked chicken chicken breast or rotisserie
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese grated
- 1 cup parmesan grated parmesan or romano cheese
- 4 tablespoons salted butter melted
- ¾ cup panko bread crumbs
- 3 tablespoons basil 2-3 tablespoons of freshly chopped basil
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Cook pasta in a pot of salted water according to package instructions. Drain pasta and return to pot.
- Add marinara sauce, Italian seasoning, chicken, 1 cup of mozzarella, and ½ cup parmesan.
- Stir mixture together then transfer into a 9×13 casserole dish.
- Top with remaining cheeses (1 cup mozzarella and ½ cup parmesan).
- In a small bowl, mix together melted butter and bread crumbs. Sprinkle bread crumb mixture over the top of the cheese in the casserole dish.
- Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes.
- Remove from the aluminum foil and broil for 3-5 minutes longer, to toast the breadcrumbs.
- Remove from the oven and top with freshly chopped basil.
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Comments & Reviews
Kimberly says
I only have regular bread crumbs, would that be ok?
Stefanie says
Regular breadcrumbs will work just fine! You can add a sprinkle of herbs or garlic powder/salt for more flavor in the breadcrumbs, but it’s not necessary.
Anna says
this was delicious, even though we used regular bread crumbs! I can’t wait to make it again with panko.
but PLEASE for the love of safety do not put glassware under the broiler! it’s not made to handle the heat and could shatter. better safe than sorry!