Enjoy chicken parmesan in a casserole dish that is ready in just 35 minutes but has the same great traditional flavors. It's cheesy, filling, and topped with toasty breadcrumbs.
3tablespoonsbasil2-3 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 9x13 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.
Notes
Storage: Refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze up to three months in an airtight container.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 overnight. Cover and bake for 45-60 minutes until the casserole is bubbly and heated through and the cheese has melted.You can add more flavor to the breadcrumb topping by adding garlic salt, parmesan cheese, and or additional Italian seasoning to the breadcrumb mixture.This is a nice balance of sauce, pasta, and cheese. For a saucier casserole, add an additional ½-1 jar of marinara sauce OR add a can of drained tomatoes.Please note: 8 oz. of pasta is HALF of a standard box. If you use a full box of pasta, it will fit in your 9x13 dish, but you do need to double the sauce, chicken and cheese for proper balance.