Chicken Parmesan Casserole – Picture the pleasure of a plate of pasta combined with the richness of marinara sauce and the unforgettable fun of melted cheese. Our Chicken Parmesan Casserole is precisely that — a spin on a favorite. It blends the flavors we love from Chicken Parmesan into a simple casserole that not only satisfies but surprises too. This dish has a manner of bringing smiles to the dinner table. Incorporating both American and Italian cooking for a scrumptious experience with every morsel.
The first time my family tried this casserole, it was embraced with wide-eyed excitement and an evening filled with second and third helpings. Even my skeptical husband was converted by the tender chicken and little islands of melted cheese. My child, so picky, wanted this dish every day. It was as if we’d made history – an acknowledged delicious meal. This dish is not about nourishment alone; it tells a story of family bonds, love and the enchantment that comes from embracing something new.
What makes this Chicken Parmesan Casserole truly special?
The reason why our Chicken Parmesan Casserole is such a crowd pleaser is because it effortlessly combines all those flavors we hold dear into one dish – no fuss or hassle involved. This recipe is incredibly simple to whip up making it ideal, for any family gathering. You have the freedom to tailor it to your preferences whether that means adding layers of cheese or loading it up with an abundance of vegetables. It’s a delightful dish that is hooked to pleasure all taste buds, around the dining plateau.
What You Need To Make This Chicken Parmesan Casserole Recipe?
Rigatoni Pasta: These tubes are, like our companions ready to embrace every bit of sauce and cheese they encounter. Feel free to substitute with penne or ziti if that’s what you have available—they’re equally excited to join the gathering.
Marinara Sauce: It’s the soul of this dish spreading its tomatoey affection throughout every layer. Whether you choose a jar from your brand or go the mile with homemade sauce make sure it’s a flavor that brings joy to your taste buds.
Mozzarella Cheese: Just imagine the stretchy and gooey texture that accompanies each forkful creating those picture cheese pulls. Opt for mozzarella and grate it yourself; it makes a difference to receiving a warm hug instead of a simple handshake.
Parmesan Cheese: A sprinkle of Parmesan adds wisdom and a touch of saltiness that perfectly balances the flavors. When finely grated it melts into the casserole revealing secrets from kitchens.
Chicken Breasts: This lean protein serves as the foundation for this dish. We’re giving it a crispy coating while ensuring its heart remains tender guaranteeing every bite is as satisfying, as snuggling up under a blanket on a night.
The Breading Trio: Combining flour, eggs and Italian breadcrumbs creates a choreography that adorns our chicken with a crispy and layer. It’s, like dressing your protein in armor ready to combat any dullness.
Vegetable Oil & Butter: These two ingredients team up to create the sizzling bath for frying our chicken ensuring it comes out with a golden and crispy exterior. They know how to throw a frying party.
Fresh Parsley: This is the touch-like confetti made of freshness adding vibrant color and an herbaceous brightness to our casserole. It’s like the cherry, on top but even better because it’s parsley.
Steps To Make Chicken Parmesan Casserole:
Step 1: Let’s start by cooking the rigatoni until it’s a little undercooked so it doesn’t get too soft when we bake it. Once drained we’ll mix it with marinara sauce some Parmesan cheese and a handful of mozzarella. This will set the setting for all the tastes to come together.
Step 2: Next, we’ll remake the chicken. We’ll coat it in flour dip it in beaten egg and then cover it in breadcrumbs to get that crunch. After frying until brown we’ll cut the chicken into bite pieces that are ready to be layered into our casserole.
Step 3: Now comes the fun part. Layering and baking. In a greased casserole dish we’ll alternate layers of pasta and chicken with amounts of cheese. This will create a mosaic of flavors when baked until bubbly and golden. To add a touch of freshness we can sprinkle some parsley on top.
Step 4: There you have it! A scrumptious dish, with a medley of consistencies and tastes that will surely engrave your taste buds.
Tip:
To make sure every bite is full of flavors and varied textures it’s important to pay attention to how you arrange the ingredients, in your casserole. Begin by laying a foundation of saucy pasta to prevent sticking and create a moist base. When adding the chicken evenly distribute it so that every serving gets its share of protein. Don’t be afraid to layer the cheeses both within and, on top of the casserole. This not only creates a gooey melty texture throughout. Also gives the top a beautifully golden crust when it’s baked. By perfecting your layering technique you’ll ensure that each forkful is a combination of all the elements making this dish truly memorable.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Can I make this gluten-free?
Sure you can definitely make this dish gluten-free. Just supersede pasta with a gluten-free choice and use gluten-free breadcrumbs for the chicken.
How do I store leftovers?
To keep any leftovers. Simply place them in an airtight container. Keep them in the refrigerator, for up to three days. When you’re inclined to relish them just reheat them either in the oven or microwave until they are thoroughly warm.
Can I add vegetables to this casserole?
If you desire to add some vegetables to this casserole go ahead! You can layer in some spinach or mushrooms along, with the chicken and pasta to give it a boost.
Chicken Parmesan Casserole
Ingredients
- ¾ lb rigatoni pasta
- 32 ounces marinara sauce or up to 48 ounces for a saucier pasta
- 3 c mozzarella cheese shredded & separated
- ⅓ c Parmesan cheese finely grated
- 2 small boneless skinless chicken breasts
- ¾ c flour
- 2 tsp seasoned salt
- ¼ tsp pepper
- 2 eggs
- 1 ½ c Italian breadcrumbs
- ¾ c vegetable oil
- 2 tbsp butter
- Fresh Parsley to garnish
Instructions
- Start by cooking the rigatoni. Boil it until it’s a little less than al dente. Then drain the pasta. Combine it with 32 ounces of marinara sauce one one-third of the Parmesan cheese and one cup of mozzarella. Set this mixture aside.
- Now let’s prepare the chicken. Take some chicken breasts. Cut them into half-inch strips. Get three bowls for breading; one with flour mixed with salt and pepper another with beaten eggs and the last one with breadcrumbs. Coat the chicken strips in flour first then dip them in the beaten eggs and finally cover them with breadcrumbs.
- It’s time to fry the chicken! Heat a combination of vegetable oil and butter in a pan over medium-high heat. Fry the chicken until it turns brown on each side (4 minutes per side). Once cooked place the fried chicken on paper towels to absorb any oil. Then cut it into bite pieces.
- Let’s assemble our casserole now! Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish and start layering; begin with half of your cooked pasta mixture at the bottom of the dish followed by half of your chicken strips then sprinkle one-third of your Parmesan cheese on top along with one cup of mozzarella cheese. Repeat these layers using up all remaining ingredients.
- Bake uncovered in your preheated oven for 25 minutes until everything is heated through and nicely melted together. If you prefer a crispier layer on your casserole you can increase the temperature to 425°F (220°C) for an additional 5 minutes during baking.
- Once out of the oven garnish your Chicken Parmesan Casserole with some parsley, for added flavor and presentation.
- Serve your casserole hot. Enjoy it ideally with a side of garlic bread topped with melted cheese!
- That’s it! You’ve now successfully made a Chicken Parmesan Casserole. Enjoy your meal!
Notes
