Description

This one-pan, no-boil Chicken Parmesan casserole bakes the pasta right in the sauce. Just dump, bake, add the cheesy topping, and dinner is done with almost no cleanup.

Ingredients

Units Scale

Dump-and-Bake Base

12 oz dried campanelle or penne pasta (no need to cook it first)
32 oz pasta sauce (a good quality marinara works perfectly)
2 1/4 cups water
1 1/2 lb skinless, boneless chicken breast (cut into bite-sized, 1-inch pieces)
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground black pepper

Cheese Layer

2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (whole milk or part-skim)

Crispy Panko Topping

3/4 cup panko bread crumbs
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese (freshly grated melts best)
2 Tbsp fresh parsley (chopped)
2 Tbsp unsalted butter (melted, for the topping)

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Instructions

Preheat the oven & prepare the dish: Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 400°F (200°C). Lightly coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with non-stick spray.
Dump, mix, and combine: In the prepared dish, add the uncooked pasta, entire jar of pasta sauce, water, chicken pieces, salt, and pepper. Stir until well combined, ensuring most pasta is submerged.
Cover and bake: Cover tightly with aluminum foil and bake for 40 minutes to steam-cook the pasta and chicken.
Make the crispy topping: While the casserole bakes, combine panko, Parmesan, parsley, and melted butter in a small bowl until evenly moistened.
Add cheese & finish: After 40 minutes, remove foil and stir the casserole. Sprinkle mozzarella evenly, then the panko mixture. Return to the oven, uncovered, and bake 10 minutes, until cheese is bubbly and the topping is golden. Rest 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

Tip: If some pasta edges look dry before adding cheese, stir in a splash (2-4 Tbsp) of hot water to keep everything saucy. Swap mozzarella for provolone if you like, and add a pinch of red pepper flakes for heat.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Category: Casserole, Dinner
Cuisine: Italian-American

Nutrition

Calories: 480
Sugar: 9
Fat: 18
Carbohydrates: 45
Fiber: 4
Protein: 35