Description
A comforting baked casserole featuring tender chicken, marinara sauce, mozzarella, Parmesan, and crispy breadcrumbs. This easy Chicken Parmesan casserole delivers all the classic flavors of chicken Parm in a simple family-friendly dish.
Ingredients
Chicken
- 700 g boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp paprika
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
Breading
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup Italian-seasoned breadcrumbs
- 2 tbsp olive oil
Other Ingredients
- 3 cups marinara sauce
- 1½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ¼ cup fresh basil or parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat the oven to 200°C (400°F) and lightly grease a baking dish to prevent sticking.
- Season Chicken: In a bowl, season the bite-sized chicken pieces with Italian seasoning, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and black pepper for a balanced flavor base.
- Prepare Breading Stations: Beat the eggs in a shallow bowl. Place the Italian-seasoned breadcrumbs in a separate shallow bowl for coating.
- Bread the Chicken: Dip each piece of seasoned chicken into the beaten eggs, allowing excess to drip off, then coat thoroughly with the breadcrumbs.
- Brown the Chicken: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Lightly brown the breaded chicken pieces for 2–3 minutes per side to develop a crispy crust. The chicken does not need to be fully cooked at this stage.
- Assemble Casserole: Spread half of the marinara sauce evenly in the prepared baking dish. Arrange the browned chicken pieces over the sauce, then cover them with the remaining marinara sauce.
- Add Cheese Toppings: Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella and grated Parmesan cheese evenly over the top of the assembled casserole.
- Bake: Bake the casserole uncovered in the preheated oven for 20–25 minutes until the chicken is fully cooked and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from the oven, garnish with chopped fresh basil or parsley, let rest for 5 minutes, then serve warm.
Notes
- Ensure the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 74°C (165°F) for safe consumption.
- For a lighter version, omit the breading step and simply season and bake the chicken in the marinara sauce.
- Add cooked pasta to the casserole before baking for a heartier meal.
- Allow the casserole to rest for 5 minutes after baking to set the flavors and make it easier to serve.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course, Casserole, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
