This Chicken Parmesan Casserole brings rotisserie chicken, marinara, Italian seasoning, Parmesan cheese, and mozzarella together, all sprinkled with a buttery Parmesan breadcrumb topping. This casserole is quick and easy enough for a weeknight meal and delicious enough for company.
Easy Chicken Parmesan Casserole
This dish is a family favorite and always a welcome sight on the dinner table. With the use of rotisserie chicken, this is an easy, hearty dish by itself, or serve this easy casserole with a simple garden salad, bowl of minestrone, vegetable soup, French onion soup, or cheese garlic bread.
Ingredients for Chicken Parmesan Casserole
- Rigatoni pasta – or penne, rontini, or ziti
- Marinara – use your favorite jarred marinara or homemade marinara
- Italian Seasoning
- Cooked chicken – I like to use rotisserie chicken
- Cheese – mozzarella cheese and Parmesan cheese
- Butter – salted or unsalted works
- Breadcrumbs – either panko or homemade
- Basil – fresh for cutting ribbons
How to Make Chicken Parmesan Casserole
First, cook the pasta al dente according to package directions and drain well. Then add the marinara, Italian seasoning, and cooked chicken to the cooked pasta and stir to combine. Layer half of the pasta mixture in a baking dish and top with half of the mozzarella cheese and half of the Parmesan cheese. Then, add the remaining pasta mixture and the other half of the mozzarella and Parmesan. Cover the dish with foil and bake for 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, melt a little butter in a pot over low heat. You can also do this in the microwave if you prefer. Remove the pot from the heat and add the breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, and Italian seasoning. Stir to combine. Take the casserole out of the oven. Remove the foil and sprinkle the breadcrumb mixture over the top. Place the dish back into the oven and bake uncovered for 15 minutes or until the breadcrumb mixture is lightly browned, the cheese is melted, and the casserole is heated through.
Beth’s Recipe Tips
- Cook the pasta al dente as you will be baking it again.
- Use any cooked chicken. I like to use rotisserie chicken because it is juicy and available at almost every grocery store or warehouse store.
- Use your favorite jarred or homemade marinara.
- For optimal flavor, use freshly grated Parmesan Cheese.
How to Cut Basil Ribbons
To start, gently wash and thoroughly dry the basil. Basil does not have to be dry to cut it into ribbons, but it is much easier to sprinkle on the top of a dish when it is dry. Then stack the leaves on top of each other and gently roll them into a cylinder cigar shape. Now, using a sharp knife, slice them extra thin. Try to cut and add basil ribbons right before serving when they are at their peak.
Storage and Reheat
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat on the stovetop over low heat or in the microwave at reduced power.
To freeze, first cool completely, then cover with two layers of plastic wrap and a layer of aluminum foil. Thaw in the fridge overnight. Remove the plastic wrap and the aluminum foil and reheat in the microwave at reduced power.
More Casserole Recipes
Chicken Parmesan Casserole
Ingredients
- 12 ounces rigatoni pasta
- 32 ounces marinara sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 3 cups cooked chicken
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/3 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
Breadcrumb Topping
- 1/4 cup butter melted
- 3/4 cup breadcrumbs
- 1/3 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- basil ribbons
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray a 9×13 inch baking dish with nonstick spray.
- Cook the pasta al dente according to package directions and drain well.
- Add the marinara, Italian seasoning, and cooked chicken to the cooked pasta and stir to combine. Layer half of the pasta mixture in the prepared baking dish and top with half of the mozzarella cheese and half of the Parmesan cheese. Add the remaining pasta mixture and the other half of the mozzarella chees and Parmesan cheese.
- Cover the dish with foil and bake for 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile melt a little butter in a pot over low heat. Remove the pot from the heat and add thebreadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, and Italian seasoning. Stir to combine. Take the casserole out of the oven. Remove the foil and sprinkle the breadcrumb mixture over the top.
- Place the dish back into the oven uncovered and bake for 15 minutes or until the breadcrumb mixture is lightly browned, the cheese is melted, and the casserole is heated through.
Notes
- Cook the pasta al dente as you will be baking it again.
- Use any cooked chicken. I like to use rotisserie chicken because it is juicy and available at almost every grocery store or warehouse store.
- Use your favorite jarred or homemade marinara.
- For optimal flavor, use freshly grated Parmesan Cheese.
Nutrition
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Ruth
Does recipe freeze well?
Beth Pierce
Yes
Kerry
Had leftover rotisserie chicken and needed something fast! Stumbled on this and thought it looked like a good recipe. It turned out to be fantastic – we will definitely be using it again! 5 stars!
Beth Pierce
Thank you, Kerry! I am so happy that you liked it!
Jennifer
So much easier that chicken parmesan and just as tasty. This is ideal for my busy family and it will be on regular rotation here. Thanks for the recipe!
Beth Pierce
You are most welcome, Jennifer.
Melissa R
This looks incredible and this is truly my kind of meal! I love the idea of baked ziti but this chicken part casserole is everything. My husband would totally love it and I am pinning it to make sometime soon…..I will use whole grain pasta as we are switching all breads and such to whole grain varieties.
Mel C
This was a tasty and filling dish. The family really enjoyed it and I love casseroles because they are usually quick and easy to prepare like this one!
Rebecca
Such a tasty and easy casserole. Even my picky eaters loved it. I think next time I will add just a little more cheese. We love cheese and sometimes we go a little overboard with it.
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Rebecca! So glad that you and your picky eaters loved the casserole.
Janice W
This is a really good midweek meal recipe when you need something quick and easy. Thank you so much for sharing it – it was delicious and easy to follow.
Tabitha
The perfect meal for the whole family! Was very comforting and a hit with the kids. I am going to enjoy the leftovers for lunch and I can’t wait.
Lisa M
Delicious and so easy to make. Now I can enjoy chicken parmesan more often. It takes too much time to bread and fry all those patties. Thanks for sharing the recipe, Beth.
Beth Pierce
You are most welcome. Lisa!