Description
Dump and Bake Chicken Parmesan Casserole is a comforting, easy-to-make oven dinner featuring tender chicken, pasta, marinara sauce, and melty cheese all baked together in one dish. Perfect for busy days, this casserole delivers the classic flavors of Chicken Parmesan with minimal prep and maximum satisfaction.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 2 cups uncooked pasta (penne or rotini)
- 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded or diced
- 3 cups marinara sauce
- 1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- ½ cup water
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 degrees Celsius) to prepare for baking the casserole.
- Cook the aromatics: In a skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and chopped onion, sautéing until fragrant and translucent, about 3 to 5 minutes.
- Combine ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, add the uncooked pasta, cooked chicken, marinara sauce, Italian seasoning, sautéed garlic and onion, water, salt, and pepper. Mix everything together until well incorporated.
- Assemble the casserole: Transfer the mixture into a greased 9x13 inch baking dish. Spread evenly, then sprinkle the shredded mozzarella and grated Parmesan cheeses over the top.
- Bake the casserole: Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes, or until the cheese on top is melted and bubbly and the pasta is tender.
- Serve warm: Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving. This allows the dish to set for easier serving and enhances the flavors.
Notes
- For a lower-fat version, use part-skim mozzarella cheese or reduce the amount of cheese.
- You can substitute cooked rotisserie chicken if short on time.
- Add vegetables like spinach or mushrooms for extra nutrition and flavor.
- If you don’t have marinara sauce, canned crushed tomatoes with Italian seasonings can work as a substitute.
- Make sure to cover the casserole while baking to keep the pasta moist and prevent it from drying out.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 550 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 65 mg
