Description
This baked chicken parmesan casserole layers crispy chicken, marinara sauce, and melted cheese with rigatoni pasta. It is a hearty, easy-to-assemble Italian dinner perfect for feeding a crowd.
Ingredients
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into thin cutlets
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon garlic salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 1½ cups Italian-style breadcrumbs
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 12 ounces rigatoni or penne pasta
- 32 ounces marinara sauce
- 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
- 1½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (for topping)
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese (for topping)
- 2 tablespoons melted butter
- ½ cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Cook pasta 1 minute less than al dente per package directions. Drain the pasta.
- Toss the drained pasta with marinara sauce, 2 tablespoons Parmesan, and 1½ cups mozzarella. Set this mixture aside.
- In a shallow bowl, mix flour, Italian seasoning, garlic salt, and pepper.
- Beat eggs in a separate bowl. Place breadcrumbs in a third bowl.
- Coat each chicken cutlet first in the flour mixture, then dip in egg, and finally press into the breadcrumbs.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook chicken for 3–4 minutes per side until golden and the internal temperature reaches 165°F. Slice the cooked chicken into bite-size pieces.
- Layer half of the pasta mixture into the prepared baking dish. Top this layer with half of the sliced chicken and a sprinkle of mozzarella cheese.
- Repeat the layering process with the remaining pasta and chicken.
- In a small bowl, mix the remaining mozzarella, Parmesan, melted butter, and panko breadcrumbs. Sprinkle this topping evenly over the casserole.
- Bake uncovered for 25 minutes, or until the casserole is bubbly and the topping is golden brown.
- Garnish with chopped parsley and serve warm.
Notes
- Cooking the pasta slightly underdone helps it finish cooking perfectly in the oven.
- Ensure the chicken reaches 165°F internal temperature for safety.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Casserole
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American