Chicken Parmesan Casserole (Printable Version)

A family-friendly bake with tender chicken, marinara, mozzarella, and crunchy Parmesan topping.

# What You Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
02 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
03 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Sauce & Cheese

04 - 2 cups marinara sauce
05 - 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
06 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

→ Breading Topping

07 - 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
08 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
09 - 1/2 teaspoon dried Italian herbs

→ Garnish

10 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (optional)

# How-To Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
02 - Season chicken pieces evenly with salt and black pepper, then arrange in the baking dish.
03 - Pour marinara sauce uniformly over the chicken pieces.
04 - Sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese over sauce, followed by grated Parmesan cheese.
05 - Combine panko breadcrumbs, melted butter, and dried Italian herbs until well coated.
06 - Evenly spread breadcrumb mixture on top of the cheese layer.
07 - Bake uncovered for 30 to 35 minutes until chicken is fully cooked and topping is golden brown.
08 - Allow to rest for 5 minutes before garnishing with fresh parsley if desired and serving.

# Helpful Tips:

01 -
  • It's genuinely hard to mess up—even when you're cooking tired or distracted, it comes out golden and delicious.
  • One dish holds everything you need, which means fewer bowls in the sink and more time at the table.
  • The breadcrumb topping stays crispy even as the casserole sits, so it's perfect for feeding a crowd who eats in waves.
02 -
  • Don't skip the five-minute rest—it seems small but it's the difference between a casserole and a sloppy layer situation.
  • If your topping isn't browning in the time the chicken needs, you can cover it loosely with foil for the first 20 minutes, then uncover to finish crisping.
03 -
  • If you're short on time, rotisserie chicken or pre-cooked leftover chicken shaves off 10 minutes of baking—just warm it through instead of cooking it from scratch.
  • The moment you smell the butter toasting on those breadcrumbs is the moment you know everything is going to be golden.

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