Chicken Parmesan Casserole
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Chicken Parmesan Casserole is by far one of the most popular (and simple) recipes on Thriving Home. Shredded chicken, flavorful marinara sauce, mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses, and a crunchy breadcrumb topping make up this quick and comforting casserole. Enjoy “as is” or serve over pasta.
5 Reasons to Make This Recipe Tonight
If you’re short on time, new to cooking, feeding picky eaters, or just tired at the end of the day, we created this recipe for you. Here’s why it’s our most popular casserole…
- Only 6 main ingredients: So simple! You probably have most ingredients on hand. Plus it’s a great way to use up leftover rotisserie chicken.
- Fast: This only takes 35 minutes to make from start to finish.
- Kid-friendly: People of all ages like this casserole. Just check out the comments.
- Freezer-friendly: We give you freezer meal instructions so that it will come out tasting like a fresh meal, just like we do in all our freezer meals. So double your batch and freeze one for later.
- Healthy: Serve alongside some whole grain pasta or brown rice and a salad or veggie, and you’ve got a well-rounded, nutritious meal.
P.S. If you like this easy casserole, you’ll love our 4-layer Chicken and Stuffing Casserole.
Key Ingredients
Like I mentioned, a perk of this recipe is the simplicity of the ingredients–only 6 main ones! I bet you have most of these on hand:
- Cooked Chicken – Use rotisserie chicken as a shortcut or I included directions for how to cook your chicken ahead of time in the Cooking Notes. You could also use chicken from our Roasted Chicken and Vegetables recipe or from Instant Pot Whole Chicken.
- Marinara sauce – You can make your own marinara sauce or use store bought. Choose the brand with the most recognizable ingredients. We recommend Newman’s Own or Rao’s brands.
- Shredded Mozzarella cheese – Like our Baked Chicken Parmesan and Chicken Parmesan Sandwich, this cheese adds Italian comfort factor.
- Shredded Parmesan cheese – Another mandatory staple of Chicken Parmesan. Grated Parmesan will work, too.
- Panko or whole wheat bread crumbs – Panko breadcrumbs will give it a great texture on top. You can also use regular homemade breadcrumbs or gluten-free breadcrumbs too.
- Fresh herbs – Fresh parsley or basil adds some additional flavor and color. You can substitute dried herbs from your pantry.
Note: Find our full printable recipe with ingredient amounts and directions at the bottom of this post.
Reader Tip: Add Pasta
Several of our readers have said they add cooked pasta, such as rotini or penne pasta, as the bottom layer of the casserole with success.
We would suggest cooking pasta just until it’s al dente, so it doesn’t get too soft after baking. Also, make sure it gets coated in the marinara sauce so it doesn’t dry out.
Make It a Freezer Meal
As with many of our freezer-friendly recipes, this one freezes wonderfully. A valuable use of your time in the kitchen is to double this recipe and a freeze an 8×8 dish for another dinner.
To Freeze: Simply assemble the casserole (with cooked chicken), do NOT bake, and then freeze it in an airtight freezer container.
To Prepare From Frozen: When you want to make it, thaw and bake it according to the recipe instructions
How to Serve Chicken Parmesan Casserole
I almost always serve this casserole over cooked pasta. You could use penne, linguine, rotini, or really any type of noodle you have on hand. Chicken Parmesan Casserole can also be served over cooked brown rice. Lastly, it’s delicious if simply served by itself!
For a well-rounded meal, serve it with one of these delicious side dishes:
- Garlic Green Beans
- Side salad topped with Honey Dijon Dressing
- Oven Roasted Broccoli
- Autumn Salad with Apple Cider Vinaigrette
- Cheesy Pesto Bread or Texas Toast
FAQs
While mozzarella and Parmesan are the classic cheeses used in Chicken Parmesan, feel free to use other types. Try shredded Italian blend, asiago, or provolone in place of the mozzarella and grated Romano or even crumbled feta cheese in place of the Parmesan.
I have tested the casserole with raw chicken and it will get cooked through in about 20-30 minutes (be that a meat thermometer registers 165°F when inserted in the chicken). However, I’ve found that raw chicken releases a lot of liquid and can leave an unappetizing film behind in the dish. So, I recommend using fully cooked chicken instead.
Yes, several of our readers have said they add cooked pasta, such as rotini or penne pasta, as the bottom layer of the casserole with success.
We would suggest cooking pasta just until it’s al dente, so it doesn’t get too soft after baking. Also, make sure it gets coated in the marinara sauce so it doesn’t dry out.
Yes, you can freeze Chicken Parmesan Casserole. After prepping the casserole but before baking, wrap the dish in several layers of plastic wrap or foil, pressing out as much air as possible. Freeze for up to 3 months.
Yes, this casserole can be made gluten free by simply using gluten free breadcrumbs.
More Chicken Casseroles to Try
If you like this casserole, you’re sure to love some of these other favorite chicken casseroles:
- Cheesy Chicken and Rice Casserole
- Chicken Fajita Casserole
- Chicken and Stuffing Casserole (or Turkey Stuffing Casserole)
- Chicken Spaghetti
- Cheesy Chicken Enchiladas
Be sure to check out our Top 15+ Chicken Freezer Meals, too. Every recipe can be made fresh or from frozen.
Did you make this? Snap a photo and tag us on Instagram at @thrivinghome so we can see your creations and cheer you on!
Chicken Parmesan Casserole
This family favorite is super easy to make, made with real food ingredients, and also freezer friendly.
Ingredients
- 4 cups (about 1 1/2 pounds) fully-cooked chicken, shredded or cubed (see Cooking Notes)
- 3 cups marinara sauce (or one 24-ounce jar)
- 1/2 cup shredded or grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup Panko or regular bread crumbs (sub: gluten free bread crumbs)
- 1–2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2–4 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (or 1 tablespoon dried parsley)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.
Instructions
Make It Now:
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease an 8×8 inch casserole dish with cooking spray.
- Layer the fully-cooked chicken in the bottom. Dump in the marinara sauce and mix with the chicken. Next, top with both cheeses until all the chicken is covered.
- In a small bowl, stir together the breadcrumbs, olive oil, fresh parsley, and a pinch of salt and pepper.
- Sprinkle the seasoned breadcrumbs over the top. (Freezing instructions begin here.)
- Bake for about 20-25 minutes or until golden on top and bubbling on the sides. If you want it a little more browned on top, turn on the broiler for 1-2 minutes (watch closely so it doesn’t burn!). Serve “as is” or over your favorite cooked pasta or rice.
Freeze For Later: Follow Steps 1-4. Cover the casserole tightly with a few layers of plastic wrap and/or foil, squeezing out as much air as possible. Label and freeze for up to 3 months.
Prepare From Frozen: Thaw in the fridge over night and follow Step 5. Note: If it’s still slightly frozen in the middle, you’ll just have to cook it longer than the recipe calls for or defrost it a bit in the microwave before baking. Cover it with foil if the top gets too brown in the oven.
Notes/Tips
How to Cook the Chicken: For this recipe you can use rotisserie chicken from the store, which is a great short-cut! Or, cook some boneless, skinless chicken breasts using one of these methods until it’s done (165°F internally or no longer pink inside). Be sure to season well with salt and pepper first.
- Bake in Oven: Preheat oven to 400°F. Place chicken in a casserole dish or on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake uncovered for about 20-30 minutes, depending on the size of the chicken breasts.
- Slow Cooker: Place chicken in slow cooker. Cover and cook on LOW for 2 1/2 to 3 hours. Really! That’s all it takes to get it done, otherwise you’ll overcook and dry it out.
- Instant Pot: Place chicken and 1 cup chicken broth or water in a 6 quart Instant Pot. (Note: If using an 8 quart, add an additional 1/2 cup of broth.) Lock and seal the lid. Cook at high pressure for 7 minutes and use a quick release of the pressure when the cook time is up. (Note: It will take 10-15 minutes to come to pressure before the cook time starts.)
- Grill: Cut the chicken in half lengthwise so you have thinner pieces (this helps with fast and even cooking). Preheat grill to medium-high heat and clean the grates well. Grill for about 4-5 minutes per side, maybe longer depending on the thickness.
Gluten-Free Version: Use gluten-free bread crumbs. I like to make my own with gluten-free breadcrumbs, because I can’t stand the gummy rice flour ones at the store.
Adding Pasta: Several of our readers have said they add cooked pasta as the bottom layer of the casserole with success. We would suggest cooking pasta just until it’s al dente, so it doesn’t get too soft after baking. Also, make sure it gets coated in the marinara sauce so it doesn’t dry out.
Where We Get Our Chicken: We get our meat from ButcherBox. The chicken is organic and curated from small, trusted farms. We highly recommend this service to source healthy meat–like uncured bacon, wild salmon, and grass-fed beef–and have used it for years ourselves.
Super easy and very delicious.
Awesome! Thanks for the review Erin.
I’ve made this recipe about 5 times now. It comes together quite easily. This is now the only way I make chicken parmigiana. I have found with fully cooked chicken it makes the end result over cooked. Tonight I’m trying pan fried pieces that are only just browned. Hopefully that will make the chicken in the end not be so tough.
Thanks for the feedback, Lia. Using chicken thighs or rotisserie chicken can help with that issue, too.
Casserole was tasty, however, I need to cook the chicken one of the recommended methods. It was a little dry.
My daughter & I think this is truly a great recipe!
I’m so glad you both enjoy it!
This has become one of my husband’s favorite recipes. If it was up to him I would make it every week. I actually never make it with pasta. It is just a great low carb dinner without the pasta. Thank you so much!
So glad you found a winner for your family Joanne. That is a good tip to keep it low carb!
I’ve made this many times and both my husband and kids rave over it! It’s great over pasta, spaghetti squash or even plain. I’m going to try it tonight over cauliflower rice.
Hi Tiffany! Yes, I love the versatility of this dish. Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a review. I hope you love it over cauliflower rice too!
Been making this recipe since I discovered it. How long ago was that? I can’t remember. Making two batches to freeze tonight. Easy to make on a weeknight too. Just buy roasted whole chicken (I love BBQ roasted chicken), from the grocery store. Don’t have panko? Toast some bread, pop in the blender and you have your breadcrumbs.😋😋😋
Love you ladies. Thanks for this recipe.
Wow Edna, sounds like you’ve got this down pat indeed. Thank you so much for leaving a review with all your time-saving tips!
Putting it together this weekend – one of the pictures looks like 9×13 glass dish vs 8×8? What would you suggest?
Make it in an 8×8 inch as the recipe directs, or you can double it and make in a 9×13. Either works!
This is a great recipe! I rarely use “canned” sauces, but I used the brand they used, and I have to say, it was good enough to mark as a family keeper!! It is also really great as leftovers. We ate it alone with a side caesar salad.
Glad your family liked it!
Delicious and my family loved it!
Thanks for the review, Heather!
This is my go-to quick and easy dinner that everyone loves. I try to keep shredded chicken in the freezer to speed this along. I put it on pasta or rice.
Yes! Such a time saver to have cooked meat on hand. So glad your family loves it!
Can Boneless thighs be used instead?
Yes! Any cooked chicken will work. I often use leftover rotisserie chicken which is a mix of light and dark meat.
This is the second recipe I’ve tried from this blog, and both have been absolute winners! Very easy and so delicious!! The only thing I did differently was cook half a box of penne and mix it in with the chicken and marinara. So tasty! I’m testing recipes to stock up on freezer meals in preparation for our second baby. Other recipes I’ve tried from other sites have been hit or miss, either taking hours to put together or just not hitting the mark on flavor. This is the best of both worlds, and I’m loving you for it!!!
We’re thrilled to hear our simple recipes are working for you (especially pre-baby #2!). Love the tip to add in cooked penne! We really strive for our recipes to be family-friendly, fairly easy, freezable when possible, and made with real food ingredients.
Easy and yummy
Do you think I could use canned chicken in this recipe? And still freeze it?
I’ve never used canned chicken before, but I have used the pre-cooked frozen chicken. It wasn’t my favorite, to be honest, but it will work in a pinch. Rotisserie chicken is a great short-cut. The ones I’ve bought at the store usually yield about 4 cups of shredded chicken.
If you use a rotisserie chicken in the recipe, you can use the leftover carcass to make chicken stock and freeze it. I just throw the bones in a slow cooker, cover with water, toss in chopped onion, garlic, carrots, celery, fresh herbs like parsley or thyme…whatever you’ve got. Salt and pepper it some and let slow cook on low for up to 24 hours. Let it cool, strain it, and freeze in mason jars (leave 1 inch of head room at the top) or freezer containers.
Oh and yes you can definitely freeze it if using canned chicken. No problem there.
Had this tonight after thawing for 24 hours, and you’d never know it wasn’t made fresh! It was incredibly delicious, and the chicken was perfectly tender, cooked according to the recipe. The breaded topping is like the icing on the cake! This one was a homerun for sure. Make multiples to keep or share!
That’s what we love to hear–that a freezer meal tastes like fresh! That’s always our goal. Happy to hear this was a home run for you!
I made this wonderful, easy recipe to bake and serve my family; however, next time I’m going to double it. Bake one and freeze the other.
That’s great to hear you enjoyed it, Bobbie. Appreciate your review!