Chicken Parmesan Casserole (Printable)

Tender chicken, marinara, and gooey cheese with a crispy breadcrumb topping.

# What You'll Need:

→ Chicken

01 - 3 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded or cubed

→ Sauce & Base

02 - 2 cups marinara sauce
03 - 1 teaspoon dried Italian herbs

→ Cheese

04 - 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
05 - 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese

→ Topping

06 - 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
07 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
08 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

→ For Baking

09 - Cooking spray or oil for greasing

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray or oil.
02 - Spread the cooked chicken evenly in the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
03 - Pour marinara sauce evenly over the chicken. Sprinkle dried Italian herbs if desired for extra flavor.
04 - Layer mozzarella cheese and half of the Parmesan cheese over the sauce layer.
05 - In a small bowl, combine panko breadcrumbs with melted butter until evenly moistened. Stir in chopped parsley if using.
06 - Sprinkle breadcrumb mixture evenly over the cheese layer. Top with remaining Parmesan cheese.
07 - Bake uncovered for 25 to 30 minutes, or until golden brown and bubbly.
08 - Let stand for 5 to 10 minutes before serving to allow layers to set.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It transforms everyday ingredients into something that tastes like it came from an Italian American kitchen
  • The crispy topping stays crunchy even the next day which is practically miraculous
02 -
  • Do not skip the resting period or you will lose all that beautiful cheese layer when you scoop
  • Watch the breadcrumbs closely in the last 5 minutes since butter can go from golden to burned quickly
03 -
  • Spritz the breadcrumb layer with a little olive oil spray before baking for extra crunch
  • Use freshly grated Parmesan instead of the green shaker can for way better flavor

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