Chicken Parmesan Casserole

This easy chicken parmesan casserole uses ingredients most of us keep on hand in the pantry, and combines them in a hearty meal that’s quick to prepare. Taking the flavors of the beloved Italian American classic, we’ve streamlined the process transforming it into a simple dump and bake supper the whole family will enjoy!

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It’s casserole season year round here. Warm weather, cold weather- it doesn’t matter, it’s always appropriate in my kitchen to whip up a comforting casserole for supper.

You really can’t go wrong serving one for virtually any occasion because they’re just so darn versatile. They’re also a great way to use up leftover meats, and to showcase great flavor combinations.

Take these favorites for example: chicken cordon bleu casserole, chicken & dumpling casserole, & beefy cheesy tomato casserole. All a variety of different flavors, and all super delicious dinners.

No one here is ever surprised when they ask what’s for dinner and find out it’s some sort of ‘casserole’ on the menu. I mean they’re one of my go-to’s often because I can just throw a bunch of stuff together in a single dish, bake it, and I’ve got a hearty meal ready to go.

But what exactly does that name mean? What exactly is it? Why is an easy casserole recipe going to be your new bestie on busy evenings?

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What Is A Casserole?

Casseroles are great for many reasons, chief among them being that they’re generally easy to make & even easier to serve. The dictionary definition is ‘a dish or side that’s cooked slowly in the oven’.

A traditional casserole generally starts with a dish full of hearty ingredients in a somewhat soupy mixture that bakes, typically becoming thicker as it cooks.

They also usually feature a mixture of meats and vegetables with a long, slow bake in the oven that allows flavors to meld and develop as it cooks.

Another signature is the casserole dish itself. This name generally applies to a thick, deep stoneware or glass baking dish that can be used for both baking & serving.

As for what actually goes into a casserole, well the options are pretty much endless.

Even better? When I can transform one of our favorite Italian American comfort foods that’s a whole process to prepare into a short order casserole my whole family adores.

This easy chicken parmesan casserole recipe delivers all the full bodied flavors we crave in the traditional recipe.

Thanks to convenient short cuts and a sturdy casserole dish though, it’s quick and easy to throw together making a hearty meal simple to get on the table even on the busiest days!

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Ingredients Needed

Like every easy casserole  recipe, this one has a pretty straight forward and simple ingredient list.

To make it, you’ll need:

• Chicken – Chopped rotisserie chicken- great to use up leftovers!
• Seasonings – A blend of minced garlic, crushed red pepper flakes, salt and pepper season this dish.
• Basil – Fresh basil leaves, chopped or chiffonade; however, if you don’t like working with fresh herbs or keep them on hand you can substitute dried basil or even Italian seasoning.
• Sauce – Marinara sauce. You can use your favorite store bought version or our homemade slow cooker marinara recipe.
• Cheese – Both shredded mozzarella and shredded Parmesan cheese
• Croutons – Lightly crushed, but not pulverized. A good quality garlic flavored crouton will work best.

Once you’ve gathered your ingredients, you’re ready to get this easy chicken parmesan casserole ready!

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How To Make Chicken Parmesan Casserole

Like all my favorite casserole recipes, this one is pretty simple to bring together.

Start by spraying a 9×13″ baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.

Add the chopped rotisserie chicken to the bottom of the dish and spread it out in an even layer. Sprinkle the seasonings and herbs evenly out overtop of the chicken, adding the garlic first and ending with the salt and pepper.

If sodium is a concern, you can omit it completely or lightly season here and adjust after a taste test when the dish is done on individual servings.

Pour the marinara sauce evenly out over top of the chicken, then spread it out in an even layer using a spatula or large serving spoon.

Sprinkle half of the cheeses evenly out overtop of the dish, followed by the croutons in an even layer. Top the dish with the remaining cheeses, again in an even layer.

Bake at 350F for 40-45 minutes, until golden brown on top and hot and bubbly at the edges.

Carefully remove the hot dish from the oven, then let it rest for 5 minutes.

While this chicken casserole is technically ready to serve as soon as it’s removed from the oven, I recommend letting it rest for a few minutes first.

When you’re working with all that hot, melty cheese you want it to set up and firm up jut a bit after baking. That way when you scoop & serve it doesn’t all slide right off. Nobody wants to lose their cheesy topping, nobody. That’d be a sad meal indeed.

Serve warm with your favorite sides, and enjoy!

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Serving Suggestions

To make this a full meal, serve it with cooked and drained pasta- whatever shape your family likes.

If I’m in a hurry I usually pair this with a simple side salad and/or a canned vegetable like green beans.

If you have a little bit of extra time, especially while this dish bakes in the oven, and you’re looking to serve it with slightly more flavorful sides, here’s some of our favorites:

• Garlic Parmesan Canned Green Beans
• Cheesy Garlic Roasted Asparagus
• Sauteed Lemon Garlic Brussels Sprouts

You can’t go wrong with any of these options, whichever way you choose to enjoy this meal!

Storing

Leftover chicken parmesan pasta can be cooled then transferred to an airtight container and stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Freezing Instructions

If you’re into meal prepping on weekends to make weeknight dinner easier, this casserole is perfect for that!

Simply prepare the casserole as instructed, but do not bake.

Cover the dish tightly with plastic wrap, then aluminum foil to seal it well and prevent freezer burn. Freeze flat.

When ready to enjoy, remove all layers of foil and plastic and bake as instructed but add 10 minutes to the cook time.

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Tips & Tricks

• We use pulled rotisserie chicken in this recipe. I make sure to always have one on hand for easy meals like this. However, you can also cook 2-3 chicken breasts, chop them or shred them, and then use them in the recipe.
• If you don’t have fresh garlic cloves on hand, you can easily sub prepared minced garlic.
• Marinara sauce is thin and what I prefer in this recipe for a more ‘classic’ chicken Parmesan feel, but we’ve subbed spaghetti sauce plenty of times. The result’s equally tasty.
• Plain croutons will work just as well as their garlic infused counterparts. Be careful when smashing them though. You don’t want to pulverize them, because then they’ll become soggy during cooking. You just want to break them up a little bit.
• If you don’t have Parmesan on hand, you can use all mozzarella. Alternatively, pecorino romano makes a perfect substitute. 

Other Easy Chicken Casseroles

This easy chicken parmesan casserole features big flavors with minimal prep work.

It’s classic comfort food combined with traditional Italian American flavors, making it a perfect dinner for busy evenings that the whole family has time to enjoy!

Looking for other easy chicken casserole recipes to enjoy?

Try these:

• Chicken Rice Pilaf Casserole
• Loaded Baked Potato Chicken Casserole
• Creamy Poppyseed Chicken Casserole
• Cool Ranch Doritos Chicken Casserole
• King Ranch Chicken Casserole
• Chicken And Dumpling Casserole

If you’ve tried this CHICKEN PARMESAN CASSEROLE, or any other recipe on my site, let me know in the comment section how it turned out, we love hearing from our readers! You can also follow along with me on PINTEREST, FACEBOOK, and INSTAGRAM to see more amazing recipes and whatever else we’ve got going on!