Description

This Dump-and-Bake Chicken Parmesan Casserole is the ultimate no-fuss dinner — cheesy, saucy, and baked to golden perfection. With tender chicken, flavorful marinara, melty mozzarella, and a crispy breadcrumb topping, it captures all the flavors of classic chicken parmesan in a one-pan, weeknight-friendly meal. No frying, no pre-cooking pasta — just dump, bake, and enjoy pure Italian-inspired comfort in under an hour.

Ingredients

Scale

1½ cups (180 g) uncooked rotini pasta
2 cups (250 g) cooked chicken breast, diced or shredded
2 cups (480 mL) marinara sauce
1¼ cups (300 mL) water or chicken broth
1 teaspoon (2 g) Italian seasoning
½ teaspoon (1 g) garlic powder
½ teaspoon (1 g) onion powder
Salt and black pepper, to taste
1 cup (115 g) shredded mozzarella cheese
¼ cup (25 g) grated Parmesan cheese
½ cup (60 g) turkey ham or turkey pepperoni (optional)
½ cup (50 g) breadcrumbs
1 tablespoon (15 mL) olive oil or melted butter

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

Preheat oven:
Set the oven to 425°F (220°C). Use a 9×13-inch (23×33 cm) baking dish — no need to grease.
Layer the base:
Spread uncooked rotini evenly in the baking dish. Top with diced chicken (and turkey ham or pepperoni, if using).
Mix the sauce:
In a bowl, whisk together marinara sauce, water (or broth), Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Pour over the pasta and chicken.
Add the cheese:
Sprinkle mozzarella and Parmesan evenly over the top.
Make the topping:
Mix breadcrumbs with olive oil or melted butter. Sprinkle the mixture evenly over the casserole.
Bake:
Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 10–15 minutes until bubbly and golden.
Rest and serve:
Let it sit for 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

No pre-cooking needed — the pasta bakes perfectly in the sauce.

Swap rotini for penne or rigatoni if preferred.

Add extra cheese halfway through baking for extra gooeyness.

Broil for 2–3 minutes at the end for a crispy top (watch closely).

Freeze before baking for up to 3 months; bake straight from frozen with 10 extra minutes.

Food safety: if you cook the chicken yourself, make sure it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C), as recommended by the USDA and Health Canada.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 40–45 minutes
Category: Main Course
Method: Baked
Cuisine: Italian-American