Magical Pioneer Woman Chicken Parmesan Casserole Recipe

Chicken parmesan casserole transforms ordinary ingredients into an extraordinary culinary adventure that promises comfort and excitement on your dinner plate.

Hearty and robust, this dish blends traditional Italian flavors with modern home cooking techniques.

Layers of tender chicken nestle among perfectly cooked pasta, creating a symphony of textures and tastes.

Rich marinara sauce weaves through each bite, delivering complex and satisfying notes that dance across your palate.

Crispy breadcrumb toppings add a delightful crunch that elevates the entire dining experience.

Cheese melts luxuriously, binding ingredients together in a warm, inviting embrace that feels like a culinary hug.

Tips for Golden Tops and Juicy Chicken

• Crisp Up the Chicken: Sear chicken in a hot pan until golden brown for a crunchy exterior that stays delicious after baking.
• Customize Breadcrumb Blend: Combine panko, traditional breadcrumbs, and flour to create a perfect coating that ensures maximum crispiness on every chicken piece.
• Strategic Sauce Distribution: Toss cooked pasta with marinara and cheese before layering in the baking dish, guaranteeing flavor in each mouthful.
• Top with Extra Goodness: Drizzle additional sauce and sprinkle cheese over the chicken to boost moisture and cheesy richness before sliding into the oven.
• Select Playful Pasta Shape: Pick spiral or rotini pasta that catches sauce perfectly and makes eating more fun for everyone at the table.

Best Way to Store Parmesan Casserole Leftovers

Store sealed in an airtight container in the refrigerator to maximize flavor and prevent bacterial growth. Consume within 3-4 days for optimal taste and texture. The sealed container prevents moisture loss and keeps the casserole’s crispy edges from becoming soggy.

Freeze portions in individual meal-sized containers for convenient future meals. Wrap tightly with plastic wrap and aluminum foil to prevent freezer burn. Label containers with the date and contents, ensuring you track storage time. Frozen chicken parmesan casserole maintains excellent quality for up to 2 months.

Reheat refrigerated or thawed casserole in the oven at 350°F for best results. Avoid microwave reheating, which can make the chicken rubbery and soggy. Cover with foil to retain moisture and prevent excessive browning during reheating.

Flavor Swaps for Your Chicken Parm Bake

• Seafood Sensation: Replace chicken thighs with shrimp or a mix of seafood like scallops and white fish. Use a lighter marinara sauce and add lemon zest for brightness.
• Vegetarian Victory: Swap chicken with grilled portobello mushrooms or eggplant cutlets. Keep the breading process similar and use vegetable stock for added flavor depth.
• Spicy Southwest Style: Incorporate diced green chiles, swap marinara for enchilada sauce, and use pepper jack cheese instead of fontina. Sprinkle cilantro before serving for extra zest.
• Mediterranean Magic: Use Mediterranean-style breadcrumbs with herbs, replace chicken with tender lamb pieces, and add crumbled feta cheese on top. Drizzle with olive oil before baking for authenticity.

Casserole That Feels Like an Italian Classic

Savory chicken parmesan casserole embodies comfort and Italian-American culinary passion.

Pioneer Woman’s recipe transforms classic flavors into a hearty family meal.

Crispy breaded chicken nestles perfectly atop cheesy pasta layers.

Fontina and Parmesan create richness that elevates each delectable bite.

Marinara sauce weaves delightful complexity through this memorable dish.

Grab a fork, gather loved ones, and dive into this irresistible casserole today!

Why Chicken Parmesan Casserole Hits the Spot

• Savor Crispy Comfort: This chicken parmesan casserole delivers an incredible crunch from perfectly golden-fried chicken and toasted breadcrumbs, creating a satisfying texture that breaks delightfully with each forkful.
• Transform Weeknight Dinner: By combining classic Italian flavors with simple cooking techniques, this one-pan meal turns an ordinary evening into a restaurant-quality dining experience without complicated preparation or extensive cleanup.
• Customize Your Culinary Canvas: The recipe offers flexibility for home cooks, allowing easy ingredient swaps like different pasta shapes, cheese varieties, or protein options while maintaining the delicious core flavor profile that makes this dish irresistible.
• Quick and Hearty Family Feast: Designed to feed a crowd in just over an hour, this casserole provides a complete meal packed with protein, carbohydrates, and cheesy goodness that satisfies hungry family members and brings everyone together around the dinner table.

Everything That Goes Into This Cheesy Bake

• Rotini Pasta: Short, corkscrew-shaped pasta that holds sauce well and provides hearty base for the casserole.

• Chicken Thighs: Tender and flavorful meat that becomes crispy when breaded, offering rich protein component.
• Eggs: Binding agent that helps breadcrumbs adhere to chicken and creates a crispy exterior.

• All-Purpose Flour: Creates initial dry coating for chicken and helps breading stick.
• Panko Breadcrumbs: Light, airy Japanese-style breadcrumbs providing extra crispy texture.
• Fine Breadcrumbs: Helps create smooth, even coating on chicken.

• Fontina Cheese: Creamy, mild cheese that melts beautifully and adds rich, smooth flavor.
• Parmesan Cheese: Sharp, salty cheese that provides intense flavor and golden brown top.

• Marinara Sauce: Classic tomato-based sauce that adds moisture and traditional Italian flavor.
• Garlic: Aromatic ingredient that enhances overall dish depth.
• Dried Basil: Herbal seasoning that brings classic Italian herb notes.

• Vegetable Oil: Used for frying chicken to achieve golden, crispy exterior.
• Salt: Enhances all flavors in the dish.
• Black Pepper: Adds subtle heat and complements other seasonings.

How to Make This Crispy, Saucy Casserole

Step 1: Prepare Cooking Space

Preheat oven to 375°F. Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Get a large pot ready for pasta.

Step 2: Cook Pasta

Boil water in the large pot. Add rotini pasta and cook 1-2 minutes less than package instructions. Drain pasta and set aside.

Step 3: Prepare Chicken Coating Station

Create 3 separate bowls for coating chicken:

• Flour
• Salt
• Pepper
• Garlic powder

Bowl 2: Whisked eggs

• Panko breadcrumbs
• Fine breadcrumbs
• Flour

Step 4: Cook Chicken

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season chicken thighs with extra salt and pepper. Dredge each chicken piece by:

• Coating in flour mixture
• Dipping in egg wash
• Rolling in breadcrumb mixture

Fry chicken until golden brown, 3-4 minutes per side. Remove from heat.

Step 5: Build Casserole Base

• Minced garlic
• Dried basil

Add cooked pasta and 1/2 of grated fontina cheese. Mix thoroughly.

Step 6: Layer Chicken

• Remaining marinara sauce
• Remaining fontina cheese
• All Parmesan cheese

Step 7: Bake and Finish

Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes until cheese turns golden and bubbly. Let casserole rest 5-10 minutes before serving for easier cutting.

Pioneer Woman Chicken Parmesan Casserole Recipe

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4.7 from 9 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Ree Drummond’s chicken parmesan casserole delivers classic Italian-American comfort with irresistible layers of crispy chicken, marinara sauce, and melted cheese. Hearty and satisfying, this one-pan meal brings family together for a delicious dinner that you’ll crave again and again.

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Ingredients

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Proteins:

• 1 pound (454 grams) boneless, skinless chicken thighs
• 3 eggs, lightly beaten

Cheeses:

• 12 ounces (340 grams) fontina cheese, freshly grated
• ¼ cup finely grated Parmesan cheese

Pasta and Sauce:

• 1 pound (454 grams) whole wheat rotini
• 1 jar (24 ounces/680 grams) marinara sauce

Coating and Seasoning:

• 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups seasoned panko bread crumbs
• ½ cup seasoned fine breadcrumbs
• 3 tablespoons vegetable or canola oil
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• ½ teaspoon dried basil
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder

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Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and prepare a 9×13-inch (23×33 centimeters) baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
2. Fill a large pot with water and bring to a rolling boil. Cook the rotini pasta for 2-3 minutes less than package instructions, ensuring it remains slightly firm. Drain and set aside.
3. Create a seasoned coating station: Mix 1 cup all-purpose flour with salt, black pepper, and garlic powder in one shallow bowl. Whisk eggs in a second bowl. Combine panko breadcrumbs, traditional breadcrumbs, and remaining flour in a third bowl.
4. Pat chicken thighs dry and season with additional salt and pepper. Carefully dredge each piece first in the flour mixture, then dip into beaten eggs, and finally coat thoroughly with breadcrumb mixture.
5. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Fry chicken pieces until golden brown, approximately 3-4 minutes per side. Transfer cooked chicken to a plate lined with paper towels.
6. Spread 18 ounces (510 grams) of marinara sauce across the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Incorporate minced garlic and dried basil into the sauce.
7. Add cooked pasta to the marinara and mix well. Sprinkle half of the grated fontina cheese and gently combine.
8. Arrange the crispy chicken pieces evenly over the pasta layer. Drizzle remaining 6 ounces (170 grams) of marinara sauce on top.
9. Generously top with remaining fontina cheese and all of the Parmesan cheese, creating a complete coverage.
10. Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the cheese melts and turns a beautiful golden brown with crispy edges.
11. Remove from oven and allow the casserole to rest for 10 minutes before serving, which helps the dish set and makes cutting easier.

Notes

• Elevate texture by browning chicken first, creating a crispy exterior that stays crunchy even after baking with sauce and pasta.
• Select spiral pasta for kid-friendly eating and superior sauce-holding capabilities, ensuring maximum flavor in every bite.
• Combine panko, fine breadcrumbs, and flour for comprehensive chicken coating, guaranteeing an evenly crisp and golden exterior.
• Create flavor layers by mixing pasta with sauce and cheese before transferring to baking dish, then topping with browned chicken for depth and richness.
• Enhance moisture and indulgence by drizzling extra sauce and sprinkling additional cheese over chicken before final baking, transforming the casserole into a mouthwatering masterpiece.

• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Lunch
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 790 kcal
• Sugar: 8 g
• Sodium: 950 mg
• Fat: 30 g
• Saturated Fat: 12 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 88 g
• Fiber: 6 g
• Protein: 41 g
• Cholesterol: 170 mg