Why We Love This No Boil Chicken Parm Pasta Recipe
Parents… We are always on the lookout for a quick and approachable midweek dinner ideas, aren’t we? I can’t think of a more family-friendly dinner than a classic Baked Pasta Recipe. It’s easy for mom or dad to prep and pop in the oven within 20 minutes of arriving home from work. Most baked pasta recipes are fairly well-balanced in carbs, protein, and veggies. You can usually prepare them in advance, so you only need to move one pan, from the fridge to the oven, when it’s time for dinner. Yet best of all, everyone gets a heaping scoop of steaming comfort, oozing with molten cheese. Dinner. Is. Served. This super simple no-boil pasta bake has all the flavors of heavy Chicken Parmesan and Pasta. Yet it’s lighter on the hips, and much more user-friendly. I think we can all appreciate that!
Ingredients You Need
Here’s what you will need to make our No-Boil Chicken Parmesan Pasta Recipe…
Small dried pasta – fusilli, rotini, rigatoni, or penne pasta all work! Boneless chicken breast, cut into bite-size pieces – or skinless, boneless chicken breast Butter Onion Garlic Italian seasoning Marinara sauce – store-bought or homemade) Fresh basil – optional Mozzarella cheese Parmesan cheese Panko breadcrumbs
How to Make Chicken Parmesan Baked Pasta
Place the dried pasta in a large bowl. Add very hot tap water. Stir, then allow the pasta to soak for 20 minutes. Set a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and garlic. Sauté for 2 minutes. Then add in the chicken pieces and Italian seasoning. Stir and cook the chicken for 3-5 minutes. Stir in the marinara sauce and chopped basil. Drain the soaked pasta. Dump the pasta in the baking dish. Then stir in the marinara and shredded mozzarella. Spread the pasta out in an even layer. (This can all be done in a large oven-proof skillet for a One-Pot Recipe.) Sprinkle more mozzarella and parmesan cheese over the top of the pasta. Sprinkle with panko breadcrumbs. Place in the oven until bubbly!
Tips & Tricks
The key to any no-boil pasta recipe is to either soak the pasta before baking, or to add water to the baking dish for the pasta to absorb as it bakes. Personally, I find when you add water to a pasta sauce, sometimes it negatively affects the consistency of the sauce. However, when you soak the dried pasta in water as you prepare the other ingredients, it softens and is ready to cook through as it bakes. For a bit of heat, feel free to add a dash of red pepper flakes to the mix! Serve your chicken parmesan baked pasta with a side of garlic bread and a fresh side salad!
Chicken Parmesan Pasta Casserole Recipe Variations
This simple Chicken Parmesan Pasta Bake recipe offers so many options…
You can boil the pasta, or skip the boiling. You can use a baking dish, or make a One-Pot version in a large oven-proof skillet. You can use fresh herbs from your garden, or stick with dried herbs. You can buy jarred marinara, you use homemade marinara. You can use regular wheat pasta, or gluten-free pasta. (And also swap the panko for gluten-free breadcrumbs.) You can add additional sauteed veggies. (Add them in when you sauté the onions.) You can even omit the chicken.
No matter how you tweak it, this dish still tastes fresh and inviting!
Freezing Instructions
You can freeze this Chicken Parmesan Baked Pasta either before or after baking. Unbaked: Once assembled, cover the top with foil. Then wrap the entire dish in plastic. Freeze for up to 3 months. When ready to use, remove the plastic (keep the foil on) and bake at 350 degrees F for 1 hour. Baked: If you are freezing leftovers, let them thaw at room temperature before reheating. Then bake at 350 for 20-30 minutes.
Looking for More Baked Pasta Recipes? Be Sure to Also Try:
No-Boil Baked Ziti with Sausage and Ricotta Cowboy Chili Lasagna Ricotta Stuffed Shells Baked Spaghetti Pie Supreme Pizza Lasagna Chicken Parmesan Stuffed Shells One-Pot Chicken Noodles Casserole Enchilada-Style Mexican Stuffed Shells
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