This one-pot Chicken Parmesan Pasta is pure comfort food! A flavorful combination of Italian seasoned chicken breast, marinara sauce, pasta, lots of Mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. This Chicken Parmesan Pasta recipe is always a crowd pleaser!
Enjoy the classic flavors of Italian Chicken Parmesan or Chicken Parmigiana, in this 30 minutes, easy to make, one-pot, baked chicken Parmesan pasta.
Chicken Parm Pasta is definitely a wonderful and quick chicken pasta dish to make on busy weeknights or during the weekends.
✔️ Chicken Parmesan Pasta
Chicken Parmesan is made with crisp breaded chicken breast topped with marinara sauce and cheese. In this chicken Parmesan bake I omit the breading to cut on calories and time. Breading and frying the chicken adds additional steps and and dishes to wash! No one wants more dishes to wash!
The result is a super creamy and cheesy hearty chicken and pasta dish sure to become a favorite!
✔️ Chicken Parm Pasta Ingredients
- Pasta: Use small or medium size pasta like penne, ziti or rigatoni.
- Chicken: Boneless and skinless chicken breast. Boneless chicken thighs can also be used.
- Oil: I use olive oil but any mild oil can be used.
- Aromatics: Onions and fresh garlic.
- Marinara Sauce: You can make your own homemade marinara sauce or use store bought sauce.
- Cheese: Shredded Mozzarella cheese and Parmesan cheese.
- Seasonings: Italian seasoning, salt, ground black pepper, red pepper flakes.
- To Garnish: Parsley (I prefer flat leaf Italian parsley) and/or fresh basil
🔎 How To Make Chicken Parmesan Pasta
For detailed instructions check the printable recipe card below.
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Season the chicken.
- In an oven-safe skillet cook the onions, add the chicken and cook until cooked through. Stir in the garlic and Italian seasoning and cook for a minute.
- Pour in the marinara and red pepper flakes.
- Drain the pasta reserving some of the pasta cooking water.
- Add the drained pasta to the skillet and half of the Parmesan cheese. If the mixture seems a bit dry, stir in the reserved pasta water.
- Top the pasta with the Mozzarella cheese and the remaining Parmesan cheese. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes or until the cheese has melted.
- Remove from the oven and serve garnish with chopped basil or parsley.
What Is Chicken Parmesan Pasta?
Chicken Parmesan Pasta is a pasta dish made with tender juicy chicken, marinara sauce and lots of mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. This one-skillet dish then is baked to gooey cheesy perfection!
What’s The Difference Between Chicken Parmesan and Chicken Parmigiana?
There is no difference! Italian Chicken Parmigiana is commonly known as Chicken Parmesan or Chicken Parm in the U.S.
✔️ Crunchy Chicken Parmesan Topping
To make this recipe healthier and easier to make, I kept the chicken without any breading. If you would like to add a little crunch to your Parmesan pasta, here’s what to do:
- Combine 1/2 cup of Panko bread crumbs with 1/2 teaspoon of Italian seasoning or dried parsley and 1 or 2 tablespoons of melted butter. Top the cheesy chicken penne pasta with the mixture and bake. You can place the skillet under the broiler if you want the breadcrumbs to be a little bit more golden.
🔎 What To Serve With Parmesan Pasta
I like to serve this easy chicken parm pasta with a simple Field Greens Salad or Caesar salad. Dinner rolls are always a good idea (unless you are counting carbs!) These Soft Homemade Dinner Rolls are the best and so easy to make!
🔎 Can I Make This Chicken Pasta Recipe In Advanced?
Yes, you can make this easy pasta recipe in advanced. Cook the chicken and pasta and mix with marinara. Transfer it to a 3 Qt. baking pan coated with cooking spray. Top it with the Mozzarella and Parmesan cheese, cover and refrigerate until ready to bake.
Remove the baking dish from the fridge 30 minutes before baking so the pasta is not too chilled.
✔️ Storing and Reheating
You can store leftover Parmesan pasta in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.
To reheat in the oven, cover the pan and bake on a preheated 300 oven until warm through.
You can also reheat in the microwave covered, until heated through.
Chicken Parmesan Pasta Recipe Tips
- This Chicken Marinara Pasta can be made with boneless skinless chicken breast or thighs.
- You can use any small or medium shape pasta to make this dish.
- You can use a combination of Mozzarella, Parmesan and Provolone cheese if you prefer.
- Add a Panko bread crumb topping if you would like a crispy topping. For exact amounts check the Chef’s tips in the recipe card below.
Take a look at these other Easy Recipes:
Recipe adapted from The Chunky Chef
The Best Chicken Parmesan Pasta Recipe
Ingredients
- 12 ounces small or medium pasta like rotini, ziti, rigatoni or penne)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 small onion, diced
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 pound boneless and skinless chicken breast, cut into bite size pieces
- Salt and ground black pepper to taste
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 24 ounces marinara sauce, (I like Rao’s)
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 cups about 8-ounces of shredded mozzarella cheese
- Chopped basil or parsley to garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Season the chicken with salt and ground black pepper. Set aside.
- In a large pot of salted water, cook the pasta until just al dente. The pasta will cook in the oven after it is mixed with the rest of the ingredients so make sure it doesn’t overcook.
- While the pasta cooks, heat the oil in an oven safe skillet over medium heat.
- Add the onions and cook, stirring frequently, for about 4 minutes or until the onions become translucent.
- Stir in the chicken and cook for about 4-6 minutes or until cooked through. Stir in the garlic and the Italian seasoning and cook for about a minute. Pour in the marinara and red pepper flakes and lower the heat.
- Drain the pasta and reserve about ¼ cup of the pasta cooking water.
- Add the drained pasta to the skillet and half of the Parmesan cheese. Stir to combine. If the mixture seems a bit dry, stir in the reserved pasta water.
- Top the pasta with the Mozzarella cheese and the remaining Parmesan cheese. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes or until the cheese has melted. If you don’t have an oven-safe skillet, coat a 9″x13″ baking pan with cooking spray.
- Remove from the oven and serve garnish with chopped basil or parsley.
Notes
- If you don’t have an oven-safe skillet, coat a 9″x13″ baking pan with cooking spray.
- Use any small or medium pasta.
- Use homemade or store-bought marinara. My favorite store bought sauce is is Rao’s.
- You can use boneless and skinless chicken thighs.
- For a crispy topping, combine 1/2 cup of Panko bread crumbs with 1/2 teaspoon of Italian seasoning or dried parsley and 1 or 2 tablespoons of melted butter. Top the cheesy chicken penne pasta with the mixture and bake. You can place the skillet under the broiler if you want the breadcrumbs to be a little bit more golden.
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