We all lead remarkably busy lives these days. If you are like me you are always on the lookout for recipes that will streamline your hours in the kitchen! At the same time, however, you still want to feed your family delicious meals that they will enjoy. Easy baked Chicken Parmesan is just such a recipe. It is quick and extremely easy to make. At the same it is time incredibly tasty! If your family is fond of Italian flavours, I guarantee they will really enjoy this simple entrée!
There are a few cheats of course. That is what makes this so quick and easy to make. The main one is using frozen already crumbed and ready to bake chicken breasts. There are some excellent ones available these days. Not having to bread and fry your chicken ahead of time is an incredible time saver.
It also cuts way down on the mess and the clean up afterwards. You will also want to use a good quality ready-made marinara sauce. I have my favourites and I am sure you do as well. My favourite is one with a bit of substance and some chunkiness to it. I also like it to be garlicky and to be able to taste the basil in it.
Prepare to be amazed at just how simplified this recipe is! Simple yes, but still unbelievably delicious, always family pleasing.
WHAT DO YOU NEED TO MAKE EASY BAKED CHICKEN PARMESAN
The ingredients list for this amazing entrée is noticeably short, requiring only six ingredients. That does not include the optional fresh basil garnish. I always think a little bit of green helps everything I cook to pop and get people’s attention. You cannot get more Italian than a garnish of fresh Basil!
| INGREDIENTS |
| 8 ounces of dry spaghetti |
| 4 cups of your favourite Marinara sauce |
| 4 frozen breaded chicken breasts |
| 2 tsp Garlic Italian Seasoning |
| 2/3 cup of coarsely grated mozzarella cheese |
| ½ cup coarsely grated Parmesan cheese |
| Fresh basil to garnish (optional) |
HINTS AND TIPS FOR MAKING EASY BAKED CHICKEN PARMESAN
If you follow my hints and tips for making this simple entrée, cooking it will be a real breeze and you are sure to end up with something your family will all love at the end. Or go for something lighter, like this chicken tetrazzini recipe!
- Read through the recipe several times before you begin to help acquaint you with the ingredients you need to cook this dish.
- Assemble and measure out any ingredients needed, along with any equipment needed before you begin. This helps to prevent you from leaving out anything that might be integral for the dish. It also helps to prevent you from having to stop the process halfway through your preparations to dig through the cupboard to find ingredients. Improper preparation costs valuable time and can cost money in the long run, especially if you are missing an integral ingredient.
- Always let your water come to a full rolling boil when cooking pasta. Lightly salt the water and make sure that you use a saucepan large enough for the pasta to be able to move around in the water without it sticking together.
- Always use the freshest and highest quality ingredients that you can afford to buy. There is nothing that can ruin a dish quicker than sub-standard ingredients that are not visually appealing or that do not really taste good. This is particularly important when it comes to using ready-made products such as breaded chicken breast fillets and pasta sauces. You truly do get what you pay for in these instances.
- Wherever possible I like to grate my own cheese. It really does make a difference. Pre-grated blends often have things added to them so that they flow more easily. These can easily ruin a dish.
- If you do not have any Garlic Italian Seasoning it is quite easy to create your own. I often create my own seasoning mixes. Not only are they cheaper in the long run, but you always know how fresh they are, they taste better, and there are no preservatives and nothing artificial in the mix. To make an Garlic Italian Seasoning, simply whisk together ¼ cup of dry basil leaves, ¼ cup of dry marjoram leaves, ¼ cup of dried oregano, 1 TBS dried rosemary leaves, 1 TBS dried parsley, 2 tsp granulated garlic, 2 tsp onion powder, 2 tsp coarsely ground black pepper and 2 tsp salt. Shake them all together in a jar with a lid and store, tightly covered, in a dark cook place for up to six months.
- Fresh basil leaves are not integral to the dish, but they make a beautiful garnish and create great visual appeal when you are ready to serve this to your family or guests.
HOW TO MAKE EASY BAKED CHICKEN PARMESAN
You are going to be so pleased with just how easy this is to make!
Preheat the oven to the temperature required on your package of frozen breaded chicken breast fillets. Line a baking tray with aluminium foil and lightly spritz the foil with some canola oil spray. Not necessary, but it really makes sure that the chicken will not stick to the pan. There is nothing more annoying than having half of your breading stay in the pan when you go to lift the chicken out.
Sprinkle each breaded fillet evenly with ½ tsp of the Garlic Italian Seasoning mix. Pop the tray into the preheated oven and bake them according to the package instructions.
If you are using full blocks of cheese, grated them into a bowl, using the large holes of a box grater. Mix both cheeses together and set aside.
Bring a large saucepan of lightly salted water to the boil. Add the pasta all at once, bending it down into the water as it softens, until it is completely submerged in the water. Bring back to a full rolling boil and cook for the amount of time specified on the package. Stir it occasionally to make sure it does not stick together. Drain the pasta well and rinse it under hot water, drain it again and return the cooked pasta to the saucepan.
Once you have returned the pasta to the saucepan, stir in 3 cups of the marinara sauce. Combine both together until the sauce is evenly distributed throughout the pasta.
Lightly butter a shallow baking dish large enough to hold your pasta and all four chicken fillets in a single layer with some space in between. Pour the dressed pasta into the dish.
Lightly butter a shallow baking dish large enough to hold your pasta and all four chicken fillets in a single layer with some space in between. Pour the dressed pasta into the dish.
Once your chicken fillets are cooked, remove them from the oven. Leave the oven on. Place the fillets evenly spaced over top of the pasta in the baking dish. Spoon ¼ cup of the remaining marinara sauce over top of each fillet. Sprinkle with ¼ of the cheese. Return to the oven and allow to heat through and melt the cheese. This will take five to ten minutes.
That is it! Dinner’s ready. Garnish as desired and take to the table. Stand back and wait for the applause! Take a bow! You deserve it!
WHAT TO SERVE WITH EASY BAKED CHICKEN PARMESAN
Basically this is a meal in one, with perfectly dressed pasta and crisp chicken, beautifully sauced and cheesed. You will want to serve a few things with it however to make your meal complete.
Your family may like more cheese on their pasta, so bring some additional Parmesan to the table for them to add if desired. I like to make a Tossed Salad to go along with this. A mix of crisp baby greens, some chopped tomatoes, cucumber, radishes, and scallions. You can add a mix of broken and pitted Italian olives if you wish. Dress with your favourite Italian vinaigrette dressing. Delicious.
Slices of warm crusty bread or garlic bread (cheesy or not) also go very well on the side.
Depending on your family’s tastes you may want to pass the pepper grinder at the table.
This has always been one of my favourite recipes to prepare for my family. You can easily double it if you are serving more people, or even cut it in half if there are only two of you to feed. Now that I have an empty nest I do that more often than not. Easy recipes like this can easily become the backbone of your repertoire. Nobody needs to know just how easy they are or how much you have cheated! That can be our little secret.
Cooking food does not have to be hard. It only has to taste and look good! Life is just too short to eat bad food!
Easy Baked Chicken Parmesan Recipe
This is quick easy and delicious.
Ingredients
- 8 ounces of dry spaghetti
- 4 cups of your favourite Marinara sauce
- 4 frozen breaded chicken breasts
- 2 tsp Garlic Italian seasoning
- 2/3 cup of grated mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Fresh basil to garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven according to the directions on your package of frozen chicken breasts.
- Line a baking tray with foil and spritz lightly with some cooking spray.
- Place the chicken on the baking tray in a single layer. Sprinkle each with ½ tsp of Italian garlic seasoning.
- Bake until cooked through and golden brown according to the package directions.
- While the chicken is cooking, bring a large pot of lightly salted water to the boil.
- Add the spaghetti and cook to al dente according to the package directions.
- Drain well and return to the saucepan. Stir in 3 cups of the marinara sauce.
- Butter a large shallow baking dish. Pour the spaghetti into this.
- Once your chicken has cooked lay it out in a single layer on top of the spaghetti in the baking dish.
- Spoon ¼ cup of marinara sauce over top of each piece of chicken.
- Mix together the mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. Sprinkle evenly over top of the chicken.
- Bake in a 400*F oven for 5 to 10 minutes to melt the cheese and heat everything through.
- Serve hot and garnished with some fresh basil if desired.
Nutrition Information:
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 500
Marie Rayner is a retired Chef, freelance writer, recipe developer, food blogger, and Cookbook author. She makes her home in Chester, UK, where she lives with her husband, Todd, and their much beloved English Cocker, Mitzie. Her motto is “Life is far too short to eat bad food,” and her goal is to share delicious and easy recipes which anyone can enjoy and cook in the comfort of their own home.
Easy Chicken Quesadilla Recipe