Thursday, July 9, 2015

Chicken Parmesan Bake


It's been a busy week in our house, mainly just for myself. Summer school started this week, it's been good to be back in more of a routine and see some of our preschool kiddos. I'm also finishing up my last couple weeks of a class I'm taking, so some days I have felt overwhelmed by everything on my to-do list. Thankfully I have the weekend to look forward to. The little ones and myself are heading up to my parent's cabin on the river while the hubby and oldest are in Chicago for a youth bowling tournament. We're looking forward to relaxing on the boat, doing a little fishing and just getting away!

Last night I was planning to be gone, so instead of leaving the hubby with scrounging up dinner by himself, I was nice and made a nice casserole for him and the girls to enjoy. Our weather here in Iowa has been very mild lately. We haven't needed the air conditioner running and the evenings have been almost chilly. That's why I didn't feel bad about turning the oven on and making a comforting casserole.


Chicken Parmesan isn't a dish we typically make too often, but it's certainly delicious. I love throwing everything together in a pan for the sake of simplicity. The crunchy panko crumbs on top along with fresh basil from the garden make for an awesome finish.

You'll love the minimal prep work in this dish also. The chicken and pasta cook while baking in the oven, nothing needs to be prepared ahead of time. How awesome is that?! So while you're left waiting for the casserole to bake, you can take a moment to relax after your long day. You deserve it!



Chicken Parmesan Bake

Ingredients:
1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into small pieces
12 oz. cavatappi pasta {or any shape}
1/2 tsp both black pepper and salt
1 tbsp Italian seasoning
24 oz. spaghetti sauce
2 cups chicken broth
8 oz. mozzarella cheese, grated
1 cup panko crumbs
1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
small handful fresh basil, chopped

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly oil a 9x13 inch baking dish and set aside.

In a large bowl, combine together chicken pieces, uncooked pasta, seasonings, spaghetti sauce and chicken broth. Dump all into the prepared baking dish. Cover with foil and bake in oven for 45 minutes.

Remove from oven, stir pasta and chicken. Top with mozzarella cheese. In a small bowl, mix together panko crumbs, shredded Parmesan cheese and chopped basil. Sprinkle topping over pasta. Return to oven for 15 more minutes, just until cheese is melted and topping is browned.

Remove from oven, let cool for a few minutes and then serve.

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