Chicken Parmesan Casserole

mozzarella cheese

🥗Healthier: part-skim mozzarella

💰Cheaper: provolone cheese

Provolone is often less expensive and still melts well.

parmesan cheese

🥗Healthier: nutritional yeast

💰Cheaper: grated pecorino

Pecorino can be cheaper and offers a similar salty flavor.

bread crumbs

🥗Healthier: panko breadcrumbs

💰Cheaper: crushed crackers

Crushed crackers can provide a similar texture at a lower cost.

olive oil

🥗Healthier: avocado oil

💰Cheaper: canola oil

Canola oil is often cheaper and works well for cooking.

Boil water and cook the rigatoni for 1 minute less than al dente.

When the pasta is ready, drain it and add it back to the pot. Toss with 32 oz. of marinara sauce, 2 tbsp. of Parmesan cheese, and 1 cup of the mozzarella. Set aside.

Pat the chicken dry with paper towels and cut into strips about ½ inch thick.

Create an assembly line for breading the chicken: Bowl #1: ¾ cup flour + 2 tsp seasoned salt + ¼ tsp pepper; Bowl #2: 2 whisked eggs; Bowl #3: 1.5 cups breadcrumbs.

Dredge the chicken in the flour mixture, then briefly in the whisked eggs, then smother them in the breadcrumb mixture until completely covered.

Add ¼ inch of oil to a pan along with the butter, which helps give the chicken a golden color. Turn to medium-high heat.

Once the pan is heated, use kitchen tongs to carefully lower the chicken into the oil, cooking the strips in batches for about 4 minutes per side, until golden brown.

Place the cooked strips on a paper towel lined plate to absorb excess oil.

Slice the strips into smaller bite-sized pieces.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

Lightly grease a 9 x 13 inch casserole dish. Add half of the rigatoni/sauce mixture. Top with half of the chicken strips, 2 tbsp. Parmesan cheese, and 1 cup of mozzarella cheese.

Add the remaining rigatoni. Add the chicken strips and the remaining Parmesan and mozzarella cheese.

Bake uncovered for 25 minutes. If you prefer a browner, crisper top, increase heat to 425 and bake for about 5 more minutes.

Garnish with fresh parsley. Serve with Garlic Bread with Cheese!

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens