Name: Chicken Parmesan Bake
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 25 min
Ingredients: 4 cups fully-cooked chicken, cubed; 1 (28 oz) jar of marinara sauce; 1/2 cup shredded or grated parmesan cheese; 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese; 1 cup panko bread crumbs; italian seasoning ((we used Penzey’s Pasta sprinkle))

We are t-minus 1 day from the start of Hanukkah and exactly 2 weeks from away from Christmas. Are you guys feeling it yet? Because we are! Everyday is crazier than the next. For the first time in a very long time, I ordered take out. And guess what? I felt awful afterwards. Not just guilty because it goes against the pledge I made to myself, I actually felt sick. What I should have done, and ended up doing was making this easy cheesy Chicken Parmesan Bake instead. Below you will find step by step in photos how to throw this together in a flash.

Step 1: Add precooked cubed chicken

Step 2: Pour your favorite marinara sauce over chicken

Step 3: Next add a layer of parmesan and mozzarella cheese

Step 4: Finally top with your bread crumb mixture (see recipe for instructions)

Step 5: Bake for 20-25 minutes and DONE!

5 steps, minimal ingredients, and a delicious dinner on your table in 30 minutes. Gotta love that, right? And the best part, is this is also a very popular freezer meal. Prepare it like you would in the instruction, than you just freeze it before baking. Be sure to thaw it in the fridge overnight before baking. You may have to cook it longer than the instructions call for in the recipe if the center is still frozen when it’s time to bake, or defrost it fully in the microwave.

This Chicken Parmesan Bake is best served over a bed of pasta. Or you could cook up some veggies on the side and make it a full meal that way. Options are always good when it comes to dinner time. One day you might have veggies in your fridge and not pasta, and vice versa. For that reason, and the simplicity of this meal makes it the perfect weeknight dinner. Especially as we’re we’re all kicking the Holiday planning into high gear.

That concludes are post for today, and we highly recommend adding this recipe to your meal plan, it’s definitely worth it. Feel free to reach out with any questions, or thoughts on the recipe, otherwise happy cooking friends!

Quote of the Day: Keep Calm, and Holiday On

Chicken Parmesan Bake

You can make this Chicken Parmesan Bake fresh, or add it to your list of freezer meals. Either way it’s a delicious easy dinner on the table in 30 minutes, perfect for the busy work week.

Prep Time

5 minutes

Cook Time

25 minutes

Servings

Ingredients

4 cups fully-cooked chicken, cubed
1 (28 oz) jar of marinara sauce
1/2 cup shredded or grated parmesan cheese
1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1 cup panko bread crumbs
italian seasoning (we used Penzey’s Pasta sprinkle)

Prep Time

5 minutes

Cook Time

25 minutes

Servings

Ingredients

4 cups fully-cooked chicken, cubed
1 (28 oz) jar of marinara sauce
1/2 cup shredded or grated parmesan cheese
1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1 cup panko bread crumbs
italian seasoning (we used Penzey’s Pasta sprinkle)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Grease an 9x9 casserole dish with cooking spray.
Layer the chicken in the bottom. Add in the marinara sauce and mix with the chicken. Next, top with both cheeses until all the chicken is covered.
In a small bowl, mix the breadcrumbs, olive oil, italian seasoning and salt/pepper together.
Layer the seasoned breadcrumbs over the top.
Bake for about 20-25 minutes or until golden on top and bubbling on the sides. (see freezer cooking instructions below)

Recipe Notes

Adapted from: Thriving Home

Freezer Instructions: Prepare it like you would in the instruction, than you just freeze it before baking. Thaw it in the fridge overnight before baking. Cook longer than the instructions call for in the recipe if the center is still frozen when it’s time to bake, or defrost it fully in the microwave.