Description
This Chicken Parmesan Bake is a simple and delicious casserole that combines tender chicken breasts with savory marinara sauce, melted Italian blend cheese, and a crispy crouton topping. Perfect for a comforting weeknight dinner, this baked dish requires minimal prep and delivers classic Italian flavors with a delightful crunchy texture on top.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken
- 4 chicken breasts
- 1 tablespoon Livia’s Seasoning Salt (a blend of salt, pepper, and garlic)
Sauce & Topping
- 1½ cups marinara sauce
- 1½ cups shredded Italian blend cheese
- 2 cups croutons
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) to prepare for baking the casserole.
- Prepare Chicken: Trim any excess fat from the chicken breasts and slice or pound them to an even thickness to ensure uniform cooking. Arrange them in a single, even layer in a 9×13 inch baking pan.
- Season Chicken: Season both sides of the chicken breasts generously with Livia’s seasoning salt, which includes salt, pepper, and garlic for added flavor.
- Add Sauce and Toppings: Pour an even layer of marinara sauce over the chicken breasts. You can add extra seasoning if desired. Then evenly sprinkle the shredded Italian blend cheese over the sauce, followed by an even layer of croutons on top to add a crunchy crust.
- Bake: Place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake for 35 to 40 minutes. Check halfway through baking to monitor the croutons; if they begin to brown too quickly, cover the pan loosely with aluminum foil to prevent burning.
- Check Doneness: The dish is done when the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C). This ensures the chicken is fully cooked and safe to eat.
- Serve: Serve the bake immediately, pairing it with your favorite sides like pasta or fresh basil for garnish to enhance the dish’s flavor.
Notes
- To ensure even cooking, pound chicken breasts to the same thickness before baking.
- If croutons brown too fast, covering the dish with foil halfway through baking helps prevent burning.
- Using a meat thermometer guarantees perfectly cooked chicken at safe temperatures.
- Pair this bake with pasta, steamed vegetables, or a fresh salad for a complete meal.
- For a lower-carb version, substitute croutons with crushed pork rinds or almond flour topping.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 720 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 40 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg
