Healthy Chicken Parmesan Casserole Bake

Looking for a healthy recipe for Chicken Parmesan Casserole? One bite and you will be so in love with this recipe, it will become the only Chicken Parmesan pasta recipe you’ll want!  The recipe I have below is the full fat, full flavor option, but I’m listing several skinny swaps so you have a healthier alternative you can feel good about.

Delicious and Easy Skinny Chicken Parmesan Casserole Bake

This healthy Chicken Parmesan Casserole is so delicious that you’d never know you’re eating healthy. The casserole aspect brings a fun, new take to Chicken Parm, while still keeping it simple and quick. The best part about this recipe (besides the skinny version being 268 calories per serving) is that you don’t even have to cook the pasta before throwing it in the oven! The chicken broth and crushed tomatoes make the chicken and pasta even more hearty and filling. Throw in some chicken, mozzarella, Parmesan, and Italian seasonings and you’ve got yourself an easy, quick, healthy, family-favorite meal!

Can I Use Chicken Thighs in This Healthy Chicken Parmesan?

While I use boneless skinless chicken breast in this recipe, if you wanted to use chicken thighs instead you can. It adds more calories and fat to the recipe, but also more flavor. If using chicken thighs, be sure to use boneless skinless thighs and trim any additional fat off of the chicken. .

Can You Freeze a Baked Chicken Parmesan Recipe?

I love making this recipe as a freezer meal. A great way to do this is to double the recipe when making it. Bake half of the baked chicken parmesan recipe and add the other half to a different casserole dish. You can bake the second dish or you can freeze it before baking instead. While I have done both, I prefer to freeze it before baking. If you are freezing it after baking, consider adding a little more sauce to prevent it from tasting dry.

What to Serve with Healthy Pasta Bake

While this can easily be a complete dish on its own, if you are looking for something to serve on the side, consider:

• Easy & Healthy Broccoli Salad with Bacon
• Serve a side salad with Greek Yogurt Healthy Ranch Dressing or Honey Mustard Dressing

Why not consider Dessert? Try these:

• Fruit Filled Healthy Popsicles Recipe
• Easy & Healthy Strawberry Ice Cream Recipe
• Mini Caramel Apple Recipe

Ingredients for Chicken Parmesan Pasta Recipe

• Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast
• Salt and Pepper
• Penne Pasta (Skinny Swap whole wheat)
• Crushed Tomatoes
• Chicken Broth (Skinny Swap low-sodium)
• Sugar (Skinny Swap stevia or other sweetener of choice)
• Fresh or Dried Basil
• Italian Seasoning
• Shredded Mozzarella Cheese (Skinny Swap reduced-fat)
• Shredded Parmesan Cheese (Skinny Swap reduced-fat)
• Butter (Skinny Swap with cooking spray)
• Panko Bread Crumbs

How to Make Chicken Parm Pasta Bake

Preheat the oven to 350° F and grease a 9×13-inch casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray.

Spread the chicken in an even layer on the bottom of the casserole dish. Season the chicken with salt and black pepper to taste. Next, spread the uncooked pasta over the chicken.

In a large bowl, mix together the crushed tomatoes, chicken broth, basil, Italian seasoning, and sugar.

Pour the tomato mixture over the pasta, and cover loosely with foil. Bake for 60-65 minutes.

When there is 5 minutes remaining in the cook time, melt butter into a small dish.  Once melted, mix with the panko breadcrumbs to make a topping.  For the skinnier version, omit this step.

Remove the casserole from the oven and top with the mozzarella and parmesan cheese.

Next, top with the panko and butter mixture, and bake in the oven for an additional 10 minutes until the cheese is melted and the breadcrumbs have started to brown.  If you are making the skinnier version of this recipe, you will top with the panko only (no butter) and spray generously with cooking spray before baking an additional 10 minutes.

Optional:  Broil on high for 1-2 minutes for additional crispiness and browning.

Before serving, stir the casserole well for best consistency and flavor.  Enjoy!

Recipe

Recipe

4.41 from 5 votes

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Chicken Parmesan Casserole

Created by: Brooke Farmer

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 1 hour hr 15 minutes mins

8 servings

Looking for a healthy recipe for Chicken Parmesan Casserole? One bite and you will be so in love with this recipe, it will become the only Chicken Parmesan Pasta recipe you will want. 

Ingredients

 

• 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 13.25 oz penne pasta (1 box) skinny swap whole wheat
• 28 oz crushed tomatoes (1 can) skinny swap no salt added
• 3 cups chicken broth skinny swap low-sodium
• 1 teaspoon sugar skinny swap stevia or sweetener of choice
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh basil or 1 tbsp dried
• 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
• 1.5 cups shredded mozzarella cheese skinny swap 1/2 cup reduced-fat shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese skinny swap 1/4 cup reduced-fat parmesan cheese
• 1 cup panko bread crumbs skinny swap 1/4 cup panko bread crumbs
• 1/3 cup butter skinny swap: omit and replace with cooking spray per directions

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 350° F and grease a 9x13-inch casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray.
• Spread the chicken in an even layer on the bottom of the casserole dish. Season the chicken with salt and black pepper. Next, spread the uncooked pasta over the chicken.
• In a large bowl, mix together the crushed tomatoes, chicken broth, basil, Italian Seasoning, and sugar.
• Pour the tomato mixture over the pasta and loosely cover with foil. Bake for 60-65 minutes.
• When there is 5 minutes remaining in the cook time, melt butter in a small dish. Once melted, mix with the breadcrumbs to create a topping. (Omit this step if using the skinny version of the recipe).
• Remove the casserole from oven and top with the mozzarella and parmesan cheese.
• Next, top with the panko and butter mixture. (If using the skinny version of this recipe, top with the panko breadcrumbs and spray generously with cooking spray).
• Bake an additional 10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the breadcrumbs are browned.
• Optional: Broil for 1-2 minutes on high for additional browning.
• Before serving, stir the casserole well for best consistency.

Notes

SmartPoints: 9

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