The Best Parmesan Chicken Bake

This Parmesan-style chicken bake is done casserole style (so, no breading or frying!), but still offers up that irresistible combination of tender chicken, crunchy-cheesy coating, and flavorful sauce.

Print Recipe

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 35

Total Time 50

Course lunch/dinner

Cuisine Mediterranean

Servings 6 people

Calories 4143.8 kcal

Equipment

1 9x13 inch Casserole Dish Essential for baking the chicken casserole.
1 Chef's knife For chopping garlic and basil.
1 Cutting Board For preparing chicken and herbs.
1 Instant-Read Thermometer Crucial for verifying chicken internal temperature for food safety.
1 Small Mixing Bowl For potentially mixing olive oil, garlic, and red pepper flakes.

Ingredients

Main

2 tablespoons olive oil
2 cloves garlic crushed and finely chopped
¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes or to taste
6 skinless boneless chicken breast halves
2 cups prepared marinara sauce
¼ cup chopped fresh basil
1 8 ounce package shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese divided
1 5 ounce package garlic croutons

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Coat the bottom of a 9x13-inch casserole dish with olive oil, and sprinkle with garlic and red pepper flakes. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
Arrange chicken breasts in the bottom of the dish. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
Pour marinara sauce over chicken. Sprinkle basil over marinara sauce, and top with 1/2 of the mozzarella cheese, followed by 1/2 of the Parmesan cheese, and croutons. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
Top with remaining mozzarella cheese and remaining Parmesan cheese. Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
Bake in the preheated oven until cheese and croutons are golden brown and the chicken is no longer pink inside, about 35 minutes to an hour, depending on the shape and thickness of your chicken breasts. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of a chicken breast should read at least 160 degrees F (70 degrees C). Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
Serve hot and enjoy! DOTDASH MEREDITH FOOD STUDIOS

Notes

Pound chicken breasts to an even 1-inch thickness for consistent cooking and reduced bake time. Use a high-quality marinara for a richer flavor profile. For optimal crunch, consider adding the croutons only during the last 15-20 minutes of baking, or toast them separately and add them after baking. Layering them between cheese layers, as in the recipe, will result in a softer texture. Freshly grated Parmesan offers superior flavor to pre-grated. Allow the casserole to rest for 5-10 minutes after baking to allow juices to redistribute and set for cleaner cuts. Garnish with additional fresh basil for aroma and color.