Description
This One Pan Chicken Parmesan recipe combines tender seared chicken breasts with pasta cooked directly in delicious marinara sauce, topped with melted mozzarella and parmesan cheeses and crispy toasted Italian breadcrumbs. It’s an easy, comforting meal made entirely in one skillet for minimal cleanup and maximum flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
For Toasted Breadcrumbs
- 1 tbsp butter
- 2 tbsp Italian Seasoned breadcrumbs
For Chicken and Pasta
- 2 tbsp olive oil (plus 1 tbsp for sautéing onion and garlic)
- 4 medium chicken breasts (pounded to even thickness)
- 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup diced onion
- 1 tsp minced garlic
- 2 cups uncooked rotini pasta
- 24 oz pasta sauce
- 1 cup water
- 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese
- 1 tbsp chopped parsley
Instructions
- Toast Breadcrumbs: In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the Italian seasoned breadcrumbs and stir constantly until they turn golden brown and crisp. Remove the toasted breadcrumbs from the skillet and set aside in a small dish for garnish.
- Sear Chicken Breasts: Wipe out the skillet with a paper towel and return to stovetop over medium-high heat. Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Season the chicken breasts evenly with Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and salt. Place the chicken in the hot oil and sear for 2–3 minutes on each side until nicely browned but not fully cooked through. Remove chicken from skillet to a clean plate.
- Sauté Aromatics and Cook Pasta: Add 1 tablespoon olive oil to the empty skillet. Sauté the diced onion and minced garlic over medium heat until tender and fragrant, about 3 minutes. Stir in the uncooked rotini pasta, pasta sauce, and 1 cup water. Bring the mixture to a boil.
- Simmer Chicken and Pasta: Carefully nestle the seared chicken breasts on top of the pasta and sauce mixture. Reduce heat to medium-low and cover the skillet. Let cook covered until pasta is tender and chicken is fully cooked, about 15 to 18 minutes. Avoid stirring during this time to allow even cooking.
- Melt Cheese: Remove the lid and gently stir the pasta to ensure it remains saucy. Sprinkle shredded mozzarella and parmesan cheeses evenly over the chicken breasts. Replace the lid to let the cheese melt from residual heat. Optionally, for a golden top, place the skillet under the oven broiler uncovered for 1-2 minutes, watching carefully to avoid burning.
- Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle the toasted breadcrumbs and chopped parsley evenly over the cheesy chicken. Serve hot and enjoy your comforting one pan meal.
Notes
- To ensure even cooking, pound chicken breasts to an even thickness before searing.
- Be careful when broiling the cheese to avoid burning; watch closely.
- This dish can be customized with additional herbs or vegetables added during the sauté step.
- The recipe works well with other pasta shapes such as penne or fusilli.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated and reheated gently on the stovetop or microwave.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Keywords: One Pan Chicken Parmesan, Chicken Parmesan recipe, Easy chicken dinner, Skillet chicken pasta, Italian chicken recipe
