Description
One Pot Chicken Parmesan Pasta is a delicious and easy-to-make meal that combines tender chicken, pasta, and marinara sauce topped with melted mozzarella, parmesan cheese, and crispy breadcrumbs. Prepared in one pot with minimal cleanup, it’s perfect for a quick weeknight dinner that delivers classic Italian flavors in just 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein
- 3 boneless skinless chicken breasts, chopped into 1-inch pieces
Pantry Items
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning, divided
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 3 teaspoons minced garlic
- 16 ounces short pasta noodles (penne, ziti, or cellentani)
- 30 ounce jar marinara sauce
- 3 cups water
- ½ cup shredded parmesan cheese
- salt and pepper, to taste
- 3 tablespoons melted butter
- ½ cup Italian style breadcrumbs (or regular breadcrumbs + ½ teaspoon dried Italian seasoning)
Dairy
- 1 ⅓ cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
Optional Garnish
- Fresh parsley, basil, or thyme
Instructions
- Cook Chicken: Heat olive oil in a large pot or deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add chopped chicken pieces and sprinkle with 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning and garlic powder. Stir and cook for about 5 minutes until chicken is lightly browned but not fully cooked. Remove chicken from pot to a plate and cover to keep warm.
- Sauté Garlic and Add Sauce: Add minced garlic to the pot and sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant. Pour in the marinara sauce and water, bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to a high simmer.
- Combine Pasta and Chicken: Stir in the remaining 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, salt and pepper to taste, uncooked pasta noodles, and the partially cooked chicken. Mix well to distribute ingredients evenly.
- Cook Pasta: Cover the pot and cook for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until pasta is tender and cooked through.
- Add Cheeses: Stir in parmesan cheese and half of the mozzarella cheese until melted and creamy within the pasta mixture.
- Prepare Breadcrumb Topping: In a small bowl, combine melted butter and breadcrumbs, stirring until crumbs are evenly coated.
- Top and Broil: Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella cheese evenly over the pasta. Cover and allow the cheese to melt. Then, sprinkle the breadcrumb mixture on top and transfer the pot to the oven. Broil for 1-2 minutes until breadcrumbs are toasted and golden brown. (If your pot is not oven-safe, toast the breadcrumbs in a skillet over medium heat for 3-4 minutes before adding on top.)
- Garnish and Serve: Garnish with fresh herbs like parsley, basil, or thyme and cracked black pepper if desired. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Notes
- This is the easiest and most delicious one-pot chicken parmesan pasta you’ll make in about 30 minutes.
- You can use any short pasta noodles you prefer, like penne, ziti, or cellentani.
- If you don’t have Italian style breadcrumbs, mix regular breadcrumbs with ½ teaspoon dried Italian seasoning for great flavor.
- Make sure to use an oven-safe pot or skillet if broiling breadcrumbs on top; otherwise, toast them separately in a pan.
- Leftovers keep well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheat nicely.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 687 kcal
- Sugar: 9 g
- Sodium: 1300 mg
- Fat: 23 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 73 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 46 g
- Cholesterol: 99 mg
