🍝 When You Need Dinner to Cook Itself
You know those nights when everyone’s hungry and the sink’s already full?
This Dump-and-Bake Chicken Parm Casserole is your hero. No frying, no stress—just toss, bake, and enjoy that saucy, cheesy comfort food we all crave.
🥘 What You’ll Need (Just 5 Ingredients)
The beauty here is simplicity. You can probably make this with what’s already in your pantry:
- Pasta – 12 oz penne or rotini
- Cooked chicken – shredded or diced (leftovers or rotisserie)
- Marinara sauce – 24 oz jar
- Mozzarella cheese – 2 cups shredded
- Parmesan cheese – ¼ cup grated
🧂 Pantry staples like olive oil, salt, pepper, or Italian seasoning are assumed.
🔪 Step-by-Step: Dump, Stir, Bake
1. Preheat & Prep
Set oven to 375°F. Lightly coat a 9×13″ baking dish with olive oil or spray.
🛒 Try this: Pyrex Deep 9×13-Inch Glass Baking Dish – doubles as storage for leftovers.
2. Mix the Base
Pour uncooked pasta, marinara, chicken, and 1 cup water into the dish. Stir well so the pasta is coated.
Use a sturdy spatula like the OXO Good Grips Silicone Spatula for easy mixing and no scratches.
3. Cover & Bake
Cover tightly with foil and bake for 35 minutes, until the pasta is just tender.
4. Add Cheese
Remove foil, sprinkle mozzarella and parmesan over the top, and bake uncovered for another 10 minutes, until bubbly and golden.
Recommended sauce: Rao’s Homemade Marinara — rich flavor, no added sugar.
Budget pasta pick: Barilla Penne Pasta — reliable and perfectly al dente.
🍽️ Make-Ahead, Freeze, or Reheat
This recipe freezes beautifully:
- Cool completely, then cover and freeze for up to 3 months.
- Reheat covered at 350°F until warm through.
Perfect for meal prep or gifting to a new parent or neighbor.
🧀 Optional Add-Ons
- Add spinach or zucchini for extra veggies.
- Layer in breadcrumbs before the final bake for a crispy top.
- Drizzle with basil oil or a sprinkle of red pepper flakes for a grown-up twist.
🛍️ Product Picks Recap
🔗 Internal Links
- Check out these holiday appetizers that are super simple to make and guests love them -> 5 Sheet-Pan Holiday Party Appetizers – Stir Studio
- Every recipe can use more butter! Check out some compound butters to elevate your meals -> 10 Easy Compound Butters Every Home Cook Should Know – Stir Studio
- Need a kitchen assistant? Check out how you can leverage ChatGPT in the kitchen -> 5 Ways ChatGPT Can Help You in the Kitchen – Stir Studio
❓ FAQs
Q1: Can I use uncooked chicken?
No — this recipe uses cooked or rotisserie chicken. Raw chicken won’t fully cook in the same time frame.
Q2: Can I swap pasta types?
Yes! Short cuts (penne, rotini, rigatoni) work best. Avoid spaghetti—it tends to clump.
Q3: What if I want more sauce?
Add an extra ½ cup water and ½ cup sauce before baking.
Q4: Can I make it gluten-free?
Absolutely. Substitute gluten-free pasta and monitor the bake time—it cooks a bit faster.
Q5: How do I keep leftovers from drying out?
Add a splash of water before reheating, cover with foil, and warm at 350°F.
💬 Save, Share & Shop
If this recipe made your night easier, save it on Pinterest for later!
Tap any product link above to grab what you need — your next family-favorite dinner is just a dump-and-bake away. ❤️
⚖️ Affiliate Disclosure
This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases—at no additional cost to you.