Chicken Parmesan Bake Recipe

This Chicken Parmesan Bake recipe combines tender chicken, rigatoni pasta, rich marinara sauce, melted mozzarella, Parmesan, and crispy Italian breadcrumbs in one hearty casserole. Featured on Cook the Books Season 3 with host Shahir Massoud, this comforting pasta bake transforms the familiar flavors of chicken Parmesan into an easy, crowd-friendly dinner.

The Inspiration

This recipe comes from Shaq’s Family Style, a cookbook built around generous portions, comforting flavors, and dishes designed to bring people together. It takes the familiar combination of chicken, marinara sauce, mozzarella, Parmesan, and breadcrumbs associated with classic chicken Parmesan and turns those flavors into a hearty baked pasta casserole.

Rigatoni provides the foundation, with its tube shape helping capture plenty of marinara and melted cheese. Instead of breading individual chicken cutlets, boneless chicken breast is cut into bite-sized cubes and browned with onion and garlic before being simmered in marinara sauce.

The finishing layer is what gives this casserole its signature appeal. Mozzarella, Parmesan, Italian breadcrumbs, and melted butter create a rich topping that becomes deeply golden in the oven. Featured on Cook the Books Season 3 with Shahir Massoud, this recipe showcases the big, family-style comfort food at the heart of Shaq’s Family Style.

Ingredients

1 pound rigatoni pasta
½ cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1 inch cubes
1 tablespoon kosher salt
2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
1 yellow onion, diced
2 tablespoons minced garlic
3 cups marinara sauce
2 tablespoons dried basil
4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 cup Italian bread crumbs
½ cup unsalted butter, melted

Method

Preheat the oven to 350F. Lightly coat a 9 by 13-inche casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
Fill a very large pot with water and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Add the pasta and cook according to the package directions, cutting a minute or two off the cook time, so the pasta is still very al dente. Drain and set aside.
In a large, deep skillet over medium-high heat, warm the olive oil. Add the chicken, season with the salt and pepper, and cook for 4 minutes, or until browned on all sides. Add the onion and garlic and continue cooking for 2 minutes, or until the onion is translucent. Stir in the marinara sauce and basil, turn the heat to low, and simmer for 5 minutes. Add the pasta and toss to coat. Remove the skillet from the heat and add 2 cups of the mozzarella. Stir gently to combine and transfer the mixture to the prepared casserole dish.
In a medium bowl, stir together the remaining 2 cups mozzarella, the Parmesan, bread crumbs, and melted butter. Spread the cheese mixture evenly over the pasta mixture.
Bake the pasta for 20 minutes, or until the top is deeply golden.
Serve the pasta and chicken hot, straight from the baking dish.

Serving Suggestions

This Chicken Parmesan Bake is a hearty main course that’s ideal for family dinners, casual entertaining, potlucks, and comforting weekend meals. Serve generous portions alongside a crisp Caesar salad, mixed green salad, or roasted vegetables to balance the richness of the pasta and cheese.

For entertaining, place the casserole dish directly at the center of the table and serve it family-style with additional grated Parmesan, fresh basil, and red pepper flakes available for guests. A sparkling water with lemon, Italian soda, or a medium-bodied red wine can round out the meal.

Final Thoughts

This Chicken Parmesan Bake recipe brings the comforting flavors of chicken Parmesan and cheesy baked pasta together in one satisfying casserole. Tender pieces of chicken, al dente rigatoni, savory marinara, mozzarella, and Parmesan create a rich base, while the buttery Italian breadcrumb topping provides a crisp, golden finish.

Check out Shaq’s Family Style cookbook here.

Find more recipes from Cook the Books here!