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–+ servings

Chicken Parmesan Pasta

Danielle Dunn
Chicken Parmesan Pasta is prepared with chicken and pasta in a flavorful tomato sauce, topped with mozzarella cheese and toasted bread crumbs. It's easy and delicious!
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course dinner, lunch, Main Course
Cuisine Italian
Servings 4 people

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb. penne pasta or any other tubular pasta
  • 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into 3/4 inch cubes
  • all purpose seasoning if not available, use salt, pepper, garlic and onion powder
  • 1 cup freshly grated parmesan, divided
  • 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 1 small yellow onion, diced
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced or 2 tbsp.
  • 2 tbsp. tomato paste
  • 28 oz. can crushed tomatoes
  • 1 tsp. Italian seasoning
  • 1 tbsp. sugar
  • 1 tbsp. fresh basil, chopped
  • fresh parsley, chopped
  • 3 cups shredded mozzarella
  • 4 tbsp. unsalted butter, divided
  • 4 tbsp. grapeseed oil

Instructions
 

  • Pat chicken cubes dry until free of moisture. Season with all-purpose seasoning.
  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  • Heat a medium skillet over medium heat. Add 1 tbsp. of butter. When butter is melted, add panko bread crumbs and toast by sauteing and tossing in skillet. Add 3/4 cups of Parmesan cheese and set aside until ready to use.
  • Cook pasta until al-dente. Drain and set aside. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water.
  • Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add grapeseed oil and 1 tbsp. butter. Add chicken and cook for 5 minutes, until brown and no visible pink. Remove chicken and set aside.
  • Add 1 tbsp. of butter to skillet. Add onion and cook for about 2 minutes, then stir in garlic. Continue to cook until fragrant. About another 2 - 3 minutes. Stir in tomato paste and stir until tomato paste starts to deepen in color. Add crushed tomatoes, sugar, Italian seasoning, basil and parsley. Add 1 tbsp of butter and reserve pasta water. Stir everything together and bring to simmer. Simmer for at least 5 minutes.
  • Stir in cooked pasta and chicken. Top with remaining Parmesan cheese, mozzarella and toasted bread crumbs. Sprinkle with fresh parsley. Cook in preheated oven, until bubbly and cheese is melted, and top is slightly browned. This normally don't take longer than 8- 10 minutes.
  • Serve warm.

Notes

    • Pasta - I used Penne pasta, but any tubular pasta will work. Other alternatives are macaroni, rigatoni and Cavatappi. Also, whole wheat pasta can be used as well, if you're looking for a more healthy alternative.
    • Chicken - Ensure chicken is patted completely dry before cooking. This will ensure the chicken is browned properly. You you do not have all-purpose seasoning on hand, you can use salt, pepper, garlic powder and onion powder.
    • The sauce - This recipe can be made a lot easier by omitting the tomato paste, crushed tomatoes, sugar, Italian seasoning and basil. Instead you can use your favorite pasta sauce. When I want to make this way, I always use Rao's when I make it this way. However, if you want a more homemade feel to this dish, follow the original recipe.
Keyword chicken parmesan, chicken parmesan pasta
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