Description
Cheesy, oven-baked dish with crispy breaded chicken, ziti pasta, marinara, and molten mozzarella/parmesan. A restaurant-style Italian-American comfort food made in one dish for rich, bubbly results.
Ingredients
1.5 lbs chicken breasts (reshape into meatloaf for stability)
12 oz ziti pasta (gluten-free options available)
24 oz marinara sauce (oven-ready for convenience)
2 cups shredded mozzarella (substitute provolone or vegan cheese)
1 cup grated Parmesan (pre-toasted in oven if desired)
2 cups breadcrumbs (gluten-free or whole grain options)
2 tsp Italian seasoning (fresh basil/oregano optional)
Instructions
Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease 9×13-inch baking dish with olive oil
Boil ziti according to package instructions. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup pasta water
Mix marinara, 1 tbsp Italian seasoning, and 1/4 cup reserved pasta water
Combine breadcrumbs with remaining 1 tsp Italian seasoning in a separate bowl
Press flattened chicken breasts into breadcrumb mixture until fully coated
Place breaded chicken in baking dish without overlapping
Pour ziti and sauce mixture over chicken evenly
Top with mozzarella and Parmesan in even layers
Bake 25 minutes until golden and bubbly
Broil 2 minutes for charred edges
Notes
Flatten chicken for even cooking
Use olive oil instead of butter for greasing
Check marinara sauce labels to ensure no alcohol
Let chicken rest 5 minutes before slicing to retain juices
- Prep Time: 20
- Cook Time: 25
- Category: Baking
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approx 2 cups)
- Calories: 780
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 2400mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Carbohydrates: 75g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 42g
- Cholesterol: 110mg