Description
One Pot Chicken Parmesan Pasta is a flavorful and comforting dish combining tender chicken, pasta, and classic Italian seasonings all cooked together in a single pot. This easy-to-make recipe yields a creamy, cheesy, and saucy pasta that requires minimal cleanup and can be ready in just 30 minutes, perfect for busy weeknights.
Ingredients
Scale
Chicken and Seasoning
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 boneless skinless chicken breasts, chopped into 1-inch pieces
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning, divided
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 3 teaspoons minced garlic
Pasta and Sauce
- 16 ounces short pasta noodles such as penne, ziti, or cellentani
- 30 ounce jar of your favorite marinara sauce
- 3 cups water
Cheese and Toppings
- 1 ⅓ cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
- ½ cup shredded parmesan cheese
- 3 tablespoons butter, melted
- ½ cup Italian style breadcrumbs (or regular breadcrumbs + ½ teaspoon dried Italian seasoning)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Optional: fresh parsley, basil, or thyme for garnish
Instructions
- Cook the Chicken: In a large pot or deep skillet over medium-high heat, drizzle olive oil. Add the chopped chicken pieces and sprinkle 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning and garlic powder over them. Stir and cook for 5 minutes, allowing the chicken to brown but not fully cook through. Transfer the chicken to a plate and cover to keep warm.
- Sauté Garlic and Add Sauce: In the same pot, add the minced garlic and sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant. Stir in the marinara sauce and water, bringing the mixture to a boil. Then reduce heat to high simmer.
- Add Pasta and Seasoning: Stir in the remaining 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, salt and pepper to taste, uncooked pasta noodles, and the partially cooked chicken. Mix thoroughly to combine all ingredients.
- Cook Pasta: Cover the pot and cook for 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is tender and has absorbed much of the sauce.
- Add Cheeses: Stir in the parmesan cheese and half of the shredded mozzarella cheese into the pasta mixture until melted and well combined.
- Prepare Breadcrumb Topping: While the pasta cooks, combine melted butter with the breadcrumbs in a bowl and mix well to coat the crumbs.
- Broil Pasta and Toast Breadcrumbs: Top the pasta with the remaining mozzarella cheese, cover to melt the cheese. Sprinkle the breadcrumb mixture evenly over the top. Transfer the pot to the oven and broil for 1-2 minutes, or until the breadcrumbs are golden and toasted. If your pot is not oven-safe, toast breadcrumbs separately in a pan over medium heat for 3-4 minutes and then sprinkle over pasta.
- Garnish and Serve: Garnish with fresh parsley, basil, or thyme and cracked black pepper if desired. Serve warm.
Notes
- One Pot Chicken Parmesan Pasta is one of the easiest and most delicious one-pot pasta meals, ready in just 30 minutes.
- You can substitute chicken breasts with chicken thighs for a juicier texture if preferred.
- For a gluten-free option, use gluten-free pasta and breadcrumbs.
- Make sure to stir the pasta occasionally while cooking to prevent it from sticking.
- Use mozzarella and Parmesan cheese for the best authentic flavor; however, blending other Italian cheeses can add variety.
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
