A comforting bake of tender chicken, tomato sauce, pasta, and melted cheese topped with breadcrumbs.
# What You'll Need:
→ Chicken
01 - 2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts (approximately 1.1 lbs)
02 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
03 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
04 - 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
→ Pasta
05 - 14 ounces penne or rigatoni pasta
→ Sauce
06 - 24 ounces marinara or tomato-basil pasta sauce
07 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
→ Cheese
08 - 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
09 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
10 - 1 cup Italian-style breadcrumbs
→ For Serving & Garnish
11 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil or parsley (optional)
12 - Olive oil spray
# Method:
01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
02 - Boil pasta in a large pot of salted water until just al dente, about 2 minutes less than package instructions. Drain and set aside.
03 - Season chicken breasts evenly with salt, black pepper, and Italian seasoning.
04 - Heat a drizzle of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook chicken breasts for 4 to 5 minutes per side until golden and just cooked through. Transfer to a cutting board, let cool slightly, then dice into bite-sized pieces.
05 - In a large mixing bowl, combine cooked pasta, diced chicken, marinara sauce, minced garlic, and half of the mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. Mix until evenly incorporated.
06 - Spread the pasta and chicken mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese on top, followed by the breadcrumbs.
07 - Lightly spray the top with olive oil to promote browning.
08 - Bake in the preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes until the sauce is bubbling and the topping is golden brown.
09 - Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with chopped fresh basil or parsley if desired.
