Description
Comfort meets convenience in this delightful one-pot chicken parmesan pasta, blending Italian-inspired flavors with modern cooking ease. Creamy sauce, tender chicken, and melted cheese create a perfect weeknight dinner you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Proteins:
- 2–3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, diced into bite-sized pieces
Cheese:
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
Seasonings and Other Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 medium yellow onion, minced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 16 ounces (454 grams) dried short-cut pasta (e.g., rigatoni)
- 24 ounces (680 grams) jar of marinara sauce (e.g., Newmans Own)
- 1 jar water (using the empty marinara sauce jar)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Additional dried Italian seasoning, optional
- Fresh parsley and/or basil, minced for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat a robust pot or skillet with olive oil over medium-high heat, creating a sizzling cooking surface.
- Season chicken pieces with a blend of aromatic spices, then sauté until nearly cooked through, developing a golden exterior.
- Transfer the partially cooked chicken to a separate plate, reserving the flavorful cooking remnants in the pot.
- Introduce finely chopped onion and garlic into the same pot, allowing them to soften and release their fragrant essence.
- Pour marinara sauce into the pot, then rinse the empty jar with water to capture every last drop of sauce, creating a rich liquid base.
- Bring the sauce to a vigorous simmer, then reintroduce the chicken to the bubbling mixture.
- Incorporate uncooked pasta directly into the sauce, ensuring each piece is thoroughly coated and submerged.
- Cover and allow the pasta to cook, stirring periodically to prevent sticking and promote even cooking.
- When pasta reaches desired tenderness, fold in Parmesan and a portion of mozzarella cheese, creating a creamy, luxurious texture.
- Distribute remaining mozzarella across the dish’s surface, allowing it to melt into a golden, bubbling blanket.
- Optional: Sprinkle additional Italian herbs for enhanced aromatic complexity.
- Garnish with fresh herbs, transforming the dish with a bright, verdant flourish before serving piping hot.
Notes
- Swap proteins effortlessly by using ground turkey, shrimp, or tofu for a versatile meal that caters to different dietary preferences.
- Enhance nutritional value by incorporating additional vegetables like spinach, zucchini, or bell peppers directly into the one-pot cooking process.
- For a gluten-free version, replace traditional pasta with zucchini noodles or a gluten-free pasta alternative that maintains the same creamy texture.
- Control sodium levels by using low-sodium marinara sauce and reducing added salt, making this dish more heart-healthy without compromising flavor.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 56 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg