Make this 20 minute, pantry ingredient, one pot chicken parmesan pasta with crispy breadcrumbs instead of the traditional crispy, cheesy chicken parmesan. It's quicker, easier, and just as flavorful and cheesy.
This one pot chicken parmesan pasta is an easy dinner, but it's not the only pantry pasta dish. Check out my favorite Pasta Carbonara that'll turn any other weeknight into a special occasion, or this easy vegetarian Black Bean Pasta.
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How will this dish make your life easier?
Meal planning is really awesome (it really makes life so much easier and your food tastier), but in the real world, not every meal gets planned. Life changes, cravings change, and things happen.
That's ok. That's why stocking your pantry is THE BEST. With the right ingredients, you can throw together a delicious dinner in 10-20 minutes without any planning. Again let's act like we live in the real world, and eat the delicious pantry recipes.
Ok, now on to this one pot chicken parmesan pasta. Pasta can be either super boring and tasteless or it can be, well, super flavorful, gooey, crunchy, and delicious in all the right ways. This chicken parm dish is the latter.
Use spiral pasta, thawed frozen chicken breast, pre shredded frozen mozzarella cheese, diced tomatoes, spices, and some chicken boullion to turn a simple pasta into one of the most delectable chicken pasta recipes.
What makes this chicken parmesan so good?
How do I make this chicken parm pasta?
Start making your one pot chicken parmesan pasta by pouring olive oil into a large skillet over medium-low heat. Sprinkle breadcrumbs over oil.
Stir, cook until crumbs are golden brown, about 1-3 minutes. Remove from pan and set aside.
Return to heat, increase to medium-high.
Add cubed boneless skinless chicken breast, cavatappi pasta, one can diced tomatoes, water (fill diced tomato can with water for this), frozen vegetables, Italian seasoning, chicken bouillon paste, minced garlic, and salt to pan.
Stir and cook until one pot chicken pasta is almost al dente.
Once most of the water is absorbed and pasta is al dente, stir one last time, then sprinkle mozzarella cheese over pasta. Cook until cheese melts.
Transfer your one pot chicken parmesan pasta to serving plate, top with parmesan cheese, toasted breadcrumbs, and parsley.
Substitutions/Tips
- I like using a large skillet to make this one pot chicken parmesan pasta because you can sprinkle the cheese on more noodles than if you were to use a deeper pot.
- Here's my favorite cheese saving trick: freeze grated cheese for 30-60 mins on a baking sheet, transfer to a bag, and freeze till you need it. Works for cheddar cheeses, mozzarella, and jack cheeses. It thaws really quickly if you need it!
- I chose cavatappi pasta because that's what I found in WINCO's bulk section. Use your favorite pasta in this one pot chicken parmesan pasta recipe, but I recommend a pasta with ridges/spirals because that means more of the pasta can be coated in the tomato sauce.
- I like to throw frozen vegetables into cooking pasta, you can do this too and use whatever fresh or frozen vegetables you have on hand.
- This one pan chicken parmesan pasta recipe is really easy to double or triple if you'd like to make it for more than yourself.
- Other Add-Ins/toppings: Add other vegetables, red pepper flakes as a garnish.
FAQ
First of all, this one pot chicken parmesan pasta is a really great pasta recipe. Why? It's all made in 20 minutes, in one pan and is packed with tomato flavor, cheese, and crunchy breadcrumbs.
Pasta Carbonara, Pasta with Pantry Tomato Sauce and Sausage, and Chicken Bacon and Mushroom Pasta are also great pasta recipes.
Yes! Cooking your pasta in it's sauce + water makes you a flavorful, low dish, and super easy meal. This one pot chicken parmesan pasta is a great example, just keep an eye on the water in this so it doesn't burn.
A well cooked pasta has a bit of a 'bite' to it, meaning that it's not super soft when you bite into it, it's not gummy or falls apart when you pierce it with a fork. Jamie Oliver teaches you how to cook pasta in this article.
If you're in the mood for vegetables, you can add them directly to the chicken parmesan pasta, or make something on the side, like Air Fryer Broccolini, Roasted Mushrooms and Broccoli, or Carrot Cucumber Salad.
What can I make with leftover ingredients?
- Chicken: Mushroom and Chicken Soup with Wild Rice, Chicken and Broccoli Casserole, and Maple Bacon, Brussels Sprouts, and Chicken Sheet Pan Dinner.
- Pasta: Here's a bunch of pasta recipes.
- Mozzarella Cheese: Buffalo Chicken Flatbread, Peach and Prosciutto Pizza, and Butternut Squash Lasagna Rolls.
Did you make chicken parmesan pasta? Leave me a comment & rating to share how it turned out!
One Pot Chicken Parmesan Pasta
Equipment
- Large Skillet
- Rubber Spatula/Spoon
- Measuring Cups
- Measuring Spoons
Ingredients
- ½ teaspoon olive oil divided
- ½ teaspoon breadcrumbs
- ½ cup chopped chicken I started with thawed, frozen chicken breast
- 2 oz cavatappi pasta or other shaped pasta
- 1 jar diced tomatoes
- ½ cup frozen/fresh vegetables use what you have on hand!
- ½ teaspoon chicken bouillon paste or fill tomato jar ½ way with chicken broth instead of water (in ingredient below)
- ½ jar water fill diced tomato jar ½ way with water
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon minced garlic
- ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- parmesan cheese to taste
- parsley, for garnish optional
Instructions
- Heat large sautee pan over medium-low heat. Pour ¼ teaspoon olive oil into pan, then sprinkle ½ teaspoon breadcrumbs into oil. Stir and cook until golden brown, about 1-3 minutes. Remove breadcrumbs from pan and set aside.
- Increase heat to medium-high, then add ½ c chopped chicken breast, 2 oz pasta, one 14-oz can diced tomatoes, ½ c frozen or fresh vegetables, ½ can water (fill tomato can), ½ teaspoon chicken bouillon paste, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, ¼ teaspoon minced garlic, and ¼ teaspoon salt to pan. Add more water while pasta dish is cooking if necessary.
- Stir and cook until pasta is almost al dente and much of the water has been absorbed.
- Once pasta is almost al dente, sprinkle ½ c shredded mozzarella cheese over pasta and cook until melted.
- Transfer to serving dish, top with parmesan cheese, toasted breadcrumbs, and parsley (if desired). Enjoy.
Video
Notes
- Cook in a large, shallow pan so more pasta can be sprinkled with cheese.
- Use your favorite pasta, any shape works!
- Add whatever vegetables you have, if you'd like to add more vegetables.
- Swap ½ cup water + ½ teaspoon chicken bouillon paste for ½ cup chicken broth. But I will say that if you're cooking for one, bouillon paste-like Better than Bouillon brand is a great staple. It'll save you $ and space compared to cans of broth.
- Add red pepper flakes for added spice if desired.
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Jenn says
I love this recipe! It's packed with flavor, and the best part is I'm not left with leftovers all week!
Rebecca says
totally! good to hear
Pam says
Looks so yummy - I can't wait to try it. And the tip on freezing the cheese is genius!
Rebecca says
it's my fave tip for sure
Elizabeth says
Can’t get over how easy and delicious this was! Thanks for the recipe!
Rebecca says
great to hear
Julie says
An easy one pan meal that is full of flavor. My family is going to love this.
Rebecca says
fantastic!
Denay DeGuzman says
What a delicious one-pot meal! The friends we had over could not get enough. I've added this chicken parmesan pasta to next week's meal plan so we can enjoy it again!
Rebecca says
great to hear