This easy dinner recipe is perfect for large families and is made with just 5 simple and cheap ingredients. If you're looking for simple week-night meals to make, this lazy chicken parmesan is a keeper!
Course: Main Course
Keyword: budget meal, casserole, chicken, easy meals, pasta
Servings: 8
Ingredients
1(1lb)box thin spaghetti
2(24oz)jars of marinara or pasta sauce
3cupsshredded mozzarella cheese
1/2cupgrated parmesan
8frozen chicken patties(I buy the Tyson brand)
Seasoning to taste(optional)
Instructions
Preheat oven to 375° F and grease a 9x13 baking dish.
Cook and drain the spaghetti according to the package instructions. Mix with 3/4 of the pasta sauce (about 1.5 jars) and 2 cups of shredded mozzarella. You can also season to your liking with salt, pepper, garlic powder or Italian seasoning.
Dump the pasta into your casserole dish and top with 8 frozen chicken patties. Bake for 20 minutes to crisp up the chicken patties.
Remove from the oven and top the chicken with the remaining sauce. Evenly sprinkle the top with about one cup of shredded mozzarella and 1/2 cup of grated parmesan.
Bake for an additional 15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and starts to brown.
Notes
You can also make the chicken parmesan without the spaghetti following the same instructions (just minus the pasta mixture). We've done this to make sandwiches!
Feel free to further flavor the tomato sauce to your preference. I usually like to add in a little garlic powder & Italian seasoning depending on the brand of sauce.
You can also replace the cheese that's mixed in with the spaghetti with Velveeta, shredded cheddar or colby jack (or a mixture depending on what you have on hand).