Easy one-pot chicken parmesan pasta is packed full of flavor, is low mess and can be on your table in less than thirty minutes. This recipe is a simple recipe that is family-friendly, easy to customize, and adults will enjoy the flavor too!

A pot full of chicken parmesan pasta with cheese on top and a large spoon scooping the penne pasta.

Table of Contents

Why We Love This One Pot Chicken Parmesan Pasta Recipe

Recipe Is Made Fast – When my family comes home hungry at the end of the day, they want dinner now! This easy recipe helps me get dinner on the table faster.
Minimal Cleanup – One pot means less dishes for me, and less items to put away from the dish washer too.
Perfect For Families – Not only are the flavors pretty kid friendly here, it’s still packed with flavor. This dish is also pretty economical to stretch your budget a little further during the week.

Try more one pot pasta dishes like the chicken penne alfredo, the ground turkey spaghetti or the creamy chicken lemon ricotta pasta.

Ingredients For One Pot Chicken Parmesan Pasta

Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements and directions below in the recipe card.

olive oil
minced garlic – Swap in fresh garlic, or garlic powder.
chicken breast – cubed into one inch pieces, this is about three large size or four medium sized individual boneless skinless chicken breasts.
Italian seasoning divided
salt
pepper
low sodium chicken broth – You can swap out vegetable broth, or other broth. If you use full sodium broth I recommend bringing the salt in the recipe down to 1/4 teaspoon and adding additional salt to taste at the end if needed.
marinara any tomato based pasta sauce works with this recipe
balsamic vinegar – Don’t skip this ingredient, it adds a lot of flavor!
penne pasta – Other similar short pasta shapes can be used. Ziti, Farfalle (bow ties) and fussili or rotini (spirals) all are great options.
mozzarella cheese shredded, you can also use an Italian blend of cheese
parmesan cheese grated

Does The Chicken Have Breading?

Wait what about breadcrumbs? The chicken in this pasta is not breaded. I have included an optional breadcrumb topping though that can be sprinkled on top and gives a similar texture and flavor to a breaded chicken parmesan.

Since this is a one pot dish, the chicken won’t stay crispy when you cook the pasta. This version gives you all the flavor of chicken parmesan but is not breaded and fried.

In the variations further down the article, I also give a variation idea to use frozen breaded chicken.

How To Make One Pot Chicken Parmesan Pasta

On a cutting board with a large knife cube the chicken breast into about one inch cubes.
Add the oil to a large dutch oven or 5-7 quart skillet over medium high heat. Add the garlic and saute quickly until fragrant, about 1 minute.

Minces garlic being cooked in a pot from above.

Place the chicken in the pan. Season with one teaspoon of Italian seasoning, salt and pepper. Cook the chicken for about 4-5 minutes until it is no longer pink on the outside and just beginning to brown.

Cooked chicken pieces in a pan with seasoning from above.

To the pot add the chicken broth, marinara sauce, balsamic vinegar and the remaining teaspoon of Italian seasoning, mixing gently.
Add the penne pasta to the pot and gently push it under the liquid. Turn up the heat and bring the liquid to a boil, then turn the heat down to simmer and cover the pot. Cook the pasta and chicken mixture for 13-15 minutes or until the pasta is tender, stirring it about every five minutes.

A pot of tomato soup with chicken in it.

Once the pasta is tender, sprinkle the mozzarella cheese and parmesan cheese over top of the pot. Turn the heat to low and cover the pot for an additional 2-3 minutes to melt the cheese. Then sprinkle with fresh parsley or red pepper flakes if desired, serve and enjoy!

A pot of cooked penne pasta in red sauce with cooked chicken breast pieces in it.

One pot chicken parmesan pasta covered in parmesan and mozzarella cheese in a pot from above.

How Do I Make The Optional Bread Crumb Topping?

I don’t always add this topping, but it does make the pasta taste a little more like the fried version of chicken parmesan.

Ingredients For Breadcrumb Topping (Optional)

1 cup breadcrumbs – I prefer panko bread crumbs but you can also use Italian bread crumbs or plain bread crumbs.)
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon parsely
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons butter – salted butter

How To Make The Bread Crumb Topping (Optional)

Mix together breadcrumbs (Italian, plain or panko bread crumbs) with garlic powder, parsley and salt.
In a separate bowl melt two tablespoons of butter.
Mix together the breadcrumbs with the melted butter.
Sprinkle the bread crumbs over top of the pasta dish evenly before serving.

Variation Ideas For Easy Chicken Parmesan Pasta

Fried Chicken Variations

You can use fried chicken nuggets or breaded chicken patties in this recipe to give it more of a chicken parm taste. I like to either bake the chicken or air fry it so it is crispy, then add the chicken to the pasta at the end right before I melt the cheese.

Breading and pan frying the chicken in the pan is another option. I would then recommend removing the chicken from the pan and covering it to keep it warm, cooking the pasta, and adding the fried chicken back as you melt the cheese to keep it crispy.

Adding Vegetable Variation

Extra vegetables can be added to the pot at the same time you add and cook the pasta. Try diced bell pepper, onion, carrots, cauliflower or broccoli.

Zucchini can be added but can get a little watery, I prefer to sautee it separately after cooking the chicken. Then I remove the zucchini to the side and mix it in as I melt the cheese.

Fresh spinach can be added right before you add the cheese and can be mixed in. The heat from the pasta will wilt the spinach.

If you have frozen vegetables it’s best to sautee the vegetables separately. Add cooked frozen vegetables back in after cooking the pasta but before adding the cheese.

A plate of chicken parmesan pasta topped with cheese next to salad and forks.

Can I Use Any Pasta Shape In This One Pot Chicken Parmesan Recipe?

Other short pasta shapes similar to penne can be used in this recipe. Ziti, Farfalle (bow ties) and fussili or rotini (spirals) all are great options. Using a similar sized pasta will help to make sure the amount of liquid needed and the cooking time is similar for this recipe.

Using a thicker pasta like elbow noodles or a long pasta like spaghetti or fettuccini is possible, but it may need a little more liquid or a longer cooking time. Similarly, a tiny pasta like orzo or ditillini may need less liquid or a shorter cooking time. I don’t recommend using a long pasta or a tiny pasta for best results.

If you have spaghetti try my ground turkey spaghetti, which is also a one pot pasta. You can use chicken pieces instead of the ground turkey. Or for a classic baked pasta taste that’s great for meal prep, try the baked cheesy chicken with rigatoni.

What Is The Best Pot To Use For One-Pot Pasta?

A wide and deep skillet or a Dutch oven work best. If using a large skillet, I prefer to use a large saute pan with the straight sides to make sure the pasta has enough room, a smaller skillet won’t have enough space. Choose a large pot with a tight-fitting lid to make sure the pasta can cook fully.

How Long Will One Pot Chicken Parmesan Pasta Last?

Expect this chicken parmesan pasta will last for about three days when stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator. I find leftovers are easiest to reheat in the microwave.

Leftovers of this recipe can be frozen in a freezer-safe zip-top bag or container. Frozen chicken parmesan pasta will taste it’s best if eaten within two to three months.

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Square close up overhead view of chicken alfredo pasta in a pot.

3 Comments

Nate says:

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My kiddos loved it! (I loved the no-mess one pot!)

Rita says:

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How many servings does this reciepie make? I want to feed my Churches Youth group of about 20 kids & 10 Adults

1. Kristy Richardson says:
  
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  Hi Rita, This recipe feeds 6 people. With that many people it’s usually easier to make multiple baked pasta dishes rather then make a one pot meal. Cooking multiple pounds of pasta in one pot is not an easy task unless you have a commercial kitchen with really large pots. I would make something like this baked ziti ahead of time and add chicken. https://onmykidsplate.com/easy-baked-ziti/ Hope that helps.