This week, our Ninjas cooked a most delicious meal; Chicken Parmesan Casserole. We have had many compliments this week, and hope you enjoyed your dinner!
Preparing this meal was such a unique experience for many of out Ninjas, with the majority of us having never crumbed chicken before. This made for a messy and fun afternoon, and the end result was absolutely delicious. We got the chance to really work on our fine motor skills by carefully transferring the chicken pieces between the flour, egg and breadcrumbs. Many families have let us know how much they enjoyed this dinner, so here is the recipe!
Chicken Parmesan Casserole
Prep: 20 min
Cook: 40 min
Serves: 8 people
Ingredients
1 packet Penne pasta
500g chicken breast
1 cup vegetable oil for frying
2 cups flour
3 eggs, beaten
2 cups Italian seasoned bread crumbs (we used Panko breadcrumbs)
2 cups mozzarella cheese, divided
1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
1 1/2 jar marinara sauce jar
chopped basil to garnish
Method
1. Cook the pasta according to the instructions on the packet. Rinse and drain the pasta in a colander.
2. In a large skillet heat the oil over medium heat. Pound the chicken to be about 1/4 inch thick or lice in half to make them fry easily. Place the flour, egg, and breadcrumbs in separate bowls. Coat the chicken in flour, then the egg and lastly the breadcrumbs. Place to fry in the hot oil until brown on each side and no longer ink in the centre. Remove from skillet and slice into pieces.
3. In a large bowl, combine cooked pasta, chicken, 1 cup mozzarella cheese, 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese and marinara sauce. Mix until combined.
4. Spread the pasta in a 9x13 inch casserole dish and cover with foil. Bake at 180 degrees for 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and uncover and top with remaining cheeses. Continue to bake for another 10 minutes until cheese is melted and casserole is heated through. Garnish with chopped basil if desired.
