Chicken Parmesan Casserole - A MUST!

One of my favorite things to do on Pinterest, is to find delicious looking recipes of things I think my family will eat, and pin them to a board. What I love about finding recipes on Pinterest, is that there are these amazing pictures rather than just an abstract name of a recipe.  I need pictures people, and LOTS of them.  I wish cookbooks had pictures of every recipe in them, not just a selection.  If the truth be told, I don't even attempt to cook something that I have not seen in a picture first.

So my first adventure in Pinterest is a chicken parmesan casserole.  The link to the original website where the recipe is found  is here.  There is even a short video with step by step directions!

Here is a picture.. you know I like pictures!

Now I must confess, that I had the idea for this blog after I made the casserole.  Unfortunately I don't have step by step pictures, so you can visit the original website or use that imagination of yours!

This is an excellent make ahead recipe!  My version of this recipe has been altered for my family so feel free to mix it up a bit to make it work for your family.

Ingredients:

1 (3 lb) bag of boneless skinless chicken breasts
Cooking oil
Minced garlic
Salt
Basil (dried or fresh)
Jar of marinara or spaghetti sauce
1 (8oz) package of shredded mozzarella cheese
Grated Parmesan cheese
Bag of garlic cheese croutons

Thaw the chicken if needed.
Coat a baking dish with oil.
Spread about a tablespoon of the minced garlic in the oil.
Lay the thawed chicken breasts on top of the oil mixture.
Season with salt.
Pour a jar of marinara or spaghetti sauce over the chicken.
Sprinkle with fresh or dried basil.
Top with 1/2 of the mozzarella cheese and sprinkle with some of the Parmesan cheese.

*If you want to make this dish ahead, stop here and refrigerate.*

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Before baking, top with the whole bag of croutons.
Sprinkle with the remainder of mozzarella cheese and sprinkle with more Parmesan cheese.
Bake for 35 minutes or until the chicken is done.

Ta-Dah!  Chicken Parmesan without the mess or hassle!

Serve with a Caesar salad and breadsticks and you have a wonderful meal for your family.  It tastes so good, you might even trick them into thinking you slaved long hours preparing it for them!