Chicken Parm Bubble Up Bake

 

 

   OK, this is about the easiest "shortcut meal" you'll ever make. It reminds of me a show that used to be on the food network called Semi-Homemade, remember that one? It basically showed recipes where you add store bought ingredients with a few fresh ingredients. Lots of time savers and easy short cuts. I don't know if I would spend the extra money on diced onions rather than just cutting one myself, but you get the idea. Side note, it always cracked me up that the entire kitchen was always redecorated for each themed episode, and the fact that she would called her table a "table-scape". Also she used to finish each episode by making a cocktail. Too funny. But I digress..

 This casserole is super simple because you only need a few store bought ingredients, and then you just throw 'em all together and bake. Love it! It feeds a crowd too, which is always a plus in my book.

 So if you're in a rush to get something hearty on the table, this one's a keeper. Tbh I have no idea whose recipe it is. There are actually lots of different variations of "bubble up" recipes where you add cut up biscuits to a casserole and then they bubble up when you bake them. I'm guessing it's a Pillsbury invention? Who knows? 

 Anyway, if you like chicken parm, you'll love this!

1 (24oz) bag frozen chicken bites or popcorn chicken nuggets (I used Tyson)

1 (24oz) jar of your preferred tomato sauce (I used Prego)

2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

1 can Pillsbury Grands biscuits

Parmesan cheese

Italian spices

First, cut the pieces of chicken down to bite size, if needed. Now add the chicken bites, tomato sauce, and half of the mozzarella cheese to a large bowl. Stir to coat with sauce. 

Open the can of biscuits. Cut each one into 6 pieces. (cut each one one half, then cut each half into thirds). Add them to the bowl with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese and Italian seasoning. Toss well.

Pour all into a sprayed casserole dish.  Bake in a 350º oven for about 25 minutes. Top with remaining mozzarella cheese. Add an extra sprinkle of Italian seasoning, if desired. Bake for an addition 20-25 minutes. It's done when all the biscuits are "bubbled up".

Let stand for a few minutes before serving. 

 

 

Tips:

 Feel free to add any extras you want. Do you like it spicy? Add a few pinches of crushed red pepper flakes. Do you like extra garlic? Go for it. Also, the amounts are just guidelines. Do you want it to be more meaty or saucy? or cheesy?? or biscuit-y? Add more! If you like a lot, add a lot! Adjust it to how you like it. You could even turn it into a pizza bake by using pizza sauce and adding diced pepperoni, sauteed onions, mushrooms, and bell peppers, etc. Yum!

Btw, I should mention, the original recipe said to bake it at 375, but it seems to me the the outside biscuits always start to overbake before the ones in the center are done. I've had bubble ups with burnt biscuits on the outside and raw ones in the center. So I decided to bake it at a slightly lower temperature (350), just to let the center biscuits catch up. Problem solved!