Baked Ziti With Chicken

This baked ziti with chicken recipe is an easy to put together pasta casserole that the whole family can enjoy!

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This baked ziti with chicken is so easy, versatile, and delicious. Tender pasta and chicken are mixed with a flavorful tomato sauce and lots of cheese for an amazing meal that is ideal for busy weeknights.

Baked Ziti With Chicken Ingredients

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You’ll need:

• 1 (16-ounce) box of ziti noodles
• 1 tablespoon of olive oil
• 1 pound of boneless, skinless chicken breasts, trimmed and cut into bite-size pieces
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 (28-ounce) jar of your favorite pasta sauce (or make your own)
• 1 (0.5-ounce) package of fresh basil, chopped (about ⅓ cup)
• 1 cup of grated parmesan, divided into two ½-cup portions
• 2 cups of shredded mozzarella, divided into two 1-cup portions

Substitutions And Additions

SPICE: If you like your dishes spicy, add a pinch of red pepper flakes when you stir in the basil.

MEAT: You could switch up the protein in your pasta dish. Italian sausage, ground beef, ground chicken, or ground pork would all be great options.

PASTA: You could choose a different type of pasta as a substitute for the ziti pasta. Rotini, farfalle, rigatoni, shells, or penne pasta would all be excellent substitutes.

SAUCE: You can also use alfredo sauce — it’s also really tasty! Or do a mix of marinara sauce and Alfredo sauce if you’re a pink sauce fan. 

How To Make This Baked Ziti With Chicken Recipe

STEP ONE: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 9 × 13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.

STEP TWO: Cook pasta according to package directions to al dente, drain it well, and return pasta to the pan.

STEP THREE: Prepare the uncooked chicken by generously seasoning it with salt and black pepper.

STEP FOUR: Heat the olive oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add your small pieces of chicken and cook it until the chicken is no longer pink in the middle.

STEP FIVE: When the chicken is done, add the 2 cloves of minced garlic to the skillet and cook for another 30 to 60 seconds, or until the garlic is fragrant.

STEP SIX: Stir the tomato sauce, chicken, and basil into your pasta in the pan, making sure everything is evenly coated.

STEP SEVEN: Pour half of the pasta mixture into the prepared baking dish. Top the first half with ½ cup parmesan and 1 cup mozzarella. Then, pour the remaining half of the pasta mixture on top. Don’t add the rest of the cheese quite yet!

STEP EIGHT: Cover the pasta casserole dish with aluminum foil and bake it for 20 minutes.

STEP NINE: After 20 minutes, uncover the dish and top it with the remaining ½ cup of parmesan and 1 cup of mozzarella cheese. Bake uncovered for another 8 minutes.

STEP TEN: When finished, you can top the ziti bake with additional chopped basil if desired.

How To Serve

I usually serve a big, fresh Caesar salad with this easy chicken and pasta dish. It’s perfect for adding veggies and greens, and I think a salad is always a nice complement to a pasta dish.

We also can’t have pasta without mentioning bread, can we? I love to have garlic toast, cheesy pull-apart bread, or a baguette of some kind with this dish.

Your entire family will definitely enjoy this easy pasta recipe, and, for a meatless version, try our easy-baked ziti recipe. For another great baked pasta dish, try our baked tortellini.

MORE PASTA RECIPES

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Storage

IN THE FRIDGE: This chicken-baked ziti can be refrigerated in an airtight container for 3 to 5 days. You can reheat it in the oven or microwave.

IN THE FREEZER: This dish freezes so well and makes it very easy to have on a later date. Make sure that it has completely cooled down before putting it in the freezer. Leave the dish sitting out at room temperature for about a half-hour, then cover with foil and throw it in the freezer! Best if eaten within about 3 months.

REHEATING: Reheating is easy with this one as well. You can put it in the oven for an hour covered, and then uncover and bake it for another 10 minutes.

I am a sucker for any sort of pasta dish, but I especially love the cheesiness of this baked ziti with chicken. It’s very versatile. The addition of chicken is delicious and gives it protein.

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Baked Ziti with Chicken

5 from 4 votes

This baked ziti with chicken recipe is an easy to put together pasta casserole that the whole family can enjoy!

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Servings 10

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Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 16 ounces ziti noodles
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 pound chicken breasts, trimmed and cut into bite-size pieces
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 28 ounces your favorite pasta sauce, or make your own
• 0.5 ounces fresh basil, chopped (about ⅓ cup)
• 1 cup grated parmesan, divided into two ½-cup portions
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella, divided into two 1-cup portions

Instructions

 

• Preheat oven to 350°F and prepare 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray.
• Cook pasta to al dente, drain well and return to pan.
• Generously season chicken with salt and pepper.
• Heat olive oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken and cook until the chicken is no longer pink in the middle.
• When the chicken is done, add two cloves of minced garlic to the skillet and cook another minute, until the garlic is fragrant.
• Stir the sauce, chicken, and basil into your pasta, making sure everything is evenly coated.
• Pour half of your pasta mixture into the baking dish. Top with ½ cup of parmesan and 1 cup of mozzarella. Pour the remaining pasta on top.
• Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes. Uncover, top with ½ cup parmesan and 1 cup mozzarella, and bake, uncovered, for 8 minutes.
• Top with additional chopped basil, if desired.

Video

Notes

• Don’t forget to add salt to the water. It adds flavor to the pasta while cooking.
• Al dente is the ideal consistency for pasta. The pasta will be tender and will still have a slightly firm texture when you bite into it.
• If you want to brown your cheese slightly, you can turn your broiler on for the last minute of melting the cheese. Make sure to keep a close eye on it so it doesn’t burn.

Nutrition

Calories: 375kcal | Carbohydrates: 42g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 56mg | Sodium: 780mg | Potassium: 589mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 832IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 256mg | Iron: 2mg

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