Baked Ziti with Chicken
A comforting baked ziti loaded with tender chicken, tomato sauce, basil, and melted cheeses.
Servings: 10 servings
Ingredients
- 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 pasta sauce your favorite
- 0.5 ounces fresh basil chopped (about 1/3 cup)
- 1 cup grated Parmesan divided (1/2 cup + 1/2 cup)
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella divided (1 cup + 1 cup)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and spray a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the ziti until al dente according to package directions; drain well and return to the pot.
- Season the bite-size chicken pieces generously with salt and pepper.
- Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken and cook until no longer pink in the center, about 5–7 minutes depending on piece size.
- Add the minced garlic to the skillet with the cooked chicken and cook 1 minute more, until fragrant.
- Stir the pasta sauce, cooked chicken with garlic, and chopped basil into the drained ziti until evenly coated.
- Pour half of the pasta mixture into the prepared baking dish, then sprinkle with 1/2 cup grated Parmesan and 1 cup shredded mozzarella.
- Top with the remaining pasta mixture, cover the dish with aluminum foil, and bake for 20 minutes.
- Remove the foil, sprinkle the top with the remaining 1/2 cup Parmesan and 1 cup mozzarella, and bake uncovered for an additional 8 minutes, until cheese is melted.
- Optionally top with additional chopped basil before serving.
Equipment
- 9x13 inch Baking Dish
- Large Pot
- Skillet
- Colander
- Mixing Spoon
- Aluminum Foil
Notes
- Add salt to the pasta water for flavor.
- Cook the pasta to al dente so it remains slightly firm.
- Watch closely if using the broiler to brown the cheese.