Baked Ziti Alfredo With Cajun Chicken Recipes

BAKED CHICKEN ALFREDO

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil; add penne and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 11 minutes. Drain.
• Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add minced garlic; saute until golden, about 30 seconds. Stir in cream cheese until smooth. Add milk; stir until there are no lumps. Lower heat to medium. Add 3/4 of the Parmesan cheese, parsley, Italian seasoning, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and black pepper. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until sauce is smooth, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Heat olive oil in a large skillet over low heat. Season chicken with 1/2 teaspoon salt and garlic powder on both sides. Cook chicken breasts until no longer pink in the center and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center reads at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C), about 6 minutes per side. Cut chicken into 1/2-inch cubes.
• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
• Butter bottom and sides of a 9x13-inch casserole dish. Cover bottom with a layer of pasta. Place half of the chicken cubes on top. Pour 1/2 of the sauce over the chicken. Repeat layering pasta, chicken, and sauce. Sprinkle top with remaining Parmesan cheese. Cover with aluminum foil.
• Bake in the preheated oven until sauce is bubbly, about 15 minutes. Remove aluminum foil and bake until cheese is golden, about 5 minutes more.

CHICKEN ALFREDO BAKED ZITI RECIPE

Steps:

• Chicken Baked Ziti:
• Mist a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray; set aside.
• Cook the pasta al dente in a large stockpot of well-salted boiling according to package instructions. Drain.
• Return pasta to the stockpot and add chicken and alfredo sauce.
• Gently toss to combine until the pasta is evenly coated.
• Pour half of the pasta into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle evenly with 1 cup of mozzarella.
• Layer the remaining half of the pasta evenly on top. Sprinkle evenly with the remaining 1 ½ cup of mozzarella.
• Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until the cheese is melted and just barely starts to turn golden. Remove and serve immediately, sprinkled with additional toppings if desired.
• Alfredo Sauce:
• Heat olive oil in a large sauce pan over medium-high heat.
• Add garlic and sauté one minute, stirring occasionally, until fragrant.
• Sprinkle with flour, and stir to combine.
• Sauté for an additional minute to cook the flour, stirring occasionally.
• Slowly add chicken broth, whisking to combine until smooth.
• Whisk in milk, and bring the mixture to a simmer.
• Let cook for an additional minute until thickened, then stir in Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper until the cheese melted. Remove from heat and set aside.

BAKED ZITI ALFREDO WITH CAJUN CHICKEN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add ziti and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 10 minutes. Drain.
• While the pasta is cooking, heat oil in a large skillet over medium to medium-high heat. Add chicken, Cajun seasoning, and salt. Saute until chicken is cooked through and beginning to caramelize, about 10 minutes. Add bell peppers, onion, and 1/2 of the garlic; cook until tender, 5 to 7 minutes. Add tomatoes and bring to a simmer.
• Meanwhile, melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add remaining garlic and saute until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add flour; cook and stir for 1 minute. Slowly whisk in 1 1/2 cups milk and bring to a gentle boil. Stir in 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper. Add more Parmesan to thicken or more milk to thin to your liking.
• Add cooked pasta to the chicken mixture; toss to coat. Transfer to a deep casserole dish. Pour cheese sauce over the pasta mixture and top with mozzarella cheese.
• Bake in the preheated oven until the top is golden and bubbly, about 15 minutes.