Baked Ziti Alfredo with Cajun Chicken
Description
This baked ziti Alfredo with Cajun-spiced chicken is a creamy, cheesy comfort food casserole the whole family will love any day of the week.
Ingredients
•
1 (16 ounce) package ziti pasta
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2 tablespoons olive oil
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4 (5 ounce) skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
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2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning, or to taste
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1/2 teaspoon salt
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1 large green bell pepper, cut into bite-sized pieces
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1 large red bell pepper, cut into bite-sized pieces
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1 large onion, chopped
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4 cloves garlic, minced, divided
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6 medium Roma tomatoes, diced
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2 tablespoons butter
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1 tablespoon all-purpose flour, or more as needed
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1 1/2 cups whole milk, or more to taste
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1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, or more to taste
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salt and ground black pepper to taste
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1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Directions
1
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
2
Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook ziti in boiling water, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 10 minutes. Drain.
3
While ziti is cooking, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium to medium-high heat. Add chicken, Cajun seasoning, and salt. Sauté 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.
4
Meanwhile, melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add remaining garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add flour; cook and stir for 1 minute. Slowly whisk in milk and bring to a gentle boil. Stir in Parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper. Add more Parmesan to thicken or more milk to thin to your liking.
5
Add cooked ziti to chicken mixture; toss to coat. Transfer to a deep casserole dish. Pour cheese sauce over pasta mixture and top with mozzarella cheese.
6
Bake in the preheated oven until the top is golden and bubbly, about 15 minutes.