Jalapeno Popper Chicken Baked Ziti
Description
This mashup dish combines jalapeno poppers, chicken, and ziti in a creamy pasta sauce with 4 kinds of cheese in a nice departure from traditional baked ziti.
Ingredients
•
2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
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1 cup chicken broth
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1 teaspoon salt
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1 teaspoon ground black pepper
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1 teaspoon onion flakes
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1 teaspoon dried oregano
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1 teaspoon minced garlic
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6 slices bacon, diced
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3 medium jalapeno peppers - stemmed, seeded, and minced
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1/4 cup diced onion
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1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
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1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
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1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
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1/2 cup mayonnaise
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1 (16 ounce) package ziti pasta
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1 (16 ounce) jar Alfredo sauce
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1 (8 ounce) package shredded pepper Jack cheese
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1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
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1/2 cup crushed buttery round crackers
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1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
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4 tablespoons salted butter, softened
Directions
1
Combine chicken breasts, chicken broth, salt, pepper, onion flakes, oregano, and garlic for shredded chicken in a medium slow cooker, making sure chicken is completely covered by broth.
2
Cook until chicken is no longer pink in the center, on Low for 5 to 6 hours or on High for 3 to 4 hours.
3
Thirty minutes before chicken is finished cooking, preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
4
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 11 minutes. Drain and set aside.
5
While ziti is cooking, prepare filling: fry bacon, jalapenos, and onion in a small skillet over medium-high heat until onions are tender and bacon is browned, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from the heat and transfer to a small mixing bowl with cream cheese, mozzarella, Parmesan, and mayonnaise; mix until well combined.
6
Remove chicken from the slow cooker and place into a large bowl; use 2 forks to shred chicken into small pieces. Add cooked ziti and Alfredo sauce; mix well.
7
Pour 1/2 of the chicken-ziti mixture into the prepared baking dish and sprinkle pepper Jack cheese in an even layer over top. Spread jalapeno popper filling evenly across the dish. Pour remaining chicken-ziti mixture into the dish, and sprinkle 1/2 cup mozzarella over top.
8
Mix crushed crackers, Parmesan cheese, and butter for topping together in a small bowl; sprinkle over the pasta dish.
9
Bake in the preheated oven until cheese is melted and just barely starts to turn golden, 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and serve immediately.