A creamy and comforting baked pasta dish featuring ziti, chicken, and homemade Alfredo sauce, topped with melted cheese.
Prep Time15 minutesmins
Cook Time25 minutesmins
Total Time40 minutesmins
Course: Main
Cuisine: Italian-American
Keyword: Comfort Food, Easy
Servings: 6servings
Equipment
9x13 inch Baking Dish
Large Pot
Medium Saucepan
Mixing Bowl
Ingredients
Pasta
12ouncesuncooked zitior any pasta shape you love
Chicken
2cupsshredded cooked chickenrotisserie chicken works well
Alfredo Sauce
1batchhomemade Alfredo sauce
Cheese
1.5cupsshredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
to tastefreshly-grated Parmesan cheesefor topping
to tastefresh basil or parsleyfor topping
Homemade Alfredo Sauce Ingredients
1tablespoonolive oil or butter
4clovesgarlicminced
3tablespoonsall-purpose flour
1cupchicken or vegetable stock
1cuplow-fat milk
0.5teaspoonsalt
0.25teaspoonblack pepper
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
Cook the pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water until al dente, according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan, heat olive oil or butter over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.
Sprinkle in the flour and stir constantly for another minute to form a paste.
Gradually whisk in the chicken stock and milk. Keep whisking to avoid lumps, then add salt and pepper. Bring to a gentle simmer and let thicken for 2-3 minutes.
Stir in 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese (optional for extra flavor), then remove from heat.
In a large bowl, combine the cooked pasta, shredded chicken, most of the Alfredo sauce, and 1 cup of the mozzarella. Mix gently until everything is coated.
Transfer the mixture to your prepared baking dish. Drizzle the remaining Alfredo sauce over the top and sprinkle with the remaining mozzarella and more Parmesan.
Bake uncovered for about 20-25 minutes, until the cheese is bubbly and golden.
Remove from the oven and let cool for 5 minutes. Top with fresh basil or parsley before serving.
Notes
For best flavor, use freshly grated mozzarella and Parmesan. You can also add sautéed vegetables for extra nutrition.