Name: Baked Ziti Alfredo with Cajun Chicken
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 20 min
Yield: 8
Ingredients: Ziti pasta - 1 (16 ounce) package; Olive oil - 2 tablespoons; Skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces - 4 (5 ounce); Cajun seasoning, or to taste - 2 tablespoons; Salt - ½ teaspoon; Green bell pepper, cut into bite-sized pieces - 1 large; Red bell pepper, cut into bite-sized pieces - 1 large; Onion, chopped - 1 large; Garlic, minced, divided - 4 cloves; Roma tomatoes, diced - 6 medium; Butter - 2 tablespoons; All-purpose flour, or more as needed - 1 tablespoon; Whole milk, or more to taste - 1 ½ cups; Grated Parmesan cheese, or more to taste - ½ cup; Salt and ground black pepper to taste - ½ cup; Shredded mozzarella cheese - 1 ½ cups

Ingredients for - Baked Ziti Alfredo with Cajun Chicken

1. Ziti pasta 1 (16 ounce) package

2. Olive oil 2 tablespoons

3. Skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces 4 (5 ounce)

4. Cajun seasoning, or to taste 2 tablespoons

5. Salt ½ teaspoon

6. Green bell pepper, cut into bite-sized pieces 1 large

7. Red bell pepper, cut into bite-sized pieces 1 large

8. Onion, chopped 1 large

9. Garlic, minced, divided 4 cloves

10. Roma tomatoes, diced 6 medium

11. Butter 2 tablespoons

12. All-purpose flour, or more as needed 1 tablespoon

13. Whole milk, or more to taste 1 ½ cups

14. Grated Parmesan cheese, or more to taste ½ cup

15. Salt and ground black pepper to taste ½ cup

16. Shredded mozzarella cheese 1 ½ cups

How to cook deliciously - Baked Ziti Alfredo with Cajun Chicken

1 . Stage

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).

2 . Stage

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.

3 . Stage

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.

4 . Stage

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.

5 . Stage

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.

6 . Stage

Bake in the preheated oven until the top is golden and bubbly, about 15 minutes.