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    Home » Recipes » Pasta and Noodle

    Baked Ziti with Chicken Bolognese

    September 5, 2019 by Kankana Saxena

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

    Chicken Bolognese Baked Ziti is crowd pleaser, both with kids and adults. Because it is so easy to freeze and bake in bulk, it is perfect for big parties too. You can make the dish vegetarian by adding finely chopped mushroom or tofu instead of chicken. You could also add bite size cauliflower or broccoli and make it vegetable loaded. This Baked Pasta with Chicken Bolognese is a favorite in my home and probably the only pasta dish I like that is covered in tomato sauce.

    When you look at the overall steps, it may feel like a lot of work, but a little multitasking is all this baked pasta recipe needs.

    While the Chicken Bolognese sauce gets cooked, boil the pasta on the side.

    Then, mix it all together and layer in an ovenproof dish with lots of cheese. Bake it until it’s golden brown and the cheese is bubbling away.

    What pasta to use for baked ziti?

     You can choose any variety of pasta that you like. However, my go-to is often penne pasta or ziti pasta. Both these varieties are hollow cylindrical shape and as a result, the sauce gets to ooze inside making it so creamy and tasty.

    Can you make baked ziti Vegetarian?

    Absolutely yes! You can ignore the ground chicken and add finely chopped mushroom or tofu. You could also use tiny bite size cauliflower or broccoli.

    Chicken Bolognese Baked Ziti | Playful Cooking

    Can you freeze this Baked Pasta with Chicken Bolognese?

    What makes this dish so great for parties or picnics is that you can make the whole thing in advance.

    Layer the pasta with cheese in an ovenproof dish and cover it tightly with an aluminum foil. Keep it in the refrigerator and bake it just before serving.

    You could also just make the sauce and freeze it. When you are ready to make the dish, just thaw the sauce, boil some pasta, layer and bake.

    Additionally, you can serve this dish even without baking. Just mix everything and shave some Parmesan cheese on top.

    Chicken Bolognese Baked Ziti | Playful Cooking

    Irrespective of whether you serve it with or without baking, this creamy pasta dish is a keeper and can be served in several different ways. My son loves pasta and dinner times goes smoothly when I make this delicious pasta recipe.

    Chicken Bolognese Baked Ziti | Playful Cooking

    Here are more delicious pasta you will enjoy:

    Creamy Butter Garlic Shrimp Pasta

    5 Ingredients Asparagus Pasta

    Rigatoni Broccoli Casserole

    Chicken Bolognese Baked Ziti | Playful Cooking

    Baked Pasta with Chicken Bolognese

    Kankana Saxena
    Chicken Bolognese Baked Pasta is crowd pleaser, both with kids and adults. Because it is so easy to freeze and bake in bulk, it is perfect for big parties too.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 minutes mins
    Cook Time 45 minutes mins
    Total Time 1 hour hr
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine Italian
    Servings 0

    Ingredients
     

    • 2 tablespoons butter
    • 3 garlic cloves (finely chopped)
    • 1 medium size onion (finely chopped)
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon pepper
    • 1 lb ground chicken
    • grated carrot -1 and ½ cups
    • dried oregano -1 teaspoon
    • sugar - 1 teaspoon
    • lemon pepper seasoning - 1 teaspoon
    • 1 teaspoon paprika
    • 1 and ½ cups tomato puree
    • 3 cups penne or ziti pasta
    • ½ cup heavy cream
    • 1 cup grated mozzarella cheese

    Instructions
     

    • Place a big skillet at medium heat and drop the butter. Let it melt and then, add the garlic. Stir it around for a few seconds and scatter the chopped onion. Stir it around. Sprinkle the salt and pepper. Sauté for 1 minute.
      step 01
    • Add the ground chicken and mix it around. Sauté for 2 minutes. Scatter the grated carrot and mix it around.
      step 02
    • Sprinkle the dried herbs and seasoning (1 teaspoon dried oregano, 1 teaspoon sugar, 1 teaspoon lemon pepper seasoning and 1 teaspoon paprika). Mix it around.
      step 03
    • Pour the tomato puree, combine everything and cover the pan. Let it simmer for 10 minutes.
      step 04
    • In the meantime, boil the pasta to al dente. It should take about 8 minutes. Make sure to season the water with enough salt when boiling the pasta.
      step 05
    • By the time the pasta is boiled, the sauce should be ready. Mix the heavy cream to the chicken bolognese and mix it around. Strain the pasta and mix it to the sauce.
      step 07
    • You can serve the pasta right away with some Parmesan cheese on top. Or, you can follow the below directions to bake it.
      Step 08
    • Preheat the oven to 350F and grease an ovenproof dish with little butter or oil. Layer some of the pasta, add ½ cup cheese on top, layer rest of the pasta and add rest of the cheese.
      step 09
    • Bake it for 30 minutes.
    • Sprinkle little finely chopped parsley on top and some grated Parmesan cheese.
      Step 10
    • Serve warm.

    Video

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqyZWkyZXbw

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1Serves 2 to 4
    Keyword baked meals, chicken, pasta, ziti
    Chicken Bolognese Baked Ziti | Playful Cooking

    DISCLAIMER:  This is an old post that I have updated with better photos and content.  

    More Pasta and Noodle

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      Spinach Tofu Pasta
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      Chicken Chow Mein
    • Gochujang Pasta
      Spicy Gochujang Pasta
    • Soba Noodles with mango and Cucumber
      Soba Noodles with Mango and Cucumber

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Steph

      October 21, 2019 at 6:38 am

      Really good recipe! It was portrayed gleefully, written simply and I ate it mouthfully! Amazing!

    2. Neil

      September 08, 2019 at 12:13 pm

      5 stars
      Yum! You can't beat good chicken pasta recipe. But this chicken bolognese baked pasta looks so delicious I just want to reach through the screen with my fork. Great comfort food Kankana. Thanks for sharing!

      • Kankana Saxena

        September 10, 2019 at 4:30 pm

        Great comfort food indeed! Thanks Neil 🙂

    3. mjskitchen

      September 08, 2019 at 10:38 am

      oh my goodness - you're right! We were both had a pasta and cheese moment this week. 🙂 But they are quite different. It's been a long time since I've done a pasta bake with a tomato sauce. To be honest a pasta and heavy cheese dish a treat in this house because I don't do them often even though we love them, all that cheese doesn't like me. 🙂 However, I'm pinning this for a late fall dish. It's different than my usual and it looks absolutely delicious!

      • Kankana Saxena

        September 10, 2019 at 4:31 pm

        I rarely make such cheese loaded meal. It's my occasional guilty pleasure LOL

    4. Easyfoodsmith

      September 08, 2019 at 10:16 am

      I have a pasta lover at home and she will love it so much! I need to show her this 😀

      • Kankana Saxena

        September 10, 2019 at 4:31 pm

        LOL That will make me very happy!

    5. 2pots2cook

      September 08, 2019 at 3:58 am

      5 stars
      Absolutely pinning and sharing this beauty 🙂

      • Kankana Saxena

        September 10, 2019 at 4:32 pm

        YAY! Thanks so much 🙂

    6. Kelly | Foodtasia

      September 07, 2019 at 4:51 am

      5 stars
      So drooling over this pasta dish, Kankana! The sauce looks amazing and that cheese!!

      • Kankana Saxena

        September 10, 2019 at 4:32 pm

        I don't like like tomato loaded pasta unless it's bolognese sauce 🙂

    7. Alida Ryder

      September 18, 2016 at 12:15 am

      That looks so delectable Kankana. The ultimate comfort food!

    8. Laura | Tutti Dolci

      September 14, 2016 at 9:04 am

      I love a good baked pasta for busy weeknights. This looks delicious!

    9. Anindya Sundar Basu

      September 12, 2016 at 6:23 am

      Will try this at home for sure for my son . Great pics once again

    10. Janani Takesh Kumar

      September 07, 2016 at 3:09 pm

      Looks soo lovely and yummy! Gorgeous clicks kankana! I'm in ❤️ With your recipes and clicks❤️❤️

    11. angiesrecipes

      September 07, 2016 at 1:04 am

      Such a delicious and comforting meal. I love that you used chicken instead of red meat to make this classic sauce.

    12. Rosa

      September 07, 2016 at 12:34 am

      That looks ever so scrumptious! Even though it is only 9am, my mouth is watering and I could eat a portion of your luscious dish.

      Cheers,

      Rosa

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