Description
Delicious Chicken Parmesan Baked Ziti with marinara, mozzarella, and crispy chicken strips makes a cheesy, hearty family dinner everyone loves.
Ingredients
Scale
- 16 ounces ziti pasta
- 24 ounces marinara sauce
- 8 ounces tomato sauce (1 can)
- 6 medium frozen breaded chicken strips
- 8 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup shredded parmesan cheese
- Fresh basil, optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Cook pasta: Boil ziti pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Prepare sauce: In a large mixing bowl, combine marinara sauce and tomato sauce.
- Assemble ziti: In a greased baking dish, layer half of the cooked pasta, half of the sauce, and half of the mozzarella.
- Add chicken: Place frozen breaded chicken strips evenly on top.
- Layer remaining ingredients: Add the remaining pasta, sauce, and mozzarella. Sprinkle parmesan cheese over the top.
- Bake: Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 10–15 minutes until cheese is bubbly and golden.
- Garnish: Remove from oven and top with fresh basil if desired. Let cool for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
For extra crispiness, broil the top for 1–2 minutes after baking.
You can substitute homemade chicken tenders if preferred.
Add a pinch of Italian seasoning or red pepper flakes for extra flavor.
Allowing the baked ziti to rest for a few minutes helps it set and makes slicing easier.