Jalapeno Popper Chicken Baked Ziti
Jalapeno Popper Chicken Baked Ziti layers tender slow-cooked chicken, smoky bacon, and mild jalapeno heat with Alfredo-coated pasta and a quartet of cheeses. Rich and tangy with a buttery cracker-Parmesan crunch on top, it’s hearty comfort food that shines at weeknight dinners or potlucks when you want something boldly flavored and crowd-pleasing.
- Prep45 mins
- Cook3 hrs 25 mins
- Serves12
- DifficultyMedium
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Jalapeno Popper Chicken Baked Ziti, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 51 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 0 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityFair
- 45 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Processed Culinary Ingredients
- 2 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 9
- Heart Health
- 59
- Metabolic
- 18
- Digestive
- 33
- Inflammatory
- 43
- Performance
- 29
- General Wellness
- 1
In a medium slow cooker, combine chicken breasts, chicken broth, salt, pepper, onion flakes, oregano, and garlic for shredded chicken, ensuring the chicken is fully submerged in the broth.
- 2
Cook until the 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 the chicken is done, 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 the ziti and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender yet slightly firm, about 11 minutes. Drain and set aside.
- 5
While the ziti cooks, make the filling: fry the bacon, jalapenos, and onion in a small skillet over medium-high heat until the onions are tender and the bacon is browned, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from the heat and transfer to a small mixing bowl with the cream cheese, mozzarella, Parmesan, and mayonnaise; mix until well combined.
- 6
Remove the chicken from the slow cooker to a large bowl; use 2 forks to shred the chicken into small pieces. Add the cooked ziti and Alfredo sauce; mix well.
- 7
Pour half of the chicken–ziti mixture into the prepared baking dish and sprinkle the pepper Jack cheese in an even layer over the top. Spread the jalapeno popper filling evenly across the dish. Pour the remaining chicken–ziti mixture into the dish, then sprinkle 1/2 cup mozzarella over the top.
- 8
Combine the crushed crackers, Parmesan cheese, and butter for the topping in a small bowl; sprinkle over the pasta dish.
- 9
Bake in the preheated oven until the cheese is melted and just begins to turn golden, 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and serve immediately.
- Calories 648.99 kcal High 32%
- Protein 36.3 g Good Source 73%
- Carbohydrate 39.02 g 14%
- Total Fat 38.99 g High 50%
- Saturated Fat 17.73 g High 89%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 148.17 mg High 49%
- Sodium 1112.61 mg High 48%
- Dietary Fiber 1.7 g Low Source 6%
- Total Sugars 3.63 g --
- Added Sugars 0.11 g Low Source 0%
- Calcium 379.88 mg Good Source 29%
- Iron 2.13 mg Moderate 12%
- Potassium 329.61 mg Low Source 7%
- Vitamin A 124.11 mcg Moderate 14%
- Vitamin C 4.36 mg Low Source 5%
- Vitamin D 0.13 mcg Low Source 1%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Milk 🥛
- Wheat 🌾
- Gluten
- Garlic 🧄
- Onions 🧅
About This Recipe
Jalapeno Popper Chicken Baked Ziti is made with 19 ingredients and serves 12. It takes about 4 hrs 10 mins and is rated medium. Key ingredients include Alfredo Sauce, Bacon, Black Pepper, and Butter. Each serving provides about 648.99 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Jalapeno Popper Chicken Baked Ziti made of?
- The main ingredients are Alfredo Sauce, Bacon, Black Pepper, Butter, Butter Cracker. The full list of 19 is above.
- How long does it take to make Jalapeno Popper Chicken Baked Ziti?
- About 4 hrs 10 mins in total: 45 mins to prepare and 3 hrs 25 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 648.99 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Jalapeno Popper Chicken Baked Ziti easy to make?
- This recipe is rated medium, with 19 ingredients and 9 steps.
- Is Jalapeno Popper Chicken Baked Ziti healthy?
- Jalapeno Popper Chicken Baked Ziti has an easyChef Pro health score of 34/100. Per serving, it provides 648.99 calories and 36.3 g of protein, or 73% of the Daily Value. It is a good source of calcium. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 1112.61 mg (48% of the Daily Value) and saturated fat at 17.73 g (89% of the Daily Value). It contains Milk, Wheat, Gluten, Garlic and Onions, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
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