Jalapeno Popper Chicken Baked Ziti

Name: Jalapeno Popper Chicken Baked Ziti
Prep time: 45 min
Cook time: 3 h 25 min
Total time: 4 h 10 min
Yield: 12 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 16 oz Alfredo Sauce; 6 slices Bacon; 1 tsp Black Pepper; 4 tbsp Butter; 0.5 cup Butter Cracker; 1 cup Chicken Broth; 8 oz Cream Cheese; 0.25 cup Diced Onion; 1 tsp Dried Oregano; 0.5 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese; 3 whole Jalapeño Pepper; 0.5 cup Mayonnaise; 1 tsp Minced Garlic; 1 tsp Onion Powder; 1 tsp Salt; 1 cup Shredded Cheese; 8 oz Shredded Pepper Jack Cheese; 2 lb Skin-On Boneless Chicken Breast; 16 oz Ziti Pasta

Dinner 🍽️Lunch 🥪 American High-Protein 💪Sugar-Free Comfort-Food

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

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.