Healthy, easy, quick homestyle cooking comfort food for the win! This One-Pot Basil Chicken Baked Ziti is perfect for a delicious, easy weeknight dinner!
As many of you know, Cody and I are smack-dab in the middle of a big move right now. Our current situation: walls of boxes everywhere (evidence will be probably be on my Insta Story pretty soon), a task list the size of Texas (which we will be leaving in 2 weeks, so bittersweet! More about this in the Healthy Sriracha Shredded Chicken Tacos post), and missing a ton of kitchen items because I prematurely packed them in an effort to save time down the road. Real life, y’all.
All that to say that this delicious One-Pot Basil Chicken Baked Ziti is a result of 3 things:
- My typical comfort food cravings during times of chaos and stress (Anyone with me? Can we be real like that?).
- Having ZERO time or dishes to really make anything fancy that takes longer than 30 minutes!
- This delicious pasta sauce that I happened to have on hand: Ragu’s® Homestyle Thick and Hearty Traditional Sauce!
I pretty much always keep this stuff on hand because you just never know when you’re going to have a comfort food craving that could turn into an entire pizza devoured if not diverted to a recipe like this one! This delicious sauce doesn’t have artificial flavors, colors, or high-fructose corn syrup. Check out Ragu’s® website to learn more about the new Homestyle sauces!
OBVS, this sauce is also incredibly helpful because of how easy it is to use when you’re in a rush and need that delicious dinner STAT. For me, homestyle cooking is all about finding easy and fun recipes that you can share with family and have on the table quickly!
This One-Pot Basil Chicken Ziti is just that.
Homestyle cooking, comfort food, easy, fun, shareable, and without completely derailing your healthy eating progress. It’s actually loaded with protein, calcium, and healthy carbs!
Tips for the cooked chicken: I like to buy a whole chicken and roast it at the beginning of the week, shred it up, and use the chicken in easy recipes throughout the week. It makes for quicker and easier weeknight meals!
If you’re looking for a vegetarian variation of this recipe, check out the Mushroom & Spinach Pasta Bake or Vegetarian Zucchini Spaghetti w/ Red Sauce & Mushrooms recipes!
Here’s the easy, delicious recipe:
One-Pot Basil Chicken Baked Ziti
Ingredients
- 2 medium chicken breasts (cooked, shredded)
- 12 oz . whole wheat penne (cooked)
- 23 oz . jar Ragu® Thick and Hearty Traditional Sauce
- 2 cups spinach
- 6 oz . mozzarella cheese
- 5-6 basil leaves
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- Mix the shredded, cooked chicken, cooked penne, pasta sauce, and spinach together. Pour into a casserole dish or bakeware.
- Top with mozzarella (or also mix it in) and basil leaves (shredded or whole).
- Bake for 25-30 minutes.
- Serve and enjoy!
Alysa Villelli says:
YUM!! Looks great!
Christine McMichael replied:
Thank you, Alysa!
Cait says:
I love one pot recipes! This one looks like a winner. I can’t wait to try it.
– Cait | http://www.prettyandfun.com
Christine McMichael replied:
Me too, Cait! Thank you!
Lisa Sell says:
Perfect Autumn comfort food and easy!
Christine McMichael replied:
Definitely! 🙂 Thanks, Lisa!
Karen says:
I’ll be making this when our basil and spinich are ready!
Christine McMichael replied:
Perfect! Enjoy, Karen!
Boyu Ba says:
This looks so good 🙂
Boyu xx
http://www.boyuba.com
Christine McMichael replied:
Thank you! 🙂
Marie says:
The only change I’m making is to use a homemade sauce -this looks delicous! Thank you for sharing 🙂
Christine McMichael replied:
Sounds wonderful, Marie! Of course! 🙂
Janine Good says:
I love anything quick and easy! This ziti recipe looks like it is just the ticket for a busy day and low energy to make a complicated meal!
Christine McMichael replied:
Me too, that’s the way to go! Perfect, enjoy!
candy says:
Love baked pasta and this is making me hungry.
Christine McMichael replied:
Me too, so good! Enjoy!
Amber says:
This looks amazing. I need to make it sometime.
Christine McMichael replied:
Thank you, Amber!
Finance Solver says:
I’m always looking to learn a new recipe, thank you for sharing this, it looks delicious and healthy!
Christine McMichael replied:
Perfect! Hope you like the recipe!
Kandja Sylla says:
The pics just made me feel so hungry. Home style cooking surely means quick, easy and delicious food so I’m surely doing this. I can’t believe that it will only take 30 minutes for this. Btw, I love the nutrition info you indicated here. Thanks for sharing! xx
http://www.prettyweirdbombshell.com/fancy-corn/
Christine McMichael replied:
Hope you enjoy the recipe, Kandja! 🙂
Idriss says:
Great post ! Thanks for the recipe !
Christine McMichael replied:
You’re welcome, Idriss! Enjoy!
Andrea says:
Yum! Thanks for the recipe.
Christine McMichael replied:
Of course, Andrea! 🙂
Amy Scott says:
One pot? I’m in! Saving this for a mid-week dinner 🙂
Christine McMichael replied:
Perfect! Enjoy, Amy!
Marsha says:
This looks so good! I don’t eat chicken but I bet it would be just as good without it. Saving!
Christine McMichael replied:
Yes! I’ve also made this with mushrooms and spinach instead. It was delish! Enjoy!