Name: Buffalo Chicken Baked Ziti
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 50 min
Ingredients: 1 lb ziti noodles; 2 tbsp olive oil; 1/2 yellow onion (diced); 2 cups diced carrots; 2 cups diced celery; 4 cloves garlic (minced); 1 lb ground chicken; 15 oz ricotta cheese; 1 cup buffalo sauce (I used Frank's wing sauce); 1/2 cup blue cheese dressing; 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (divided); sliced green onion for topping

Amp up the flavor with this incredible Buffalo Chicken Baked Ziti recipe. Made with ricotta, buffalo sauce, blue cheese, and lots of veggies, it's sure to wow the entire family!

Buffalo Chicken Baked Ziti on plate with fork

A Quick Look

Recipe Name: Buffalo Chicken Baked Ziti
Ready In: 50 minutes
Serves: 12 servings
Main Ingredients: ziti noodles, olive oil, yellow onion, diced carrots, diced celery, garlic, ground chicken, ricotta cheese
Why You'll Love It: Amp up the flavor with this incredible Buffalo Chicken Baked Ziti recipe. Made with ricotta, buffalo sauce, blue cheese, and lots of veggies, it's sure to wow the entire family!

A delicious and comforting baked ziti dish

You can never go wrong with baked ziti. It's a delicious and cozy dish that's always a good choice, but especially in the fall! That's why today, I'm sharing with you one of my favorite baked ziti recipes. However, it's not your standard ziti. Instead, I'm amping up the flavor and showing you how to make buffalo chicken baked ziti!

This delicious recipe combines the standard baked ziti process with flavor bomb ingredients like buffalo sauce, blue cheese, and ricotta cheese. It's also loaded with veggies to pack in extra nutrients!

This dish is sure to be a hit this autumn. Give it a try!

Buffalo Chicken Baked Ziti in casserole dish cooked

Ingredients in this easy buffalo chicken baked ziti

To make this buffalo ziti, you will need ziti noodles, veggies, chicken, and expected buffalo ingredients such as buffalo sauce and blue cheese dressing. Everything you'll need is listed below!

Ziti noodles: Buffalo chicken baked ziti begins with a noodle base. For this recipe, use 1lb of ziti noodles. Any brand is fine, and penne noodles will also work if that's what you have on hand.
Olive oil: Next, 2 tablespoon of olive oil will be used to prepare the vegetables.
Vegetables: As for the veggies, you will need ½ yellow onion (diced), 2 cups of diced carrots, and 2 cups of diced celery.
Garlic: Add flavor to the dish by including 4 cloves of minced garlic. If using garlic powder, you will need 1 teaspoon total.
Chicken: Next up is the chicken! Use 1lb of ground chicken.
Ricotta cheese: You can't have ziti without ricotta! Use 15oz.
Buffalo sauce: Next, add the buffalo component to the dish by including 1 cup of buffalo sauce. I used Frank's wing sauce, but anything is fine! Skip the hot sauce here — you'll want it to be buffalo sauce to achieve the right flavor!
Blue cheese dressing: Add even more flavor by including 2 cups of blue cheese dressing.
Shredded mozzarella: Then, you'll need 2 cups of mozzarella cheese (divided).
Green onion: Last but not least, sliced green onions will be used for topping!

Tools used to make this chicken ziti

To prepare this recipe, you will need a few kitchen tools and measuring cups. Everything is listed below for easy prepping!

Large pot
Strainer
Sauce pan or dutch oven
Stirring utensil
Wooden spoon
9x13 baking dish
Measuring cups: 1 tbsp, ½ cup, 1 cup

Photo of ingredients for Buffalo Chicken Baked Ziti with labels.

How to make this buffalo chicken baked ziti recipe

Ready to get started? Buffalo chicken baked ziti comes together surprisingly easily. It involves just around 25-30 minutes of prep time (including the time it takes to boil the ziti) and 20 minutes of baking time.

First, preheat the oven to 425°F.

Then, cook the ziti noodles according to the instructions on the package. Drain and set aside.

In a large sauce pan or dutch oven, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the onions, carrots, and celery. Cook until they just begin to soften (about 5-6 minutes). Stir in the garlic, and then cook for another two minutes.

Next, add the ground chicken and cook until its no longer pink, breaking it up with a wooden spoon and stirring occasionally.

Add the ricotta, buffalo sauce, and blue cheese dressing. Stir until everything is combined, and then add in 1 cup of mozzarella cheese. Stir.

Pour the mixture into a 9x13 casserole dish and top with the remaining mozzarella. Bake for 20 minutes.

Finally, top with green onion and serve!

Storing leftovers

Leftover baked ziti can be stored in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Be sure to place the ziti in an airtight container to lock in freshness.

Recipe Tips

Should I cover baked ziti?

Not necessary! This buffalo baked ziti can be left uncovered in the oven.

How long do you heat baked ziti in the oven?

Buffalo chicken baked ziti should be baked for 20 minutes.

How to keep baked ziti from drying out?

If you're worried about your buffalo chicken ziti drying out, you can add a bit of sauce under the top mozzarella layer. This helps prevent the ziti from getting too dry.

Why is baked ziti so good?

Baked ziti is so delicious because the combination of the chicken, ricotta, mozzarella, buffalo sauce, and blue cheese just create the most amazing flavor!

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Recipe by Erin Morrissey and Photos by The Mindful Hapa

Erin Antoniak