Chicken Broccoli Ziti Bake

Total Time: 1 hr Cook Time: 1 hr

Ingredients

• Servings: 8
• 4 slices hearty bread, torn into pieces
• 8 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 1/2 cups grated asiago cheese
• 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, with 2 tablespoons melted
• salt and pepper
• 1 lb ziti pasta
• 1 onion, chopped fine
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup wine
• 3 cups whole milk
• 2 cups low sodium chicken broth
• 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 1 1/2 pounds)
• 12 ounces broccoli florets, cut into 1-inch pieces

Recipe

• 1 pulse bread, 2 minced garlic cloves, 1/2 cup asiago, and melted butter in food processor until coarsely ground. set aside.
• 2 adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 400 degrees. bring 4 quarts water to boil in large pot. add 1 tablespoon salt and ziti to boiling water and cook until nearly al dente. drain in colander and rinse under cold water until cool.
• 3 melt remaining butter in empty pot over medium heat. cook onion until softened, about 5 minutes. add remaining garlic and pepper flakes and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. stir in flour and cook until golden, about 1 minute. slowly whisk in wine and cook until liquid is almost evaporated, about 1 minute. slowly whisk in milk and broth and bring to boil. add chicken and simmer until no longer pink, about 5 minutes. off heat, stir in remaining cheese until melted.
• 4 microwave broccoli, covered, in large bowl until bright green and nearly tender, 2 to 4 minutes. stir cooked broccoli and drained ziti into pot and season with salt and pepper. transfer to 13- by 9-inch baking dish. sprinkle with bread crumb mixture and bake until sauce is bubbling around edges and topping is golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes. cool 5 minutes. serve. (casserole can be assembled, minus bread crumbs, 24 hours in advance. bring to room temperature before adding bread crumbs and baking.