Creamy Baked Ziti Alfredo with Cajun Chicken

First, preheat your oven to a high temperature of 400 degrees Fahrenheit (200 degrees Celsius).

Next, fill a large pot with water and add a small amount of salt. Place the pot on the stovetop and bring the water to a rolling boil. Then, add ziti pasta and cook, stirring occasionally, until it reaches the perfect texture - still slightly firm but not hard to bite into. This should take around 10 minutes. Remove the cooked pasta from the pot using a strainer.

While your pasta is cooking, heat oil in a large skillet over an intermediate to high heat setting. Add chicken, a blend of spices commonly referred to as Cajun seasoning, and a pinch of salt. Cook the chicken until it is fully cooked through and starting to develop a rich, caramelized flavor - approximately 10 minutes. Add sliced bell peppers, onions, and half of the garlic; cook until all the vegetables are tender, taking around 5 to 7 minutes. Add diced tomatoes and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer.

In a separate saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add the remaining garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Then, add flour; stir for a full minute to allow the mixture to thicken slightly. Slowly pour in 1 1/2 cups of milk and bring the mixture to a gentle boil. Stir in 1/2 cup of Parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper to taste. If the sauce becomes too thick, you can add more milk; if it's too thin, you can add more cheese to thicken.

Combine the cooked pasta with the chicken mixture; toss everything together until the pasta is well-coated. Transfer the pasta mixture to a deep casserole dish. Pour cheese sauce over the pasta and top with mozzarella cheese.

Finally, bake the casserole in your preheated oven until the top is golden brown and bubbly, taking around 15 minutes.