Description
Delectable creamy ricotta chicken pasta brings Italian comfort to weeknight dinners with minimal ingredients. Cheesy, herbed sauce coats tender chicken and pasta, offering a quick meal packed with rich flavor you’ll savor.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 12 ounces (340 grams) pasta (penne, rigatoni, or your choice)
- 2 cups cooked chicken (shredded or diced)
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Aromatics and Seasonings:
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Garnish:
- 1/4 cup fresh basil (chopped)
- 1/2 cup pasta water (reserved)
Instructions
- Prepare pasta according to package guidelines, carefully preserving 1/2 cup of starchy cooking liquid for later use.
- Warm olive oil in a spacious skillet over medium temperature, gently sautéing minced garlic until aromatic and lightly golden.
- Introduce pre-cooked chicken into the skillet, incorporating Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, salt, and ground black pepper, stirring thoroughly to distribute flavors evenly.
- Lower heat setting and incorporate ricotta cheese, rich heavy cream, and grated Parmesan, whisking continuously until the mixture transforms into a silky, uniform sauce.
- Incrementally blend reserved pasta water into the sauce, adjusting liquid to achieve a creamy, velvety texture that clings delicately to the pasta.
- Fold cooked pasta into the luxurious sauce, ensuring each strand is generously enrobed with the decadent mixture.
- Elegantly finish the dish by scattering freshly torn basil leaves across the top, serving immediately while the pasta remains piping hot.
Notes
- Enhance the sauce’s silkiness by gradually adding reserved pasta water, creating a luxurious texture that clings perfectly to each pasta strand.
- Customize heat levels by adjusting red pepper flakes, allowing spice-sensitive diners to enjoy a milder version or heat-lovers to kick up the intensity.
- Transform this dish into a vegetarian delight by swapping chicken with roasted zucchini, mushrooms, or plant-based protein alternatives for added nutrition and flavor.
- Maximize flavor development by letting the garlic sauté until golden and fragrant, releasing its aromatic essence into the olive oil before introducing other ingredients.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 437 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 296 mg
- Fat: 19 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 84 mg