Description
Delightful Creamy Ricotta Chicken Pasta weaves Italian comfort with simple, elegant flavors. Rich cheese and tender chicken merge perfectly, promising a memorable dining experience for passionate home cooks who crave restaurant-quality meals.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 12 ounces (340 grams) pasta (penne, fettuccine, or your choice)
- 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded or cubed
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 12 cup parmesan cheese, grated
- 1 cup milk or heavy cream
Seasonings and Aromatics:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 12 teaspoon salt
- 12 teaspoon black pepper
- 14 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
Additional Ingredients:
- 12 cup pasta water (reserved)
- Fresh basil or parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare pasta al dente according to package guidelines, carefully extracting and preserving half a cup of starchy cooking liquid before straining.
- Warm olive oil in a spacious skillet over medium temperature, introducing minced garlic and gently sautéing until aromatic and translucent.
- Incorporate pre-cooked chicken pieces into the fragrant pan, sprinkling Italian seasoning, kosher salt, cracked black pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes. Gently stir and allow flavors to meld for approximately two minutes.
- Reduce cooking temperature and introduce creamy ricotta, grated parmesan, and smooth milk. Whisk thoroughly until the mixture transforms into a silky, uniform sauce.
- Delicately fold cooked pasta into the luxurious sauce, ensuring each strand is generously coated. Gradually introduce reserved pasta water as needed to achieve a perfect, glossy consistency.
- Allow the combined ingredients to simmer gently for two minutes, enabling flavors to harmonize and sauce to slightly thicken. Remove from heat source.
- Elegantly garnish with freshly chopped basil or parsley for a vibrant finishing touch.
- Serve immediately while piping hot, presenting a comforting and indulgent pasta experience.
Notes
- Customize the spice level by adjusting red pepper flakes to suit your heat tolerance.
- Use leftover rotisserie chicken or quickly grill fresh chicken breasts for a time-saving protein boost.
- For a lighter version, swap whole milk with skim or almond milk and use part-skim ricotta cheese.
- Transform this dish into a vegetarian option by replacing chicken with roasted zucchini or mushrooms for added texture and flavor.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 475 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 340 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 33 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg