Description
Comfort meets elegance in this creamy ricotta chicken pasta, blending Italian-inspired flavors with home-style charm. Silky ricotta and tender chicken create a luxurious meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein and Pasta:
- 12 ounces (340 grams) pasta (penne or fettuccine)
- 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded or diced
Cheese and Cream:
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 1 cup heavy cream
Seasonings and Herbs:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1/2 cup pasta water (reserved)
- Fresh basil or parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare pasta in a pot of boiling water until perfectly al dente, carefully setting aside a portion of starchy cooking liquid before draining.
- Warm olive oil in a spacious skillet, introducing minced garlic and allowing it to release its aromatic essence until golden and fragrant.
- Incorporate pre-cooked chicken into the skillet, sprinkling Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper to enhance the protein’s flavor profile.
- Reduce cooking temperature and gently fold ricotta cheese, Parmesan, and heavy cream into the pan, whisking until a velvety, uniform sauce develops.
- Introduce the cooked pasta to the creamy mixture, gradually integrating the reserved pasta water to create a silky, luxurious coating.
- Allow the sauce to gently simmer, thickening and melding flavors for approximately 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
- Elevate the dish’s presentation by scattering freshly chopped basil or parsley across the top, serving immediately while maintaining optimal temperature and texture.
Notes
- Reserve extra pasta water to adjust sauce consistency, ensuring a creamy and silky texture that clings perfectly to each pasta strand.
- Experiment with gluten-free pasta options like chickpea or zucchini noodles for a low-carb or celiac-friendly version of this comforting dish.
- Toast garlic briefly to release deeper flavors without burning, creating a more complex and aromatic base for the creamy sauce.
- Swap chicken with plant-based protein like grilled tofu or roasted chickpeas for a vegetarian alternative that maintains the recipe’s rich, satisfying profile.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 675
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 16 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 70 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 36 g
- Cholesterol: 115 mg