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Creamy Ricotta Chicken Pasta Recipe

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★★★★★

4.7 from 51 reviews

This Creamy Ricotta Chicken Pasta is a comforting and flavorful dish featuring tender sliced chicken breasts cooked to golden perfection, combined with al dente short pasta and coated in a luscious ricotta and Parmesan cheese sauce. Enhanced with fresh garlic, basil, and parsley, this recipe is a quick and satisfying meal perfect for any night of the week.

Ingredients

Scale

Protein

  • 2 chicken breasts, sliced thin

Dairy

  • 1 cup ricotta cheese
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Pasta

  • 8 oz short pasta (penne, rigatoni, or farfalle)

Vegetables and Herbs

  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped

Liquids and Oils

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/4 cup chicken broth or reserved pasta water (plus extra as needed)

Seasonings

  • Salt, to taste
  • Black pepper, to taste

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Chicken: Slice the chicken breasts into thin, bite-sized pieces to ensure they cook quickly and evenly. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chicken pieces and cook for about 5-7 minutes until golden brown and cooked through. Season with salt and black pepper to taste, but hold off on herbs for now to enhance the flavor layering later.
  2. Cook the Pasta: While the chicken is cooking, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add your choice of short pasta such as penne, rigatoni, or farfalle, and cook according to the package instructions until al dente. Before draining, reserve one cup of the pasta water to adjust the sauce consistency if needed.
  3. Prepare the Creamy Sauce: In the same skillet with the cooked chicken, add the minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant. Lower the heat and stir in the ricotta cheese along with a splash of chicken broth or the reserved pasta water. Mix continuously until the sauce becomes smooth and creamy, evenly coating the chicken pieces.
  4. Combine Pasta and Sauce: Add the cooked and drained pasta directly into the skillet with the ricotta sauce and chicken. Gently toss everything together to ensure that every piece of pasta is well coated with the creamy sauce. If the sauce is too thick, add additional reserved pasta water a little at a time to loosen it up to your preferred consistency.
  5. Finish with Fresh Herbs and Cheese: Remove the skillet from heat. Stir in the freshly chopped basil and parsley to add brightness and freshness to the dish. Finally, sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese over the pasta and toss once more to evenly distribute the cheese before serving the dish hot.

Notes

  • You can substitute chicken broth with reserved pasta water for a vegetarian sauce option, but omit the chicken if doing so.
  • For extra richness, add a splash of heavy cream along with the ricotta cheese.
  • Make sure not to overcook the pasta; it should be firm to the bite (al dente) to prevent mushiness when tossed with the sauce.
  • Fresh herbs are crucial for brightening the flavor, so use fresh basil and parsley rather than dried.
  • If the sauce thickens too much upon standing, reheat gently with a little more pasta water to loosen it up.

Keywords: creamy ricotta chicken pasta, Italian chicken pasta recipe, ricotta cheese pasta, easy chicken pasta dinner, quick creamy pasta

Find it online: https://cookcrisis.com/creamy-ricotta-chicken-pasta-recipe/