Description
Indulge in the creamy goodness of this Ricotta Chicken Pasta, a comforting and flavorful dish that combines tender chicken, al dente pasta, and a rich ricotta cheese sauce. With a hint of lemon and the freshness of basil, this dish is a perfect marriage of flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 12 ounces pasta (such as penne or rigatoni)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (cut into bite-sized pieces)
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Sauce and Garnish:
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ cup reserved pasta water
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 cups baby spinach (optional)
- Chopped fresh basil for garnish
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Boil pasta until al dente, reserving ½ cup of pasta water. Drain and set aside.
- Sear the chicken: Sauté chicken in olive oil with seasonings until cooked through.
- Make the sauce: Add garlic, then stir in ricotta, Parmesan, and lemon juice. Thin with pasta water.
- Combine and garnish: Toss in pasta and spinach, heat through. Garnish with basil.
Notes
- For added richness, consider stirring in a tablespoon of butter or a splash of cream.
- Rotisserie chicken can be used for a quicker version of this dish.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 510
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 430mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 38g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
