Creamy Ricotta Chicken Pasta
This creamy ricotta chicken pasta offers tender chicken with a rich, smooth sauce, combining comforting flavors in a quick and easy pasta dish perfect for weeknight dinners.
Equipment
- 1 large pot for boiling pasta
- 1 large skillet for cooking chicken and sauce
Ingredients
- 1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into bite-size pieces
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 12 ounces pasta penne, rigatoni, or preferred type
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 2 to 3 garlic cloves minced
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1 cup heavy cream or milk
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Optional: red pepper flakes for heat
- Optional garnishes: fresh spinach or peas cherry tomatoes, fresh basil or parsley
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente.
- Reserve ½ cup of pasta water, then drain the pasta and set aside.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add chicken pieces, salt, black pepper, and garlic powder to the skillet.
- Cook the chicken for 5 to 7 minutes until golden and cooked through, then remove from the skillet and set aside.
- In the same skillet, melt butter over medium heat and sauté the minced garlic for 30 to 60 seconds until fragrant.
- Stir in ricotta cheese, heavy cream or milk, Parmesan cheese, and Italian seasoning.
- Simmer the sauce gently for 3 to 5 minutes until smooth and slightly thickened.
- Return the cooked pasta and chicken to the skillet and toss to coat well with the creamy ricotta sauce.
- Add reserved pasta water gradually to loosen the sauce if needed.
- Adjust seasoning with salt, black pepper, and optional red pepper flakes.
- Serve the pasta warm, garnished with fresh basil or parsley and extra Parmesan if desired.
Notes
- Use part-skim ricotta and milk for a lighter version.
- Add spinach, peas, or mushrooms for extra vegetables.
- Enhance flavor with lemon zest or a splash of white wine.
- Make sauce ahead and reheat before combining with pasta.