I crave comfort on busy nights. This bowl gives it with tender chicken, warm pasta, and a cloud of ricotta that melts into a silky coat. We call it our calm dinner. I call it a hug that you can twirl with a fork. It fits right into Creamy Pasta Recipes. We build flavor in small steps. Garlic meets olive oil and sings. Broth meets ricotta and turns soft and lush. Lemon lifts the sauce so each bite stays bright. It checks every box I want from Chicken Pasta Recipes and easy creamy pasta recipes. If you like a creamy chicken alfredo recipe this one feels lighter yet rich. We keep it flexible. Use rotisserie or poached chicken. Swap spinach for peas if that is what you have. The sauce clings to penne or shells. It works for healthy chicken pasta recipes, and it scales for meal prep. I even tested a low effort version for crockpot chicken pasta recipes and the flavors still land. So grab a pot and let us make food recipes pasta that tastes like a little win.
Table of Contents
- 1) Key Takeaways
- 2) Easy Creamy Ricotta Chicken Pasta Recipe
- 3) Ingredients for Creamy Ricotta Chicken Pasta
- 4) How to Make Creamy Ricotta Chicken Pasta
- 5) Tips for Making Creamy Ricotta Chicken Pasta
- 6) Making Creamy Ricotta Chicken Pasta Ahead of Time
- 7) Storing Leftover Creamy Ricotta Chicken Pasta
- 8) Try these pasta dinners next
- 9) Creamy Ricotta Chicken Pasta
- 10) Nutrition
1) Key Takeaways
We cook for care and for calm. This dish gives both. Tender chicken meets warm pasta and a soft ricotta sauce. The finish tastes bright from lemon and alive from garlic. The texture stays light yet full. It slides into Creamy Pasta Recipes with ease.
The steps stay short. Boil pasta. Stir a quick skillet sauce. Fold in chicken and greens. Supper lands in one pan and on the table in minutes. A true weeknight dinner win.
The flavors stay flexible. Use rotisserie chicken or poached chicken. Swap spinach for peas if that fits your fridge. The plan holds. The comfort stays. Elena of Elena Cooks keeps it simple and warm.
2) Easy Creamy Ricotta Chicken Pasta Recipe
I reach for Creamy Pasta Recipes when the day runs long. Creamy Pasta Recipes make sense when the house needs a quiet meal. Here we stir garlic into oil and let the scent say dinner. We whisk ricotta with broth so the sauce turns smooth and kind. The pasta holds the sauce and the chicken gives a gentle bite.
You get a soft lemon lift that keeps each forkful fresh. The sauce clings but never sits heavy. If you love a creamy chicken alfredo recipe yet want a lighter touch this bowl hits that line. It feels like comfort that still moves.
We write the steps in plain words. No fuss tools. No rare items. Just real food that lands fast. It fits easy creamy pasta recipes and it fits real life. On Elena Cooks we cook for taste first and for stress last.
3) Ingredients for Creamy Ricotta Chicken Pasta
Pasta Short shapes catch the sauce and make each bite even. Penne or shells both work well for this creamy noodle dish. Pick the box that sits in your pantry and cook with trust.
Cooked chicken Shredded breast or thigh folds in and soaks up flavor. Rotisserie chicken brings speed on a weeknight dinner and keeps the texture tender.
Ricotta Whole milk ricotta melts into a silky base. It makes creamy ricotta chicken pasta feel rich yet light. If you keep ricotta pasta on repeat this choice helps every time.
Parmesan A small handful adds salt and nut. It rounds the edges and deepens the sauce. Freshly grated melts smooth.
Garlic Three small cloves wake the pan and set the tone. The scent tells everyone that dinner is near.
Chicken broth A cup thins the ricotta and helps it flow. The sauce turns glossy and coats every curve of the pasta.
Lemon Zest for lift and juice for balance. The sauce stays bright and never feels heavy.
Italian seasoning and red pepper flakes A pinch of herbs adds warmth and a nip of heat keeps each bite lively. Use what you like and keep it simple.
Spinach A few cups wilt fast and bring color and gentle green. Peas work too if that is what you have.
Olive oil kosher salt and black pepper These basics set the base and finish the taste. Season to your senses and trust the spoon.
4) How to Make Creamy Ricotta Chicken Pasta
Step one Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta until al dente. Scoop a cup of pasta water. Drain and set the pasta aside.
Step two Warm olive oil in a deep skillet over medium heat. Stir in garlic and let it turn fragrant. The kitchen will smell like home.
Step three Pour in broth. Whisk in ricotta and Parmesan until smooth. The sauce will look glossy and gentle. Stir in lemon zest lemon juice herbs and a small shake of red pepper.
Step four Fold in the chicken and spinach. The spinach will wilt fast. Add the cooked pasta and toss so the sauce coats every piece. Splash in pasta water if the sauce seems thick.
Step five Taste for salt and pepper. Serve warm with a little more Parmesan. Breathe and enjoy the quiet win.
5) Tips for Making Creamy Ricotta Chicken Pasta
Salt the pasta water. The noodles start seasoned and the whole dish tastes better. Aim for water that tastes like the sea. This one choice helps rich pasta suppers every time.
Use whole milk ricotta. The sauce turns smooth and holds to the pasta. If you like creamy pasta recipes this small choice pays off in texture and shine.
Keep pasta water. A splash loosens the sauce without dulling the flavor. It beats more cream and keeps the feel light. This trick works for creamy noodle dishes across the board.
6) Making Creamy Ricotta Chicken Pasta Ahead of Time
I test make ahead meals for busy weeks. This pasta holds well. Toss half the sauce with the pasta and chicken. Chill the rest of the sauce in a jar.
When you reheat add a small splash of broth or pasta water. Warm the saved sauce in a pan then fold in the pasta. The sauce wakes up and turns glossy again.
Pack in single portions for easy lunches. This plan fits healthy chicken pasta recipes and keeps the midday break calm. It also fits the spirit of Creamy Pasta Recipes when time feels tight.
7) Storing Leftover Creamy Ricotta Chicken Pasta
Store leftovers in a sealed container in the fridge for three days. The sauce will thicken as it cools. A spoon of warm water brings it back.
Reheat in a skillet over low heat. Stir until the sauce turns smooth. Add a squeeze of lemon for a bright edge. The pasta feels new again.
If you freeze it chill first then pack flat. Thaw in the fridge and warm slowly. This keeps the texture close to fresh and makes creamy pasta recipes feel ready when you are.
8) Try these pasta dinners next
9) Creamy Ricotta Chicken Pasta
Creamy Ricotta Chicken Pasta Creamy Pasta Recipes
Ingredients
For the Pasta
- 12 ounces short pasta such as penne or shells
- Kosher salt for the pasta water
For the Ricotta Sauce
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 pound cooked chicken breast shredded or diced
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 cup low sodium chicken broth
- 1 cup whole milk ricotta cheese
- 1 half cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 quarter teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 3 cups baby spinach loosely packed
- Black pepper to taste
Instructions
Cook the Pasta
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil then cook the pasta until al dente and reserve 1 cup of the cooking water.
- Drain the pasta and keep it warm.
Make the Sauce
- Warm olive oil in a deep skillet over medium heat then add garlic and stir until fragrant.
- Pour in the broth and let it steam.
- Whisk in ricotta and Parmesan until smooth and creamy.
- Stir in lemon zest lemon juice Italian seasoning and red pepper flakes.
Finish and Serve
- Fold in the chicken and spinach.
- Add the cooked pasta and toss so the sauce coats every piece.
- Splash in a little reserved pasta water if the sauce looks thick.
- Taste and season with salt and black pepper.
- Serve hot with extra Parmesan.
10) Nutrition
One cozy bowl sits near five hundred twenty calories with a strong twenty grams of protein and a moderate seven grams of saturated fat. Sodium stays in check when you use low sodium broth. A small shower of Parmesan adds flavor without much load.
Fiber lands near three grams if you use short shapes with ridges. Swap in whole wheat pasta to nudge that number up. Add peas for a small lift and a bright green pop.
We aim for balance. Cream gives comfort yet lemon and broth keep it light. That is the spirit of Creamy Pasta Recipes and the goal of Elena at Elena Cooks. It supports chicken pasta and it fits a calm plate at home.
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