This simple chicken ragu pasta may be easy to make and use everyday ingredients, but there's nothing basic about its flavor. This yummy, savory, and quick-to-make dinner idea is bound to become a favorite family meal. Enjoy this homemade pasta with ground chicken in just half an hour.
Chicken Ragu Recipe
It's always nice to make a dinner with ingredients you commonly have on hand, but so often it's basic meal that you've had dozens of times. Why not mix things up with this chicken ragu pasta recipe?
Inspired by Rachel Ray's complex Pasta Alla Genovese, there's nothing routine about the robust flavors in this dish even though I've simplified the recipe for you.
With fewer ingredients and some special tweaks, you can have an amazing dinner on the table of pasta with a mouth-watering ragu sauce that everyone will enjoy.
What Is Ragu Sauce?
Ragu isn't just a brand name. It's an Italian word for a sauce made from simmering vegetables, spices, and meat. In a word, it's tantalising.
When you start cooking your ragu, be prepared for your spouse, kids, and possibly the neighbours to flock to your kitchen.
Slowly cooking the fresh ingredients and meat releases flavors in an artful, yet pleasingly simple way.
How Do You Make Chicken Ragu Pasta?
I'm glad you asked. All you need is some common kitchen ingredients, spices, and about half an hour!
Get your water boiling for pasta and then it's time to prep the veggies, brown the chicken (or you could make a turkey ragu if you prefer by swapping in ground turkey), and simmer your sauce.
Which pasta is the best for homemade ragu?
It's really easy to make this delightful dinner. You can use any pasta, but Rigatoni is a favorite.
The striations on the side of the noodle and the large opening allow the sauce to stick on and in the pasta noodle instead of sliding off, so every bite is loaded with goodness.
What vegetables make the best ragu sauce?
This delicious chicken ragu sauce recipe uses onion, carrots, and garlic.
Slowly sautéing the onions and carrots together to start the recipe releases their sweetness. Many sauce recipes call for sugar to reduce the acidity in a tomato based sauce, but the natural sweet flavors in these vegetables will do that for you.
Plus, they are so healthy!
And after a while you'll add in garlic for a subtly pungent bite of flavor that is pretty much required in all Italian inspired dishes.
How do I make the sauce creamy, like in restaurants?
One thing you might notice when you go to a restaurant for Italian is how the sauce is always just a bit creamier than it is when you serve the same meal at home.
The secret, as they say, is in the sauce. Literally.
Experienced Italian chefs know that you need to hold back some water from your pasta pot to stir into your sauce.
The starch in the water will make it smooth and also allow it to stick to your pasta better. So before you strain your pasta, pull out about half a cup of the starchy hot water.
You'll add in anywhere from ¼-1/2 cup, depending on how thick you'd like your ragu pasta sauce to be.
More easy pasta recipes for dinner tonight
- Pasta Carbonara - Italian classic, ready in under 30 minutes;
- Creamy Salmon Pasta - cozy easy recipe your family will love;
- Mushroom Stroganoff - reader's favorite easy recipe with ton of flavor;
- Pasta with Zucchini and Sun-Dried Tomato Alfredo - creamy and comforting;
- Spaghetti with Walnut-Raisin Sauce - super quick and easy recipe that won't disappoint.
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Recipe
Chicken Ragu Pasta
Ingredients
- 1 large onion finely minced
- 2 medium carrots chopped
- 5 cloves garlic minced
- 1 ½ lb ground chicken or turkey
- 2 sprigs rosemary
- 2 cups tomato sauce such as Pomodoro or Marinara
- 1 lb Rigatoni or any other pasta
- 1 c Parmesan grated
- 3 tablespoon olive oil
- salt, pepper
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook pasta according to the packaging instructions.
- Meanwhile heat olive oil in a large non-stick skillet or Dutch oven. Add onion and carrots and saute for 5 minutes stirring from time to time.
- Add ground chicken and cook stirring occasionally for 10 minutes until liquid evaporates and meat starts to brown. Add garlic and cook for additional 1 minute. Stir in tomato sauce, rosemary, ½ teaspoon of salt, ¼ teaspoon of pepper and bring Ragu sauce to a simmer.
- Add cooked pasta along with ¼-1/2 cup of pasta cooking water if necessary to get the creamy texture of the pasta.
- Stir in Parmesan cheese and serve immediately.
Nutrition
Amanda says
Hi! Is the 650 calories per serving or is that the total of the dish?
Iryna says
It's per serving:)
Sally says
Simple and tasty! Thanks for not adding sugar - totally not needed!
Anita @ Daily Cooking Quest says
This chicken ragu is so easy and delicious I can never go back to store bought ragu sauce ever again!
Iryna says
Thanks Anita!
kim says
So much flavor in this recipe! My whole family enjoyed!
Iryna says
Thank you Kim!
Jen says
This creamy, rich pasta was a favorite of the week! My family loved it. I made some chicken on the side to serve it with.
Iryna says
Thank you Jen!
Sara Welch says
Such a hearty and flavorful meal! This has easily become a family favorite dish in our home!
Iryna says
Thanks Sara! It's our family's favorite too:)
Liz says
I love simple recipes like this! So perfect for a busy weeknight but with tons of flavor!
Iryna says
Exactly! Thanks for your comment Liz!
Easyfoodsmith says
That's a gorgeous meal and so very tempting!
Iryna says
Thank you!:)