Creamy Ground Chicken Pasta
A comforting and rich pasta dish featuring ground chicken, marinara sauce, and heavy cream, enhanced with fresh spinach and cherry tomatoes.
Ingredients
Pasta
- 12 oz Pasta (choose your favorite shape) Choose shapes like penne, fusilli, or spaghetti.
Sauce Ingredients
- 2 cups Chicken Broth (or vegetable broth)
- 2 tbsp Olive Oil (for sautéing)
- 1 cup Marinara Sauce (use your favorite pasta sauce)
- 2 tbsp Tomato Paste To intensify the sauce.
- 1 cup Heavy Cream Can substitute with half-and-half.
- 1 lb Ground Chicken Can substitute with turkey, pork, or beef.
- 1 medium Onion (diced)
- 3 cloves Garlic (minced)
- 1 tbsp Italian Seasoning Substitute with oregano or basil.
- 1 tsp Salt Adjust to taste.
Fresh Ingredients
- 4 cups Spinach Can substitute with kale or Swiss chard.
- 1 cup Cherry Tomatoes (halved)
- 1 cup Mozzarella Cheese (grated)
Instructions
Cooking the Pasta
- Start off by cooking the pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water until al dente, based on package instructions.
Sautéing the Vegetables
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add diced onion and sauté until soft and translucent.
- Stir in minced garlic, cooking briefly until aromatic but not browned.
Cooking the Chicken
- Add ground chicken to skillet, breaking it apart as it cooks. Brown the chicken until fully cooked.
Preparing the Sauce
- Mix in marinara sauce and tomato paste, stirring until fully combined.
- Pour in chicken broth and bring to a gentle simmer to thicken sauce.
- Gradually add heavy cream, stirring until integrated. Heat through without boiling.
Finishing Touches
- Fold in spinach and cherry tomatoes until well combined and heated through.
- Add drained pasta to the skillet, tossing to coat in the creamy sauce.
- Top with grated mozzarella cheese just before serving.
Notes
For extra richness, add toasted breadcrumbs on top before serving. Adjust seasoning as needed at the end of cooking.