Chicken Bolognese Recipe: So Good You'll Pray for Leftovers (No Cream!) Pasta Poultry Dinner

Light, fresh and filling, this easy chicken Bolognese recipe is ready in about 20 minutes. The flavors are spectacular and you'll feel good about eating it because it's made with ground chicken and doesn't call for cream. This is one of my all-time favorite pasta recipes. 

Lean ground chicken is cooked in a little olive oil with fresh garlic and crushed red pepper flakes. Add the white wine and cook until it is almost evaporated, then add the chicken broth, lemon zest, Parmesan cheese, fresh herbs and butter (the butter is optional but adds a richness to the dish). Stir in the cooked pasta and a little pasta water, and get ready for a taste sensation! 

Because this pasta recipe doesn't contain cream, it reheats perfectly for leftovers and for meal prepping. Serve this light and healthy chicken Bolognese recipe with a salad and crusty bread.

Cuisine: Italian
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 4 to 6

Ingredients

• 12 ounces penne or rigatoni, cooked according to package directions, reserving 1/2 cup of the pasta water
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 pound ground chicken
• crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
• 1/2 cup white wine
• 1/2 cup chicken broth
• 1 tablespoon lemon zest
• 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/4 cup chopped chives
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano, tarragon or thyme (or a combination)
• 1/4 cup chopped flat-leaf Italian parsley
• 2 tablespoons butter (optional)

Here's how to make it:

1. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet. Add the garlic and cook about 1 minute. Add the ground chicken, red pepper flakes, if using, and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Cook until chicken is almost cooked through, breaking it up as you stir, about 5 minutes.
2. Add the wine and cook until it almost evaporates. Pour in the chicken broth along with the lemon zest, Parmesan, herbs and butter. Stir and cook until heated through and well combined. 
3. Add the cooked pasta and stir, adding a little of the reserved pasta water to loosen, if necessary. Serve with additional grated Parmesan cheese.

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