Ground chicken makes the perfect base for quick, simple dinners! From creamy pasta dishes to cheesy options, you are sure to find the ideal recipe here for your family.
These simple recipes for ground chicken pasta will delight the palate! Perfect for fast weeknight meals or when time is short.
Stuffed Shells with Chicken
Stuffed shells are large pasta shells stuffed with various ingredients before being baked in a casserole dish. Common filling options for these tasty treats are spinach and cheese; however, this category provides access to many unique filling choices!
Fillings may range from traditional meat sauce to creamy ricotta mixture or sausage and cheese combinations; once filled, these shells will be covered in sauce and cheese before being baked until hot and the cheese has melted.
These delicious stuffed shells make a satisfying one-dish meal that’s easy and fun for the whole family to make – plus they make for great freezer friendly recipes too! Perfect for hectic weeknights!
Chicken tenders make this recipe quick and simple; any cooked chicken will do. Shredded chicken is combined with Parmesan cheese, ricotta cheese, egg, and seasonings before being combined into an easy and satisfying main course dish.
Alternatively, for those short on time and lacking in patience, two jars of alfredo sauce will do just as well – simply spread it around the bottom of your baking dish, place your stuffed shells on top before topping with additional alfredo sauce and cheese as directed above.
This stuffed shells recipe is also freezer friendly, so it’s great for prepping ahead and freezing until needed for an evening when you don’t feel like cooking. Simply take them out the morning of and thaw, before popping into the oven until all cheese has melted.
Serve this stuffed shells recipe alongside a refreshing salad and crusty garlic bread for a hearty dinner that won’t break the bank. Feel free to add chopped kale for an added dose of nutrition!
Stuffed shells are an Italian-inspired meal that makes an excellent alternative to lasagna and manicotti. Their jumbo size make this family-friendly meal, while the filling is so tasty! Make two batches at once to freeze half for later use!
Bolognese
Bolognese is an indulgent Italian pasta sauce made of tomatoes and ground meat that’s simple and kid-friendly – whether you make it just for yourself or serve it to guests, bolognese will always be appreciated!
Reheating leftovers has never been simpler with this versatile red sauce that can be stored for up to one week in the refrigerator and three months in the freezer.
If you’re searching for an easy, delicious dinner that will please the whole family, this Chicken Bolognese recipe should do the trick! With only 40 minutes required to put this dish together and make this the perfect weeknight dinner option!
Bolognese, a classic Italian dish typically prepared from ground meat or combinations thereof, can be lightened up and made healthier with ground chicken instead of beef for this chicken bolognese recipe. Perfect for busy nights when leftovers need warming up again later!
Start by sauteeing onion and garlic in olive oil to help the flavors come together more effectively, leading to a richer, more flavorful dish. Feel free to use bacon fat if desired for additional porky notes!
Once your onions and veggies have softened, add in your ground meat and season with salt and pepper; cook until no pink remains visible in its color.
Step three is to simmer the mixture over low heat until all of the liquid has evaporated and most of the meat has become tender, stirring frequently to check consistency; if too thick, thin with some milk for better results.
While your sauce simmers, make the pasta according to package directions and drain and save half cup of the pasta water as a reserve for thinnining out your sauce later if necessary.
Once your bolognese is complete, add it to the pot with your pasta and mix until everything is evenly mixed. Garnish with parmesan cheese before serving!
Creamy Pasta with Broccoli
An easy pasta bake featuring tender chicken and broccoli that’s ready in just under 30 minutes! Perfect for crowd-pleasing parties as well as being kid-friendly!
Pasta covered with a creamy cheese sauce and baked to golden perfection is my family’s absolute favorite dinner recipe! This dish makes an impressive dinner presentation!
Make this dish ahead and freeze it to enjoy later, or use as part of a weeknight meal pairing it with bruschetta, garlic bread, homemade bread or refreshing salads.
Instant Pot makes this recipe even simpler to create! Press “PRESSURE COOK” and set your timer for three minutes at high pressure – this should produce al dente pasta. After the timer goes off, release any built-up pressure by quick pressure release.
Once complete, add in the drained pasta and mix well – this ensures that each piece cooks evenly without becoming stuck together when adding sauce. It is especially important that broken up pieces do not stick together when combined with sauce.
If you prefer your pasta softer, begin the recipe three minutes early. Frozen broccoli works especially well as it already has been blanched – no worries about overcooking!
While your pasta is cooking, saute broccoli in a large skillet with some butter until bright green in color; once done, transfer to the baking dish containing your pasta.
Once the pasta and broccoli are ready, combine them with the cheese sauce before topping with more cheese and baking until the top has turned a deep, golden hue and the sauce has thickened slightly.
This delicious dish is the perfect way to utilize leftover chicken and veggies! Simply mix everything up ahead of time and store in the refrigerator for up to three days for optimal results!
For a vegan-friendly option, simply swap out the chicken broth or water for vegetable-based broth or water and be sure to season to your taste with extra salt!
This pasta recipe is ideal for families looking to cut back on calories. Packed with unsweetened heavy cream and cheese, yet you can enjoy this comforting dish guilt free! A perfect weeknight dinner that can be made both on the stove top or even an instant pot!
Chicken Parmesan
Chicken Parmesan is an easy and family-favorite comfort food dish that features onions, carrots and celery in a sofrito that adds depth of flavor while counterbalancing acidic tomatoes. A splash of heavy cream adds extra decadence.
Sofrito of finely diced onions, celery and carrots sauteed in olive oil adds depth of flavor to marinara sauce and helps balance acidity of tomato sauce while heightening sweetness of red chili flakes and Italian seasoning.
Chicken is first browned in some oil before placing it over the sauce, helping the cheese melt more readily. Once all this has been assembled, bake until your cheese has become bubbly and golden-brown on top!
Serve this tasty meal for dinner or as an appetizer when guests visit, it can easily be prepared in advance and then heated back up either in the microwave or on the stovetop.
Cooking pasta al dente is essential to this dish as its flavors will complement those of the sauce perfectly. Start monitoring early to ensure that all water needs have been added if necessary and check again to ensure full cooking of your pasta.
Make this dish using any type of pasta you desire – just keep in mind that longer-cooked pasta will become more mushy when reheated.
Another key component in this recipe is using freshly grated Parmesan cheese, as opposed to pre-shredded varieties which contain anti-clumping chemicals to keep strands apart and prevent them from sticking together. Fresh parmesan is much more flavorful and better melts into dishes.
Chopping some broccoli rabe or spinach and adding it to the sauce before mixing in pasta can add extra texture and break up large pieces of chicken breast, creating an incredible combination of flavors!
This recipe is ideal for busy weeknights when dinner needs to be on the table quickly! With few dishes required for preparation and minimal clean-up required afterward, this delicious dinner makes an easy and time-saving weeknight dinner option! Plus it makes a fantastic make-ahead option as its flavors will blend better overnight in either the fridge or freezer!