Creamy Ricotta Pasta Meal for Weeknights
Creamy ricotta chicken pasta tossed with garlic, lemon, and herbs — a light, protein-rich comfort meal that comes together in under 30 minutes.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15–20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Ingredients
Scale
- 1½ lbs boneless chicken breast or thighs, cubed
- 12 oz rigatoni or penne pasta
- 1 tbsp olive oil (plus more if needed)
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- Zest and juice of 1 lemon
- 1 cup whole milk ricotta cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ tsp Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
- ½ to ¾ cup reserved pasta water
- Optional: spinach, peas, parsley, red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Cook pasta in salted water. Reserve 1 cup pasta water before draining.
- Season and cook chicken in oil until browned and cooked through. Set aside.
- In same pan, sauté garlic, lemon zest, and optional pepper flakes.
- Stir in ricotta, Parmesan, lemon juice, and pasta water to make creamy sauce.
- Return chicken and pasta to pan. Toss to coat and heat through.
- Serve hot with herbs and more Parmesan.
Notes
- Use rotisserie chicken for a shortcut.
- Adjust lemon and garlic to taste.
- Add veggies like spinach or peas for nutrition and color.
Find it online: https://yumnexio.com/creamy-ricotta-pasta-meal-for-weeknights/