This ground chicken pasta is a great recipe to stretch ground chicken further. It's saucy, with an overall umami, well-balanced taste. Feel free to use whatever pasta you’ve got. I’m partial to shapes that catch the sauce, like the cupped or the hollow ones.
When I am developing savory recipes, I aim to include all the key elements of balance in cooking to achieve a well-rounded taste.
Fat, to carry the flavors. Right amount of salt, so the seasonings and aromatics pop. Acidic elements, for some brightness. A hint of sweetness to round off any harshness. And heat, even if a little, to keep the dish from tasting lackluster.
This recipe has it all, and then some.
Plus, the cooking process is fairly simple to follow. I cook ground chicken with garlic, onion, and a seasoning mix made using pantry staples. Then in go canned tomatoes, Worcestershire, and a little sugar (to balance the flavors). And I wrap it all by folding in cooked pasta and topping with parm and fresh basil.
If, like me, you love a good pasta dinner, try my lime chicken pasta or jerk chicken pasta next.
Pre-cooking notes and tips
- Feel free to sub Italian seasoning for oregano.
- If your spice tolerance is very low, reduce the quantity of crushed red pepper flakes, but don't omit entirely. Like I said earlier, a little heat is key for a well-rounded flavor.
- Smoked paprika doesn't really add heat, just gives a very nice depth to the taste. You can swap in regular paprika.
- If you want to intensify the umami-ness, use chicken broth instead of water.
- In the United States, crushed tomatoes typically come in cans measured by ounces. In other countries, they might be labeled in grams or milliliters. A 14-ounce can is roughly equivalent to a 398 to 400 g or ml can, depending on your local labeling conventions. No biggie if your cans are off by an ounce or two.
- Personally, I love using basil in this dish, but cilantro or parsley will work too.
Serving ideas
Some warmed-up crusty or garlic bread goes really well on the side. If you want to balance out the carb-richness of it all, pair a fresh green salad tossed with a simple vinaigrette.
And that's a wrap!
This ground chicken pasta is filling, it’s delicious, and if you make it with small pasta varieties, it can be a spoonable, bowl meal you can enjoy on the couch while watching TV. Hope you’ll give it a try.
Happy cooking ~ Nelo
Ground Chicken Pasta
Ingredients
Seasoning Mix
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes - adjust to taste
- 1.5 teaspoons salt - regular white/table salt
- ¾ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 pinch of ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
For ground chicken pasta
- 8 ounces (230 g) pasta - uncooked, I prefer shells
- 2 tablespoons cooking oil
- 5 cloves garlic - minced
- 1 small (80 g) onion - finely chopped
- 1 pound (500 g) ground chicken
- 14 ounces (400 g) crushed canned tomatoes - (Note A)
- 1.5 teaspoons sugar - to balance the acidity
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- ¼ cup (25 g) freshly grated parmesan
- 3 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients listed under "seasoning mix" in a bowl. Set aside.
- Boil pasta according to the package instructions. Drain and set aside.
- Heat oil in a very large skillet/pan over medium heat. Add garlic and onion, saute 3 to 4 minutes, or until the onion is softened and translucent.
- Then add ground chicken and the prepared seasoning mix. Turn the heat up to medium-high. Break up the lumps as you go. Cook 7 to 8 minutes. I prefer to leave the bits slightly chunky.
- Mix in crushed canned tomatoes, ½ cup water, sugar and Worcestershire sauce. Bring to a simmer, then reduce the heat just enough to maintain a low simmer. Cook uncovered for 3 to 5 minutes or until the sauce is slightly thickened.
- Add the cooked pasta, mix gently to combine. Let the pasta warm up for a minute or two. Top with parmesan and chopped fresh basil.
Zunera says
This ground chicken pasta is the perfect balance of light and satisfying. The flavors are simple but come together beautifully, and the sauce coats every bite just right. It’s a cozy, easy dish that I can see becoming a regular favorite.
Nelo says
Music to my ears! So happy it was enjoyed 🙂