Amongst all the chicken dinner recipes we have on this blog, the ones with an international flair have always been reader favorites. My Easy Chicken Fricassee Recipe, Slow Cooker Indian Chicken Curry, Tik Tok Marry Me Chicken, and Chicken Stroganoff are a few to name. So, when I tried this Italian-inspired ground chicken bolognese recipe, I knew that it needed to be on the blog.
Ingredients
To make chicken with bolognese sauce, gather spaghetti, olive oil, yellow onion, carrots, ground chicken, tomato paste, minced garlic, dried oregano, fresh thyme leaves, red pepper flakes, kosher salt, black pepper, diced tomatoes, chicken stock, dry white wine, and bay leaves. You may also top your pasta with fresh basil leaves and shredded Parmesan cheese.
Substitutions and Optional Add-Ins
- Pasta: Spaghetti is my favorite pasta for chicken bolognese, but any pasta shape would work. If short pasta is your pasta of choice, I suggest serving cavatelli with chicken bolognese. Or, if you’re a fan of wide noodles, chicken bolognese bucatini, tagliatelle or pappardelle makes a hearty meal the whole family can enjoy. You could also try gluten-free pasta, brown rice, or even quinoa pasta in this recipe. Zucchini noodles also work for a low-carb version of this classic dish.
- Ground chicken: Though I use ground chicken in my bolognese recipe, ground turkey makes a great substitute. You can also add tenderness to your chicken spaghetti by using other chicken parts, like chicken thighs or chicken breasts. Simply sprinkle your chicken with salt and pepper, sear it in olive oil, and cube it before adding it to your bolognese.
- Tomatoes: While most varieties of tomatoes will work in this bolognese recipe, I recommend using San Marzano tomatoes. These tomatoes tend to be sweeter, giving your pasta sauce a rich depth of flavor. While it is not traditional, you can also use a jar of your marinara sauce as a substitute for tomatoes.
- Wine: I use white wine to make my ground chicken meat sauce. However, you can use red wine to give your recipe a robust, full-bodied flavor. You could also omit wine altogether and add a splash of apple cider vinegar to your sauce at the very end.
- Milk: Even though the authentic bolognese recipe is made with whole milk, I don’t use any dairy in my chicken bolognese sauce. However, you may add ¾ cup of heavy cream or milk to give your dish extra creaminess. You could even use evaporated milk to make your dish, just like the iconic Katie Lee chicken bolognese. If you’d prefer to use a milk alternative, almond milk is also an option.
How to Make This Recipe?
This recipe for chicken bolognese comes together in just 40 minutes, making it the ultimate weeknight meal. Take the effort out of dinner prep with these detailed step-by-step instructions.
- Cook the pasta: Fill a large pot with water and add a decent amount of kosher salt (which is the secret for properly seasoned pasta.) Turn the heat to medium-high, add the pasta, and cook it according to the package instructions. Once your pasta is al dente, drain it, and set it aside.
- Saute the veggies: Add the olive oil to a large skillet (or a large Dutch oven – affiliate link), and heat it over medium-high heat. Add the chopped onions and carrots to the pan and cook, frequently stirring, until the carrots become tender (9-10 minutes).
- Cook the chicken: Add the ground chicken to the skillet and use a wooden spoon to break up any chunks. Cook the chicken mince until it is no longer pink.
- Simmer the sauce: Add the diced tomatoes, chicken stock, wine, and bay leaf to the skillet. Put on the lid, bring the mixture to a boil, and let it simmer for 10 minutes. The mixture should slightly thicken during this time.
- Toss the pasta: Remove the bay leaves from the chicken bolognese sauce and add the drained pasta to the skillet. Gently toss the mixture to coat each pasta noodle in the sauce.
- Garnish and serve: Sprinkle your pasta with Parmesan cheese and fresh basil leaves. Taste the dish, add in any necessary seasoning, and serve.
How to Make Ahead, Store, Freeze, and Thaw?
This easy chicken bolognese is a must for simple meal prep. You’ll fall head over heels for this recipe’s minimal prep work, easy-to-freeze sauce, and tantalizingly fresh flavor.
- Make ahead: To make this pasta recipe ahead of time, prepare the sauce up to 2 days in advance. Then, store the sauce in an airtight container in the fridge. Wait until you’re ready to serve the dish before making the pasta. Before serving, toss the cooked pasta with the sauce and garnish it with Parmesan cheese and basil leaves.
- Storage: You can store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2-3 days. You can reheat it in a large skillet over medium heat. If it is too thick, feel free to add a splash of water or chicken broth.
- Freeze: If you’re planning to freeze this pasta recipe, I recommend only freezing the sauce. Store your bolognese sauce in an airtight container in the freezer, and it will stay fresh for up to 2 months.
- Thaw: To thaw your chicken bolognese, put it in the fridge overnight. Warm it up before serving using a saucepan over medium-low heat or the microwave.
What to Serve It With
With bold, classic flavor, this chicken bolognese recipe makes a tasty pair with dozens of easy sides. Satisfy all your cravings with this delicious list, from garden-fresh salads to flaky garlic bread.
- Salads: Serving bolognese chicken with a crisp salad is a nutritious pairing that works all year round. Try out one of my autumn salad recipes to serve as a side salad. Or, prepare one of my spring salads or summer salad recipes for a light, colorful pair. For a 15-minute fix, my Spring Mix Salad and Creamy Cucumber Salad are fan favorites that never go out of season.
- Vegetables: For a side that’s nutritious, savory, and warm, cooked veggies are the way to go. The rich, meaty flavor of Baked Shiitake Mushrooms pairs wonderfully with healthy chicken bolognese, and my Roasted Asparagus Recipe will bring out all the herby undertones of your pasta dish.
- Bread: Few things pair better with rich, herby pasta than authentic Italian bread. You’ll want to sop up every last drop of your classic bolognese sauce with my Crusty Olive Bread. Or, bake a loaf of garlic bread for an irresistible side. You could even make a garlic spread from homemade Oven Roasted Garlic for extra bold flavor.
FAQs
What is chicken bolognese made of?
Chicken bolognese is a classic Italian red sauce made from ground chicken, onions, carrots, tomato sauce, milk, and Italian herbs and spices.
What does “bolognese” mean in Italian?
The word “bolognese” refers to Bologna, Italy—the Italian city from which pasta bolognese originates. Therefore, “bolognese” literally translates to “of or relating to Bologna.”
What is the difference between meat sauce and bolognese?
Though made from similar ingredients, meat sauce and bolognese have radically different textures. The American meat sauce is a tomato-based sauce simmered with ground meat. By contrast, Italian bolognese is often slow-cooked with tomato sauce and milk, resulting in a thicker, creamier texture.
Other Must-Try Weeknight Pasta Recipes:
- Gigi Hadid’s Pasta
- Baked Spinach Artichoke Pasta
- Beef Stroganoff On Stove Top
- Easy Chicken Stroganoff
If you try this Chicken Bolognese recipe or any other recipe on Foolproof Living, please take a minute to rate the recipe and leave a comment below. It helps others who are thinking of making the recipe. And if you took some pictures, be sure to share them on Instagram using #foolproofeats so I can share them on my stories.
Chicken Bolognese Recipe
This Chicken Bolognese is the perfect 40-minute recipe for an Italian weeknight dinner! The delicious, tomato-based pasta sauce is made with ground chicken, white wine, and lots of herbs and spices, and also freezes well for easy meal prep. Serve it with some bread and a side salad for a family-favorite meal.
Ingredients
- 1 pound pasta, I used spaghetti, but any shape of pasta would work
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 yellow onion, chopped (about a cup)
- 2 medium carrots, cut into small pieces (about a cup)
- 1 pound ground chicken
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves, chopped
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional
- 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 15 oz can diced tomatoes
- 1 cup chicken stock
- ½ cup dry white wine*, optional
- 2 bay leaves
- ½ cup fresh basil leaves
- 1 cup shredded parmesan cheese, optional
Instructions
- Boil the pasta: Fill a large pot with water and sprinkle it liberally with kosher salt. Add the pasta and cook it according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Saute the veggies: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and carrots and cook, stirring frequently, until carrots are tender, 9-10 minutes.
- Cook the chicken: Add the chicken and cook, breaking the chunks with a wooden spoon until the meat is no longer pink.
- Add tomato paste: Add the tomato paste and cook, stirring constantly, for about a minute.
- Stir in the spices: Stir in the garlic, dried oregano, thyme, red pepper flakes (if using), salt, and pepper. Cook for 30 seconds to a minute.
- Add additional ingredients: Add the diced tomatoes, chicken stock, wine (if using), and bay leaf. Put the lid on, bring it to a boil and let it simmer for about 10-15 minutes. It should be slightly thickened.
- Add the pasta: Remove the bay leaves and add the drained pasta to the bolognese sauce. Give it a gentle toss to make sure that the pasta is coated evenly with the sauce.
- Serve: Sprinkle it with parmesan cheese (if using) and torn fresh basil leaves. Taste for seasoning and add in if necessary before serving.
Notes
- Wine: I use white wine to make my ground chicken meat sauce. However, you can use red wine to give your recipe a robust, full-bodied flavor. You could also omit wine altogether and add a splash of apple cider vinegar to your sauce at the very end.
- Milk: Even though the authentic bolognese recipe is made with whole milk, I don’t use any dairy in my chicken bolognese sauce. However, you may add ¾ cup of whole milk to give your dish extra creaminess. You could even use evaporated milk to make your dish, just like the iconic Katie Lee chicken bolognese. If you’d prefer to use a milk alternative, almond milk is also an option.
- Make ahead: To make this pasta recipe ahead of time, prepare the sauce up to 2 days in advance. Then, store the sauce in an airtight container in the fridge. Wait until you’re ready to serve the dish before making the pasta. Before serving, toss the cooked pasta with the sauce, and garnish it with Parmesan cheese and basil leaves.
- Storage: You can store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2-3 days. You can reheat it in a large skillet over medium heat. If it is too thick, feel free to add a splash of water or chicken broth.
- Freeze: If you’re planning to freeze this dish, I recommend only freezing the sauce. Store your chicken bolognese sauce in an airtight container in the freezer, and it will stay fresh for up to 2 months.
- Thaw: To thaw it, put it in the fridge overnight. Warm it up before serving using a saucepan over medium-low heat or the microwave.
Nutrition
Calories: 850kcal | Carbohydrates: 103g | Protein: 46g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 121mg | Sodium: 1416mg | Potassium: 1418mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 5788IU | Vitamin C: 17mg | Calcium: 328mg | Iron: 5mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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This was absolutely delicious. Loved it. Great flavor. I did use the red pepper flakes. Gave it a little bite. Easy to make. My husband loved it too.
This is music to my ears Nancy. Thanks for coming by and leaving a review of your experience.
Cheers,
Aysegul
Delicious. Good flavor especially on a chilly night. I made it with ground turkey and finished it with a big splash of half & half for a little extra richness. Not terribly labor intensive either.
Hello Kayla,
I am thrilled to hear that you enjoyed this recipe. We love a good bolognese for dinner too.
Thanks for coming by and leaving a review.
Cheers!