Flavorful Homemade Chicken Bolognese Recipe For Family Dinners

Pasta nights just got a delightful upgrade with this hearty chicken bolognese recipe that promises pure comfort.

Tender ground chicken melds beautifully with rich, aromatic tomato sauce in a classic Italian-inspired dish.

Herbs and spices dance through each savory bite, creating layers of deep, satisfying flavor.

Home cooks love how simple yet impressive this meal becomes with minimal effort.

The sauce simmers slowly, developing complex undertones that make every forkful memorable.

Weeknight dinners or weekend gatherings will sparkle with this crowd-pleasing recipe that brings genuine Italian warmth to your table.

Grab your apron and let’s dive into a culinary adventure that transforms ordinary ingredients into an extraordinary meal.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 35 minutes

Total Time: 50 minutes

Calories: 480 kcal

Servings: 5

Ingredients That Make Best Chicken Bolognese So Good

• Ground Chicken: Lean and versatile protein that adds a light, delicate flavor to the sauce, choose fresh, high-quality ground meat with minimal fat content for the best texture.
• Chicken Broth: Enhances depth of flavor and helps create a silky, rich sauce consistency, opt for low-sodium varieties to control salt levels.

• Garlic, Onion, Carrot, Mushrooms: Create a flavor-packed base that adds sweetness, umami, and nutritional complexity, select fresh, firm vegetables with vibrant colors and no blemishes.
• Fresh Basil: Brings a bright, herbaceous note that elevates the entire dish, choose leaves that are deep green and fragrant.

• Diced Tomatoes, Tomato Paste: Builds a robust, tangy sauce foundation with rich depth, look for high-quality canned tomatoes without added preservatives.
• Salt, Black Pepper: Balances and enhances the overall flavor profile, use freshly ground black pepper for maximum aromatic impact.
• Olive Oil: Provides a smooth base for sautéing and adds a subtle fruity undertone, select extra-virgin for best quality.

• Pasta: Serves as the perfect vehicle for the sauce, choose gluten-free options like brown rice, quinoa, or chickpea pasta for dietary needs.

Kitchen Tools for Best Chicken Bolognese Preparation

• Large Dutch Oven or Pot: Essential for sautéing vegetables and simmering the sauce.
• Wooden Spoon: Perfect for breaking up ground chicken and stirring ingredients.
• Cutting Board: Needed for chopping onions, carrots, mushrooms, and garlic.
• Chef's Knife: Sharp tool for precise vegetable and ingredient preparation.
• Measuring Spoons: Helps accurately add salt, pepper, and spices.
• Pasta Pot: Necessary for cooking pasta according to package instructions.
• Colander: Used for draining pasta after cooking.
• Grater: Required for creating fresh Parmesan cheese topping.

How to Cook the Best Chicken Bolognese Step-by-Step

• Veggie Foundation Preparation

Warm a roomy cooking pot over medium heat. Chop onions, carrots, and mushrooms into small pieces. Sauté the vegetables until they soften and release their aromatic essence, creating a flavor base for the sauce.

• Protein Integration

Introduce ground chicken into the vegetable mixture. Sprinkle in garlic and zesty seasonings. Gently break down the meat while it cooks, allowing it to maintain a slightly pink center for tenderness.

• Sauce Symphony

Pour in rich tomato components and fragrant herbs. Add a splash of chicken broth and a knob of butter for silky smoothness. Let the sauce simmer gently, allowing flavors to meld and intensify. The longer it bubbles, the deeper the taste becomes.

• Pasta Finale

Boil pasta until perfectly al dente. Rescue a small amount of starchy cooking water. Blend the sauce and pasta together, using reserved water to create a luxurious, clingy coating that hugs each noodle.

• Serving Celebration

Garnish with fresh basil leaves and a generous snowfall of Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately, letting the vibrant colors and enticing aroma invite everyone to the table.

Tips for Bold Flavor in Chicken Bolognese

• Swap ground chicken with turkey or lean beef for a different protein twist. Each meat brings its unique flavor profile to the Bolognese sauce.
• Sneak in extra vegetables like zucchini or bell peppers for added nutrition and texture. Finely chop veggies to blend seamlessly into the sauce.
• Adjust red chili flakes to match your heat tolerance. For a smoky kick, try adding a pinch of smoked paprika or a dash of cayenne pepper.
• Experiment with fresh herbs like oregano, thyme, or sage to elevate the sauce's complexity. Fresh herbs can transform the entire dish's flavor profile.
• This Bolognese sauce freezes beautifully for up to 3 months. Store in airtight containers and reheat slowly for a quick and delicious meal prep option.

Serve Best Chicken Bolognese with Pasta Like a Chef

• Rustic Italian Dinner Night: Gather friends and family around the table for a cozy meal that feels like a warm hug from an Italian grandmother. Serve the chicken bolognese with crusty bread to soak up every delicious drop of sauce.
• Party-Perfect Pasta Platter: Create a beautiful family-style presentation by placing the pasta in a large serving bowl, topping with extra Parmesan, fresh basil leaves, and a drizzle of high-quality olive oil for an Instagram-worthy meal.
• Wine Pairing Perfection: Complement the rich, hearty sauce with a medium-bodied red wine like Chianti or Sangiovese. The wine's acidity will cut through the richness of the chicken and enhance the tomato-based sauce's deep flavors.
• Leftover Magic: Transform extra bolognese into a delicious next-day lunch by spreading it over toasted ciabatta bread or using it as a filling for a hearty sandwich. The sauce's flavors will intensify overnight, making your next meal even more delectable.

Storing Leftover Chicken Bolognese for Later Meals

• Fridge Fresh Strategy: Store leftover chicken bolognese sauce in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Cool completely before refrigerating to maintain optimal taste and texture.
• Freezer Friendly Technique: Portion sauce into freezer-safe containers, leaving slight space for expansion. Freeze for maximum 3 months. Thaw overnight in refrigerator before reheating.
• Smart Reheating Method: Warm sauce gently in a skillet over medium-low heat, adding small splashes of chicken broth to restore moisture. Stir frequently to prevent burning and maintain sauce consistency.
• Pasta Preparation Tip: Keep cooked pasta and sauce separate when storing to prevent soggy noodles. Reheat pasta briefly in boiling water, then mix with warmed sauce just before serving for best results.

Hearty Chicken Bolognese Recipe

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4.8 from 23 reviews

• Total Time: 50 minutes
• Yield: 5 1x

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Description

Hearty chicken bolognese elevates traditional meat sauce with lean protein and rich Mediterranean flavors. Creamy pasta layers highlight savory chicken ragu that you’ll crave after one delicious bite.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 lb (0.45 kg) ground chicken
• 16 oz (0.45 kg) pasta (fettuccine, brown rice, quinoa, lentil, or chickpea gluten-free)
• 28 oz (0.8 kg) can diced or crushed tomatoes
• 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
• 1 cup (1 large) carrot, finely diced
• 1 cup baby bella or cremini mushrooms, finely diced
• 3–4 cloves garlic, minced
• ¼ cup tomato paste
• 3 tbsps fresh basil, finely chopped
• 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
• Low-sodium chicken broth (amount not specified)
• Salt (to taste)
• ½ tsp black pepper

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Instructions

1. Sauté Aromatics: In a Dutch oven, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Introduce diced onions, carrots, and mushrooms, allowing them to soften and release their fragrant oils for 4-5 minutes.
2. Brown Protein: Add ground chicken, minced garlic, salt, ground black pepper, and red chili flakes. Crumble the meat while cooking, ensuring a slightly pink interior and developing rich, caramelized flavors.
3. Build Sauce Foundation: Fold in diced tomatoes, tomato paste, chicken broth, fresh basil leaves, bay leaf, and butter. Reduce heat to medium-low, letting the sauce gently simmer and meld together for 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent scorching.
4. Prepare Pasta: Cook pasta in a separate pot according to package instructions, maintaining al dente texture. Reserve a portion of the starchy cooking liquid to help emulsify the sauce.
5. Finalize Dish: Remove bay leaf from the sauce. Drain pasta and combine with the robust chicken bolognese, using reserved pasta water to create a silky, cohesive consistency. Garnish with freshly torn basil and a generous sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese before serving.

Notes

• Prep Ingredient Tip: Dice vegetables uniformly to ensure even cooking and consistent flavor distribution throughout the sauce.
• Meat Handling Technique: Break ground chicken into small, irregular pieces while cooking to create a more authentic, rustic bolognese texture and prevent large meat clumps.
• Sauce Depth Trick: Allow bolognese to simmer slowly, which concentrates flavors and helps develop a rich, complex taste profile that elevates the entire dish.
• Pasta Water Magic: Reserve starchy pasta water as a secret weapon to help sauce cling perfectly to noodles, creating a silky, restaurant-quality finish.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 35 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Lunch
• Method: Sautéing
• Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 5
• Calories: 480
• Sugar: 6 g
• Sodium: 300 mg
• Fat: 12 g
• Saturated Fat: 2 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 65 g
• Fiber: 5 g
• Protein: 30 g
• Cholesterol: 70 mg