Pasta with chicken breast, mushrooms, and cheese sauce
Pasta with chicken breast, mushrooms, and cheese sauce: A recipe full of flavor and surprises
When it comes to cooking, sometimes the most delicious recipes are born from happy accidents. Today, I invite you to discover a recipe for Paccheri pasta with chicken breast, mushrooms, and a creamy cheese sauce that will delight your taste buds. I had a small incident in the kitchen that transformed an initial recipe into a culinary masterpiece. Get ready to be carried away by the enticing aromas and delicate textures of this dish!
Preparation time: 20 minutes
Cooking time: 50 minutes
Total time: 1 hour and 10 minutes
Number of servings: 4
Ingredients:
For the pasta:
- 500 g Paccheri pasta
- Water, salt, and a little oil for boiling the pasta
For the meat and mushroom sauce:
- 400 g free-range chicken breast (weighed without skin and bone)
- 1 dried onion
- 3 cloves of garlic
- 1 carrot
- 400 g chanterelle mushrooms (or forest mushrooms)
- 300 ml crushed tomatoes
- Oil
- Salt, pepper
- Chili flakes (optional)
- Paprika
- Bay leaves
- Basil
- Fresh herbs
For the cheese sauce:
- 300 ml cream with 20% fat
- 100 g Delaco cream cheese
- 150 g sheep cheese
- 50 g parmesan (plus extra for decoration)
- 2 cloves of garlic
- Oil
- Salt, white pepper
- Nutmeg (optional)
Step-by-step preparation:
1. Boiling the pasta: Start by bringing water to a boil in a large pot, adding salt and a little oil. When the water reaches boiling point, add the Paccheri pasta. The package says to boil for 16 minutes, but since some pasta may be less fresh, I boiled them for only 10 minutes. Check the texture of the pasta, aiming for al dente. After boiling, drain them and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process. Add a splash of oil to prevent sticking.
2. Preparing the meat and mushroom sauce: While the pasta is boiling, prepare the sauce. Cut the chicken breast into cubes and season with salt, pepper, and paprika. Let it marinate in the fridge overnight. In a pot, heat the oil and sauté the finely chopped onion until it becomes translucent. Add the grated carrot and continue to sauté for a few minutes. Add the meat and diced mushrooms, mixing well. Let everything sauté for 10 minutes.
3. Adding the flavors: Once the meat and mushrooms are cooked, add water to cover the ingredients, bay leaves, finely chopped garlic, and crushed tomatoes. Cover the pot and let it simmer on low heat for about 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally. Five minutes before turning off the heat, add basil and fresh herbs for extra flavor.
4. Preparing the cheese sauce: In a separate pan, sauté the 2 chopped garlic cloves in a little oil. Add the cream, cream cheese, and sheep cheese, stirring continuously. Season with salt, white pepper, and a pinch of nutmeg. Let the sauce simmer on low heat for 5-7 minutes until the cheeses melt completely.
5. Assembling the dish: In a baking dish, add alternating layers: a layer of pasta, a layer of meat and mushroom sauce, followed by a layer of cheese sauce. Repeat until all ingredients are used, ensuring that the last layer is the cheese sauce. Sprinkle grated parmesan on top for a delicious crust.
6. Baking: Preheat the oven to 180°C. Place the baking dish in the oven for about 30 minutes or until the sauce starts to bubble and a golden crust forms on top. The aroma will fill the entire kitchen!
7. Serving: Let the dish cool for a few minutes before serving. It is delicious warm, alongside a fresh green salad or a crispy baguette. Serve it with a glass of white wine or a refreshing lemonade.
Useful tip:
If you can't find Paccheri pasta, you can use any other tube-shaped pasta, such as penne or rigatoni. You can also replace the chicken breast with beef or turkey, according to your preferences.
Nutritional benefits:
This recipe is rich in protein due to the chicken breast and cheeses, while the mushrooms provide a supply of vitamins and minerals. The pasta offers essential carbohydrates for energy. However, keep in mind the portions, as the dish can be quite filling.
Frequently asked questions:
- Can I use canned mushrooms? It is preferable to use fresh mushrooms for a more intense flavor, but if you don't have any, canned mushrooms can be an acceptable alternative.
- How can I make the cheese sauce more intense? Add more types of cheese, such as gorgonzola or cheddar, to achieve a more flavorful sauce.
- Is this recipe suitable for vegans? You can adapt the recipe using egg-free pasta, tofu, or mushrooms as a substitute for meat and vegan cheeses.
So, let yourself be inspired by this recipe for pasta with chicken breast, mushrooms, and cheese sauce! Experiment, adapt to your taste, and most importantly, enjoy every bite! Bon appétit!
Ingredients: 500g Paccheri pasta Water, salt, and a little oil for boiling the pastaIngredients for meat and mushroom sauce: One free-range chicken breast (400 g, weighed without skin and bone) One dried onion 3 cloves of garlic 1 carrot 400 g chanterelles 300 ml crushed tomatoes Oil Salt, pepper Chili flakes Paprika Oil Bay leaves Basil GreensIngredients for cheese sauce: 300 ml sour cream 20% fat 100 g Delaco cream cheese 150 g sheep cheese 50 g Parmesan 2 cloves garlic oil Salt White pepper nutmegWe also need Parmesan, which we will grate between layers and on top.
