Easy Chicken Bolognese recipe is a delightfully altered version of a classic Italian pasta dish. It is a savory, quick and easy dish to prepare at home, and its taste is a winner more than ever with its cheesy, mildly sweet, and tangy flavor.
Check also my easy chicken pasanda recipe.
The texture of this Chicken Bolognese is saucy, meaty and each twirl of the pasta contains the richness of the flavorful from all the ingredients combined. This dish promises so much taste and convenience. Hence you will surely love making this at home.
Chicken Bolognese might be just another delicious meal for some. But rest assured that this classic-inspired recipe is more than just a pile of noodles poured into a boiling pot of sauce. You may serve this saucy and flavorful chicken dish at lunch since a plate of this dish will already make one satisfied.
Some will not have that much time to prepare an intricate dinner for the family during a busy day. This Chicken Bolognese is a simple dish that is easy to prepare. Thus, you are free to cook It for dinner that you and other people in the household will enjoy sharing at the table.
Where did Bolognese Originate?
The origins of spaghetti bolognese are more complicated than you might expect from the name. The city of Bologna, in northern Italy, is not a definitive link to the name, despite common belief. Historically, most historians think that the dish started in Imola, a city located just west of Bologna that is also home to the world's oldest known ragù sauce, which dates back to the end of the 18th century. It is the sauce that goes into the preparation of bolognese.
When Napoleon's forces conquered Italy in 1796, one of the items they took with them was ragoût, a pork stew that served as the inspiration for the spaghetti sauce we know today. The word ragù is derived from the French verb ragouter (which means "to flavor" or "to excite appetite" in English). All things French, particularly the contemporary cuisine française, were enthralling to many affluent Italians.
The first documented instance of ragoût being transformed into ragù is a sauce produced by Alberto Alvisi, the cook for the Cardinal of Imola. The recipe for ragù per i maccheroni was discovered 180 years later by two journalists, Aureliano Bassani and Giancarlo Roversi, who combined browned mince with onions and tomatoes and seasoning with black pepper and cinnamon to create a delicious dish.
Why Does This Chicken Bolognese Recipe Works?
We get it, bolognese is a common and typical dish in a household. There isn't that much of a unique factor of that food for others. However, this Chicken Bolognese will definitely extinguish all of the stereotypes you have for such a dish. Here are some of the reasons why this is a recipe you should try making at home:
- The ingredient list may be longer than expected, but all of them are budget-friendly and are easy to find.
- Preparation time won't be that long, and there is not much effort required to make this recipe work.
- It is a lighter version of the classic Bolognese since chicken is the meat used here instead of beef.
- The taste of this dish is superb. No further explanation is needed.
- This dish is perfect for a family dinner.
What's in This Chicken Bolognese Recipe?
Chicken Thighs. Chicken thighs contain more fat than the other chicken parts. Hence they will give more juicer flavor to your dish.
Olive Oil. It aids in the transmission of flavor from your chicken to the palate and provides a pleasant mouth-feel and satiating the appetite.
Celery. It has a mild taste, but when you saute it along with other ingredients for the sauce of this recipe, the flavor it gives to your this dish is distinguishable.
Carrot. Add carrot to this recipe for a bit of crunch and mild sweetness.
Onion. A flavor enhancer, the onion should never go missing in sauteing your ingredients for the sauce of your chicken.
Garlic. Sauteing garlic with the rest of the ingredients gives the recipe a depth of flavor, and the taste of the whole dish will be enhanced.
Tomato Sauce. Thicken and add color to your dish by pouring in tomato sauce.
Tomato Paste. The tomato paste will help tomato sauce in thickening the texture of the sauce for your chicken. The tomato paste will also give the most potent tomato flavor to this recipe.
Dried Basil. Dried basil is the best aromatic and spice for your chicken sauce.
Parmesan Cheese. A cheesy Bolognese will only be best possible with the easy-melting parmesan cheese.
Spaghetti. Served this recipe with any kind of pasta or white rice.
How To Make Chicken Bolognese?
Cook the pasta according to package instructions if you will serve this recipe with pasta.
Season the chicken thighs with salt and pepper on both sides.
Heat oil in a large pan medium heat. Once hot, add the chicken, sear until golden brown, then remove from the pan, put in a plate, cut into small pieces and set aside.
Add celery, onion, carrots and garlic to the pan, saute over medium heat for 2-3 minutes or until softened.
Stir in tomato paste, tomato sauce, water, sugar and basil.
Bring to a boil, add the chicken back to the pot, then reduce the heat to simmer, cook for 20-25 minutes, then turn off the heat.
Now, put your pasta on a serving plate and top it with your chicken.
Garnish with parmesan and chopped parsley, then serve.
Top Tips!
- Some people add cooking oil to boiling the pasta so that it won't stick together. Don't do it because later on, the pasta will not be able to absorb the sauce.
- Add salt to your spaghetti as it boils for a bit of an extra flavor.
Recipe Variations
- You may use pecorino romano in place of parmesan cheese if unavailable since both have the same texture and are almost similar in taste.
- Add in black pepper in sautéing the ingredients for the sauce for more spice.
Serving Suggestions
White rice or pasta is the perfect dish to serve with this chicken dish.
You can also serve it with turmeric rice or spinach and potato salad.
Recipe FAQs
Definitely! Basically, simmer the Bolognese sauce according to the instruction in this recipe, shred the cooked chicken, and add it to the sauce approximately 10 minutes before it's ready. Easy, right?
Absolutely! Any leftovers should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. To reheat, simply throw the ingredients in a pot with a splash of water and cook over medium-low heat for about 10 minutes, or until the mixture is scalding hot throughout.
More Chicken Recipes
Easy Chicken Bolognese Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 500 g chicken thighs , boneless, skinless
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup celery , diced
- 1 cup carrot , diced
- ½ cup onion , diced
- 2 cloves garlic
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 750 g tomatoes sauce
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- ¼ cup water
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 tablespoon parmesan cheese , to garnish
- 1 teaspoon parsley , to garnish
- 250 g cooked Spaghetti , to serve
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to package instructions if you will serve this recipe with pasta.250 g cooked Spaghetti
- Season the chicken thighs with salt and pepper on both sides.500 g chicken thighs, ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- Heat oil in a large pan medium heat. Once hot, add the chicken, sear until golden brown, then remove from the pan, put in a plate, cut into small pieces and set aside.2 tablespoon olive oil, 500 g chicken thighs
- Add celery, onion, carrots and garlic to the pan, saute over medium heat for 2-3 minutes or until softened.1 cup celery, 1 cup carrot, 2 cloves garlic, ½ cup onion
- Stir in tomato paste, tomato sauce, water, sugar and basil.750 g tomatoes sauce, 1 tablespoon tomato paste, ¼ cup water, 1 teaspoon sugar, 1 teaspoon dried basil
- Bring to a boil, add the chicken back to the pot, then reduce the heat to simmer, cook for 20-25 minutes, then turn off the heat.
- Now, put your pasta on a serving plate and top it with your chicken.
- Garnish with parmesan and chopped parsley, then serve.1 tablespoon parmesan cheese, 1 teaspoon parsley
Notes
- Some people add cooking oil to boiling the pasta so that it won't stick together. Don't do it because later on, the pasta will not be able to absorb the sauce.
- Add salt to your spaghetti as it boils for a bit of an extra flavor.
Recipe Variations
- You may use pecorino romano in place of parmesan cheese if unavailable since both have the same texture and are almost similar in taste.
- Add in black pepper in sautéing the ingredients for the sauce for more spice.
Nutrition
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Madison
I made this recipe and it was delicious and i served it also with pasta.
Nithia
I made this recipe using chicken breast and cut it into smaller cube, it turned out really well. Instructions are clear and easy to follow.