Best Chicken Ragu Recipes

RAGÚ® CHICKEN PARMESAN

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Combine bread crumbs, Italian seasoning and garlic powder in shallow dish. Dip chicken in egg, then crumb mixture; turn to coat.
• Arrange the chicken in a 13 x 9-inch baking dish. Bake 20 minutes.
• Pour sauce over chicken; top with cheese. Bake an additional 10 minutes or until chicken is thoroughly cooked.

CHICKEN WITH CHICKPEA AND TOMATO RAGU

Steps:

• Toss the chicken breasts with the salt, pepper and 1 tablespoon olive oil in a small bowl. Set aside.
• Heat a medium Dutch oven over medium heat. Add 2 tablespoons olive oil to the pan and heat an additional 30 seconds. Add the onion, garlic and fennel to the hot pan. Season with salt and stir with a wooden spoon to combine. Cook, stirring often, until the vegetables are beginning to soften and are fragrant, about 3 minutes. Add the oregano and garlic powder to the vegetables and stir to combine. Continue to cook until the vegetables are translucent and beginning to brown slightly, another 3 to 4 minutes. Add the tomatoes to the pan along with the vinegar. Bring the mixture to a simmer. Reduce the heat to maintain a gentle simmer. Using the back of a wooden spoon, crush the tomatoes into medium-sized pieces. Simmer for 10 minutes while you start the chicken.
• Meanwhile, heat a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add the remaining tablespoon olive oil and heat an additional 30 seconds. Add the chicken to the hot skillet and cook, undisturbed, until deep golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Flip the chicken and cook until the chicken is evenly browned on both sides, an additional 3 to 4 minutes. Carefully ladle the tomato mixture over and around the chicken, then reduce the heat to maintain a gentle simmer and continue to cook for an additional 5 minutes. Stir in the chickpeas and butter and cook to heat through, 2 more minutes. Did you taste it? Season with additional salt, garlic powder or garlic salt if needed. Stir in the basil and serve topped with Parmesan, if desired.

LINGUINE WITH CHICKEN RAGU

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken, season with salt and pepper, and cook until the juices evaporate and the chicken is golden, about 10 minutes. Add the shallots and garlic and saute until tender, about 2 minutes. Add the wine and stir to scrape up any brown bits on the bottom of the skillet. Add the rosemary and mix well. Add the Marinara Sauce and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer gently until the flavors blend, about 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the linguine and cook until al dente, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes. Drain, reserving 1 cup of cooking liquid. Add the linguine to the ragu and toss to coat, adding some reserved cooking liquid to moisten. Transfer the pasta to a large serving bowl. Sprinkle with Parmesan and serve.
• In a large casserole pot, heat the oil over a medium-high flame. Add the onions and garlic and saute until the onions are translucent, about 10 minutes. Add the celery, carrots, and 1/2 teaspoon each of salt and pepper. Saute until all the vegetables are soft, about 10 minutes. Add the tomatoes and bay leaves, and simmer uncovered over low heat until the sauce thickens, about 1 hour. Remove and discard the bay leaf. Season the sauce with more salt and pepper, to taste.

CHICKEN RAGù WITH FENNEL

Steps:

• Put the oil in a wide saucepan or deep skillet that will fit six thighs snugly and turn the heat to medium. Add the bacon and cook it until it's crisp, 5 to 6 minutes, then, using a slotted spoon, transfer it to a small bowl.
• Sprinkle the chicken generously with salt. Turn the heat to medium-high and add the chicken, skin-side down, to begin to brown. After 3 or 4 minutes, turn it and cook for another 3 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a plate and pour off all but 3 tablespoons of the fat.
• Add the onion and fennel and sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are soft and just starting to turn golden, 6 to 7 minutes. Add the thyme and cook for another minute or so.
• Pour in wine and simmer, stirring and scraping up any browned bits in the bottom of the pan. Reduce the wine by half, 2 to 3 minutes.
• Add the bacon and then the chicken with any accumulated juices, skin-side up, keeping the thighs in a single layer. Pour in enough water to almost cover the chicken.
• Bring to a simmer and then turn the heat down so the liquid is bubbling very gently. Partially cover with a lid, setting it so some steam can escape. Cook until the chicken is tender, about 45 minutes.
• Remove the chicken to a plate and set aside to cool. Once you can handle it, remove the bones and skin and shred the chicken by hand.
• If you are serving the ragù over pasta, get your water going: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package directions, reserving 1 cup pasta water before draining.
• Add milk to the pan and turn the burner to medium-high. Cook, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking, until sauce is nearly reduced by half and slightly thickened, 10 to 12 minutes. Add the shredded chicken back to the pan and season with salt and pepper.
• Stir in the butter, then the Parmesan. If serving over pasta, add some of the starchy pasta water if the sauce seems too thick.
• Add the parsley, and toss sauce with the pasta, if using. Pass more Parmesan at the table.

CHICKEN & CHORIZO RAGU

Steps:

• Fry the chorizo over a medium heat in a large saucepan or flameproof casserole dish for 5 mins or until it releases its oil and starts to char at the edges. Add the onion and fry for 5 mins more or until soft. Tip in the garlic and cook for 2 mins before stirring in the paprika and sundried tomatoes. Add the chicken thighs and fry for 2 mins each side until they are well coated in the spices and beginning to brown.
• Pour in the chopped tomatoes and stock, and turn the heat down. Cover and cook for 40 mins until the chicken is falling apart and the sauce is thick. Stir the lemon juice through. Serve by piling spoonfuls of the ragu into hot jacket potatoes with parsley sprinkled over and a dollop of soured cream, if you like.

CHICKEN RAGù HAND PIES

Steps:

• Whisk together flour and salt in a large bowl and work the butter into the flour with your fingers until it resembles coarse sand. It's O.K. if some of the butter pieces aren't fully incorporated.
• Whisk together the ice water, vinegar and 1 egg, then slowly add to the flour a bit at a time, stirring gently with a fork until a shaggy dough forms.
• Flour your hands lightly, gather the dough into a ball and knead it gently a few times.
• Form the dough into a thick, flat square, wrap it in plastic wrap and chill for an hour. (The dough can stay overnight in the refrigerator or be frozen at this point.)
• Heat the oven to 425 degrees. On a lightly floured surface, using a lightly floured rolling pin, roll out the dough until 1/8-inch thick. Cut out 4 1/2-inch rounds (a small bowl works well for this if you don't have a cookie cutter). Collect dough scraps if needed to re-roll dough to obtain 10 rounds.
• Whisk the remaining egg. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Add one heaping tablespoon of the chicken ragù to each pie, being careful to not scoop up too much liquid. Sprinkle with a little of the cheese, then brush the outer rim of each round with egg and fold over to seal tightly.
• Set the hand pies on the prepared baking sheet. Use the tines of a fork to crimp the edges, being careful not to puncture the dough that covers the filling. Brush the top of each hand pie with egg.
• Bake until the pastry tops are golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.

SLOW COOKER CHICKEN RAGù WITH HERBED RICOTTA

Steps:

• In a 6- to 8-quart slow cooker, combine the chicken, carrot, onion, garlic, tomato paste, olive oil, thyme, oregano, red-pepper flakes and onion powder. Add 2 teaspoons kosher salt and a couple grinds of pepper.
• Pour the tomatoes and their juices into the slow cooker, crushing the tomatoes with your hands, if using whole. Stir to combine.
• Cover and cook on low until the chicken is very tender, about 6 hours. The ragù will hold well on warm for an additional 1 to 2 hours.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to the package directions until al dente. While the pasta cooks, in a small bowl, combine the ricotta with the chopped herbs, lemon juice and a pinch of salt; set aside.
• Coarsely shred the cooked chicken with two forks. Remove and discard the herb sprigs and add the vinegar and the basil leaves. Taste the sauce, adding more red-pepper flakes, if you like. Turn off the slow cooker. Pour the drained pasta into the slow cooker and toss to combine.
• Divide among bowls and top with the ricotta mixture.

PAPPARDELLE WITH CHICKEN RAGù, FENNEL, AND PEAS

Steps:

• Heat oil in a wide large saucepan or a Dutch oven over medium. Cook bacon, stirring often, until browned and crisp, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a small bowl with a slotted spoon.
• Increase heat to medium-high. Season chicken all over with salt, then set in pan, skin side down. Cook, turning halfway through, until golden brown on both sides, about 6 minutes total. Transfer to a plate.
• Pour off all but 2 Tbsp. fat from pan. Add onions and chopped fennel and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft and golden, 6-8 minutes. Add thyme and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Pour in wine and simmer, stirring and scraping up brown bits, until reduced by half, about 5 minutes. Return bacon and chicken to pan (chicken should fit snugly in a single layer); pour in water to barely cover chicken. Bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium-low and set lid askew. Cook until chicken is tender, 45-60 minutes.
• Transfer chicken to a clean plate; let cool. Finely shred chicken meat; discard bones and skin.
• Add milk to pan and set over medium-high. Cook, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking, until sauce is nearly reduced by half and slightly thickened, 8-12 minutes.
• Mix peas and chicken into sauce and cook until peas are just tender, about 4 minutes for fresh peas and 2 minutes for frozen. Season ragù with salt and plenty of pepper. Keep warm while you cook the pasta.
• Cook pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water, stirring occasionally, until very al dente. Drain, reserving 1 cup pasta cooking liquid.
• Add pasta, butter, 1/2 cup grated Parmesan, and 1/2 cup pasta water to ragù and mix to coat pasta with sauce. Increase heat to medium (sauce should be bubbling just a little) and continue cooking, stirring and adding more cooking liquid as needed if sauce is too thick, until butter and cheese are melted and incorporated into ragù and pasta is well coated in sauce. Add parsley and toss to evenly distribute through pasta.
• Divide pasta among bowls. Top with fennel fronds and shaved Parmesan.
• Do Ahead
• Ragù can be made 2 days ahead. Let cool; cover and chill. Reheat gently before using.

PAPPARDELLE WITH CHICKEN AND MUSHROOM RAGù

Steps:

• Pulse mushrooms and garlic in a food processor until finely chopped.
• Heat oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over medium-high heat until it shimmers. Season chicken with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until just golden, about 3 minutes. Transfer with a slotted spoon to a bowl.
• Reduce heat to medium and cook onion, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 3 minutes.
• Add mushroom mixture, rosemary, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper and cook, stirring constantly, until beginning to brown, about 4 minutes.
• Add vinegar and cook until evaporated. Add chicken and tomatoes (with juice), then simmer, breaking up tomatoes with a spoon and stirring occasionally, until sauce is just thickened, about 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, cook pappardelle in a pasta pot of boiling salted water (2 tablespoons salt for 6 quarts water) until al dente.
• Add arugula to sauce and stir until wilted. Stir in drained pasta and cook 1 minute.

CHICKEN AND ANDOUILLE SAUSAGE RAGù

Steps:

• Place chicken thighs, skin side down, on work surface. Using sharp knife, cut each thigh lengthwise along each side of bone, forming 2 pieces of meat (some meat may remain on bones); reserve bones.
• Heat oil in heavy large pot over medium-high heat. Sprinkle chicken and bones with salt and pepper. Working in batches, sauté in pot until brown, about 6 minutes per batch. Transfer to bowl. Add sausage to pot and sauté until brown, about 5 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer to bowl with chicken. Add carrots and onions to pot and sauté until onions are tender and golden, about 10 minutes. Stir in 1/4 cup marjoram, garlic, lemon peel, and crushed red pepper; sauté 2 minutes. Add wine and boil until reduced by half, about 3 minutes. Stir in tomatoes with juices and broth; bring to boil. Add chicken, bones, sausage, and any accumulated juices from bowl. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer until chicken is cooked through, about 35 minutes.
• Using slotted spoon, transfer chicken and sausage to bowl; discard bones. Boil liquid in pot until reduced to 3 cups, about 20 minutes. Stir in remaining 1/4 cup marjoram. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Return chicken and sausage to pot. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cool slightly. Refrigerate uncovered until cold, then cover and keep refrigerated. Rewarm over medium heat before serving.) Spoon ragù over Campanelle Pasta with Parsley Butter.

SPRING CHICKEN RAGU

Steps:

• Season chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in a large skillet, add chicken, and cook over medium-high heat until golden brown on both sides, about 7 minutes total.
• Add stock and tomatoes, bring to a boil, and cover. Cook on medium-low heat for about 20 minutes; remove chicken, and set aside.
• Add carrots to skillet, and cook, covered, until almost tender, about 5 minutes. Add asparagus, leeks, and peas, and cook until all the vegetables are tender, about 5 more minutes.
• Meanwhile, pull chicken from bone, and shred into large bite-size pieces. Return chicken to skillet, and cook until heated through, about 2 minutes. Garnish with sprigs of parsley, if desired.

LINGUINI WITH CHICKEN, SUN-DRIED TOMATOES, AND ARUGULA #RAGU

Steps:

• Preheat grill using medium heat. Fill a large pot with water, add 1 tsp sea salt, cover, and bring to a boil on high heat.
• Rinse chicken breasts with cold water and pat dry with paper towel. Trim excess fat from chicken and set aside. In shallow dish, combine olive oil, balsamic vinegar, ½ tsp sea salt, and ¼ tsp pepper. Dip chicken in olive oil mixture, using your hands to completely coat chicken. Grill 7 minutes on each side (14 minutes total) or until cooked through. Remove from heat, wrap in aluminum foil, and set aside.
• Melt butter over medium heat in skillet. Sauté minced garlic in butter 1-2 minutes. Remove from heat before garlic gets brown. Set aside.
• Add sun-dried tomatoes and linguini to boiling water and cook uncovered for 10-11 minutes. Stir every few minutes to keep pasta from sticking together. Drain and set aside.
• Add Ragu Creamy Mozzarella Sauce to cooked garlic and butter and heat over medium heat 3 minutes, stirring frequently. Set aside while you slice the grilled chicken into pieces 1-2" long by ½" wide.
• In large pasta serving dish, combine cooked linguini and sundried tomatoes with Ragu Creamy Mozzarella Sauce. Gently stir until all pasta is coated with sauce. Fold in chicken and arugula leaves. Sprinkle remaining ½ teaspoons salt, remaining ¼ teaspoons pepper, feta, and pine nuts on top of pasta.

LINGUINE WITH CHICKEN RAGU

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken, season with salt and pepper, and cook until the juices evaporate and the chicken is golden, about 10 minutes. Add the shallots and garlic and saute until tender, about 2 minutes. Add the wine and stir to scrape up any brown bits on the bottom of the skillet. Add the rosemary and mix well. Add the marinara sauce and bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer gently until the flavors blend, about 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the linguine and cook until al dente, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes. Drain, reserving 1 cup of cooking liquid. Add the linguine to the ragu and toss to coat, adding some reserved cooking liquid to moisten. Transfer the pasta to a large serving bowl. Sprinkle with Parmesan and serve.
• MARINARA DIRECTIONS.
• In a large casserole pot, heat the oil over a medium-high flame. Add the onions and garlic and saute until the onions are translucent, about 10 minutes. Add the celery, carrots, and 1/2 teaspoon each of salt and pepper. Saute until all the vegetables are soft, about 10 minutes. Add the tomatoes and bay leaves, and simmer uncovered over low heat until the sauce thickens, about 1 hour. Remove and discard the bay leaf. Season the sauce with more salt and pepper, to taste. (The sauce can be made 1 day ahead. Cool, then cover and refrigerate. Rewarm over medium heat before using.).
• Yield: 2 quarts.

PULLED CHICKEN RAGU AND RIGATONI

Steps:

• Place the chicken thighs and breasts in a medium pot with the carrots, celery, quartered onion and bay leaves. Sprinkle with salt and cover with water. Bring to a boil, and then reduce to a simmer to cook through and flavor the stock, 30 minutes. Transfer the chicken to a shallow dish until cool enough to handle. Strain the stock and reserve the meat.
• Place the dried mushrooms in a small pot and cover with 1 to 1 1/2 cups of the stock. Bring to a simmer until the mushrooms are reconstituted, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Remove the meat from the chicken bones, discarding the skin and bones, and pull into small pieces. You will need only the dark meat. (Reserve the white meat for another use, such as Creamy Chicken and Noodles.)
• Heat the EVOO over medium-high heat in the pot used to cook the chicken. Cook the pancetta to render, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the chopped onion, garlic and rosemary, sprinkle with salt and pepper and cook until the onions are tender, 7 to 8 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste, pour in the wine and cook until reduced by half. Return the pulled chicken into the pot with 2 cups of the reserved stock. (Reserve the remaining chicken stock for another recipe, such as Creamy Chicken and Noodles.)
• Chop the reconstituted mushrooms and add them into the sauce along with their liquid. Simmer to thicken the sauce, 20 to 30 minutes.
• Bring a large pot of salted water to boil and cook the pasta to al dente. Reserve 1 cup of the starchy cooking liquid just before draining. Toss the pasta with the sauce and starchy water. Mix in some pecorino, and serve with more to pass at the table. Garnish with grassy flat-leaf parsley.
• Cook's Note: Cool and store the sauce for a make-ahead meal. Bring to room temperature before reheating over medium heat. Cook the pasta right before serving.

CRIMINI RAGU WITH SPINACH CROSTINI AND CHICKEN RAGU WITH WHOLE WHEAT PASTA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, add the pasta and cook to al dente, drain and keep warm.
• Heat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Scatter sliced bread on baking sheet, toast until crisp but not too dry, 6 to 8 minutes.
• Quarter mushrooms. Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil, 3 turns of the pan, over medium-high heat. Once the mushrooms have started to brown add 3 to 4 large cloves garlic, grated or finely chopped
• While mushrooms cook, begin chicken ragu. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil, 2 turns of the pan, over medium-high heat. Brown the pancetta 3 to 4 minutes then add chicken and brown evenly 5 to 6 minutes. Add the onions to the chicken. Grate the carrot and stir in with the rosemary, bay and a couple of cloves of garlic, grated or finely chopped. Season with salt and pepper and cook until vegetables are soft.
• Add the Marsala to chicken and vegetables, stir and reduce a minute then add tomatoes and crush with wooden spoon. Simmer a few minutes to thicken and combine flavors.
• When the mushrooms are tender, season with salt and pepper. Chop the spinach coarsely then stir in to wilt. Add in a few grates of nutmeg, stir in vinegar then a splash of cream. Transfer the mushrooms to a small bowl and serve with toasted bread for topping.
• Toss the pasta with the chicken ragu and cheese. Garnish with some torn basil and serve immediately.

STUFFED CHICKEN BREAST ALFREDO WITH A CREAMY CHEESE TWIST#RAGU

Steps:

• Directions:.
• Preheat oven to 350ᵒ.
• Season chicken with salt and pepper. On a clean work surface, lay chicken breast flat, smooth sides down. Fill and roll: Layer each breast with 12-15 arugula leaves, one bacon strip tore into pieces, and 1 tablespoon of Feta cheese. Starting at the narrow end, roll up chicken tightly; seal with a toothpick. Transfer chicken to a 2 quart baking dish (or a dish just large enough to hold the chicken) sprayed with non-stick cooking spray.
• In a small pot, heat the Ragu and milk on low heat while gradually adding cream cheese. Stir until cream cheese is melted and well incorporated with the Ragu Alfredo Sauce. Slowly pour the sauce over the chicken. Sprinkle chicken with the parmesan cheese and pine nuts.
• Bake uncovered 35-40 minutes until chicken is opaque throughout. Let chicken rest for 5 minutes. Remove toothpicks prior to serving. Enjoy!

CAVATAPI WITH CHICKEN RAGU, MOZZARELLA AND BASIL

Steps:

• Cook pasta according to package directions, omitting salt.
• Meanwhile, heat oil in large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and garlic; saute 3 minutes. Add chicken; saute until chicken is no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Add pasta sauce; simmer 10 minutes.
• Drain pasta; transfer to four shallow bowls. Top with chicken ragu, cheese and basil.

CHICKEN RAGU (SLOW COOKER)

Steps:

• In a large skillet, heat the oil over med-high heat; brown the chicken pieces on all sides.
• Transfer the chicken to the slow cooker.
• Decrease skillet heat to medium and add the onion, carrots, celery, and garlic; cook, stirring frequently, until the vegetables are lightly golden, about 10 minutes.
• Add the wine and bring it to a simmer.
• Scrape the mixture into the slow cooker.
• Stir in the tomato puree, tomato paste, herbs, and salt and pepper to taste.
• Cover and cook on HIGH for 2 hours or on LOW for 4 hours, or until the chicken pulls away from the bone.
• Remove the chicken and let cool slightly.
• Discard the skin and bones and cut the chicken into bite-size pieces.
• Return the chicken to the sauce.
• Just before serving, reheat the sauce if necessary.
• Serve over hot cooked pasta.

CHICKEN LIVER AND HEART RAGU

Steps:

• Place the porcinis in a small saucepan, cover with the chicken stock and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Let simmer and reconstitute for 10 to 15 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the porcinis to a cutting board and chop them. Reserve the cooking liquid.
• Heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the pancetta and cook until crisp. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the pancetta to a paper-towel-lined plate. Add the carrots, onions and garlic to the pan and cook for a few minutes. Add the chicken livers and hearts, sprinkle with salt and pepper and cook for 5 to 7 minutes. Add the sage, juniper, rosemary, bay leaf and tomato paste and cook, stirring, for 1 to 2 minutes. Add the red wine and vermouth and let simmer for 1 minute. Add the tomatoes, breaking them up with a wooden spoon. Add the porcini liquid, making sure the grit in the bottom of the pot does not get added. Stir and then let the ragu simmer for 30 to 45 minutes.

FETTUCCINE ALLE RIGAGLIE DI POLLO (FETTUCCINE WITH CHICKEN GIBLET RAGù)

Steps:

• With a sharp paring knife, remove any visible fat, arteries, or membranes from the offal, as best as you can. Pat it dry with paper towels.
• Add most of the olive oil to a large sauté pan over medium heat. When the surface begins to shimmer, fry the offal in the olive oil, spreading it out in one layer, and season with salt. If the offal gives off water, cook until the pan starts to sizzle again; you are looking for it to brown. Then flip, and brown the other side.
• Add the crushed garlic cloves, another whirl of olive oil, the chili, bay leaf, rosemary, and thyme. Add the onion, lower the heat, and cook until the onion is very soft and begins to melt, about 7 minutes.
• Add the white wine to deglaze and scrape all the flavor from the bottom of the pot, reduce the wine by half, and add the chicken stock. Simmer gently, covered, for about 20 minutes, then let it rest for at least 10 minutes and as long as a few hours, for the flavors to meld. Remove the bay leaf and taste for salt and pepper.
• Meanwhile, bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add the fettuccine to the boiling water and cook until tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Drain the pasta, and toss it with your ragù over medium heat. Loosen it with some olive oil and stock if necessary. Season with salt and pepper, and finish with grated cheese and lemon zest.