Chicken Bolognese is an easy, comforting dinner that comes together with common ingredients for convenience. Bolognese is a rich Italian meat sauce built on a sautéed veggie base, and this version keeps all that flavor while staying simple. It's the perfect filling meal for nights when you don't feel like cooking.
Chicken Bolognese Recipe Essentials
- 🍽️ Course: Main Course
- ⏱️ Cooking Time: 30 minutes
- 🍴 Servings: 4 servings
- 🧄 Flavor Profile: Rich, savory, hearty, and herbaceous with a hint of spice
- 🍚 Best Served With: Pasta, gnocchi, garlic bread, or fresh crusty bread
- 🧊 Make Ahead?: Yes, the sauce freezes well for up to 3 months and can be reheated easily
Summarize and Save This Content On
I love this chicken bolognese sauce as a lean and budget-friendly alternative to beef bolognese. The ground chicken takes on plenty of flavor and stays tender when it simmers in the sauce, so it's never dry. I also use a splash of red wine as the secret to that deep, classic flavor that really makes it taste authentic.
If you're looking for more delicious and easy bolognese recipes, you should try this spaghetti bolognese and slow-cooked turkey bolognese.
Why This Recipe Works
- It's made in one skillet: This robust chicken bolognese sauce is made in one skillet, saving you time when it's time for dinner cleanup.
- It freezes like a dream: Prepare a double batch and freeze half for another meal. It freezes, thaws, and reheats beautifully.
- It's ready in just 45 minutes: You get so much flavor in this bolognese in only 45 minutes. It's the perfect impressive weeknight dinner option.
Ingredients
All of the ingredients you'll need to make a successful chicken bolognese for pasta are listed below. They're ones you definitely can't skip!
- Ground chicken: Whether you use ground chicken breasts, thighs, or a mix determines how tender and flavorful it will be. If you can find ground chicken thighs or a thigh blend, I recommend it, as chicken breast is more prone to drying out.
- Red wine: This is a key ingredient in developing flavor and depth in the bolognese. I also use it in this Instant Pot beef short ribs recipe. Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir are the best choices.
- Tomato paste and sauce: I use both tomato paste and tomato sauce in this bolognese. Cook the tomato paste until it becomes fragrant because toasting it brings out so much more flavor. A good quality sauce makes a difference, too. San Marzano is a little expensive, but worth it if your budget allows.
- Italian seasoning: This is where you get that delicious herb flavor. If you don't have an Italian seasoning blend, use thyme, oregano, and basil. Even a pinch of dried parsley is great, too.
See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts, nutritional information, and detailed instructions.
Variations
- Vegan-friendly: Use Impossible Meat or your favorite plant-based meat alternative as a substitute for the ground chicken. Leave out the Parmesan cheese or sprinkle on plant-based cheese instead.
- Dairy-free: Omit the Parmesan cheese used for serving to make it dairy-free
- Omit the wine: Instead of red wine, use ¾ cup of chicken broth and 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar or balsamic vinegar.
- Make it creamy: Stir in 2 tablespoons of heavy cream to make a rich and creamy version.
How to Make Chicken Bolognese
Below are the steps needed to make this chicken bolognese recipe. I recommend ensuring that your veggies are chopped and ready before you get started!
Step 1: Sauté the veggies and cook the chicken. After softening the carrots, celery, onions, and garlic, add the ground chicken. Allow it to cook until it's no longer pink.
Step 2: Add the tomato paste and wine. Add the tomato paste and let it toast for about a minute, or until fragrant, then pour in the red wine.
Step 3: Stir in tomato sauce and seasoning. Cook to allow the red wine to reduce. Then, add the tomato sauce and spices.
Step 4: Simmer and serve. Bring the sauce to a simmer, then reduce the heat to medium-low. Your bolognese should simmer for about 20 minutes before you serve it over pasta with a strawberry goat cheese spinach salad.
Expert Tips
- Simmer it long enough: Simmering the sauce is where the flavor develops. As it cooks slowly over low heat, the ingredients reduce, creating more depth and layers to the sauce.
- Add pasta water if needed: If you notice that the bolognese is too thick for your liking, add a splash of pasta water (and more as needed) to thin it out slightly. Start with a little at a time until you reach your desired consistency.
- Make it ahead for deeper flavor: You can prepare this bolognese sauce up to 24 hours in advance and keep it in the refrigerator. This allows everything to meld together even more, making it taste just as good, if not better, the next day.
- Storage directions: Put any leftovers into an airtight container and store them in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.
- Reheating the leftovers: The best way to reheat your bolognese is in a pot over low heat. Add a splash of water or broth to help loosen it up slightly as it warms.
Another sauce recipe similar to this bolognese is this vodka sauce with meat.
Serving Suggestions
- Bread: Serve some crusty Italian bread on the side, or this air fryer garlic bread to dip into the extra sauce.
- Pasta options: My favorites for this rich sauce include pappardelle, rigatoni, linguine, ravioli, gnocchi, and penne.
- Fresh sides: If you're looking for a fresh side dish to balance the richness of the chicken bolognese, I highly recommend a garden salad, cold asparagus salad, or cucumbers and onions in vinegar.
Chicken Bolognese Recipe FAQs
If your it seems loose or watery, let it simmer uncovered for a few extra minutes so some of the liquid can evaporate. You may also add an extra tablespoon of tomato paste.
Yes, it freezes so well! I recommend freezing it in individual portions to make grab-and-go meals easier. Freeze the bolognese for up to 2 months, then thaw it in the fridge overnight before reheating.
It sure is! It's leaner and has less saturated fat than traditional beef bolognese. The vegetable-based sofrito makes it rich in protein and nutrients.
Sure! Brown the ground chicken and soften the veggies on the stovetop. Then, transfer them and the remaining ingredients to the slow cooker. Cook on low for 4-6 hours, and it's ready to enjoy.
More Delicious Ground Chicken Recipes
Do you like ground chicken recipes? Here are some recipes you may also like to try.
If you try this recipe and love it please leave a star rating in the recipe card below or even better, drop a review in the comment section. I always appreciate your feedback. Be sure to follow along with me on Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube for more easy recipes!
Chicken Bolognese
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 onion peeled and finely diced
- 2 large carrots peeled and finely diced
- 2 celery sticks finely diced
- 4 garlic cloves minced or finely chopped
- 1 lb. ground chicken
- ¼ cup tomato paste
- ½ cup red wine
- 2 cups tomato sauce
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- Salt and pepper to taste
- ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese for serving (optional)
- ¼ cup fresh basil leaves lightly packed, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over a medium-high heat. Add the onion, carrots and celery and cook, stirring, for 4 minutes or until the vegetables start to soften. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, for 1 minute or until fragrant.
- Add the ground chicken to the skillet and cook, stirring and breaking up any lumps with the back of a wooden spoon, until the chicken is no longer pink.
- Add the tomato paste and cook, stirring, for 1 minute or until fragrant. Add the red wine and cook, stirring, for 1 minute or until reduced.
- Add the tomato sauce, Italian seasoning and red pepper flakes. Stir to combine, and season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Bring the sauce to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low-medium. Continue to simmer for 20 minutes.
- Garnish the bolognese sauce with the grated parmesan and fresh basil leaves before serving, if using.
Notes
- Letting the chicken bolognese simmer is where the flavor really builds. As it cooks low and slow, the sauce reduces and develops deeper, richer layers, turning it into a true bolognese rather than just a basic pasta sauce.
- If the bolognese gets too thick, stir in a splash of pasta water to loosen it up. Add a little at a time until it reaches your desired consistency.
- If your chicken bolognese seems a bit loose or watery, let it simmer uncovered for a few extra minutes to reduce. You can also stir in an extra tablespoon of tomato paste to help thicken it up.
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