Description
Macaroni Grill’s Chicken Pasta Milano is a creamy, restaurant-style pasta made with tender chicken, sautéed mushrooms, sun-dried tomatoes, and bowtie pasta tossed in a light Parmesan cream sauce. Ready in just 30 minutes, it’s the perfect cozy weeknight dinner that feels special without the extra work.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz bowtie (farfalle) pasta
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 8 oz white or baby bella mushrooms, sliced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes (packed in oil, drained)
- 1½ cups half-and-half
- ½ cup freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano
- ½ cup reserved starchy pasta water
- Fresh basil, chopped (for garnish)
- Extra Parmesan for serving
Instructions
- Boil the Pasta
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package directions. Before draining, reserve ½ cup of pasta water. Drain and set aside (do not rinse). - Cook the Chicken
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Cook 4–5 minutes per side until golden and cooked through. Remove from skillet, rest 5 minutes, then slice. - Cook the Mushrooms
In the same skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add mushrooms and sauté about 6 minutes until golden. Stir in garlic and sun-dried tomatoes and cook 30 seconds. - Make the Sauce
Add half-and-half and ¼ cup reserved pasta water. Stir in Parmesan cheese. Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce heat and simmer about 5 minutes until slightly thickened. - Combine Everything
Add cooked pasta and sliced chicken to the skillet. Toss to coat. Add more pasta water as needed to loosen the sauce. Garnish with basil and extra Parmesan before serving.
Notes
- For a thicker sauce, substitute heavy cream for half-and-half.
- Rotisserie chicken works perfectly for a quicker version.
- Always grate fresh Parmesan for the smoothest sauce.
- If reheating, add a splash of milk to bring the sauce back to life.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 620 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 540 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 55 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 125 mg