Chicken Bolognese
This Ground Chicken Bolognese is a lighter version of classic bolognese sauce that uses ground chicken in place of beef. It’s packed with rich flavor and is fantastic served over your favorite pasta for the ultimate comforting meal. 
Traditional bolognese sauce is a staple in my house that we eat at least once a week. I have an entire drawer of my freezer packed with just bolognese that I can pull out for a quick and easy dinner on nights when I don’t feel like cooking. A few months ago my meat sauce freezer stash was getting very low and my daughter was begging me for spaghetti bolognese for dinner. I did a hunt through my freezer and the only thing I could find was ground chicken. I had made chicken bolognese a few times in the past but it always tasted a bit dry and flavorless. I set to work trying to create something that had a richer flavor and I think I absolutely nailed it, even my picky 4 year old loved it. I found that the key to making the best chicken bolognese is adding a splash of cream (or coconut cream) to the sauce, the extra bit of fat helps to add a richness and depth of flavor to the sauce.
Why You Will Love This Chicken Bolognese Recipe
- This fantastic comfort food is a total crowd-pleaser that will quickly become a family favorite.
- Meal prep has never been so easy. And it freezes well to be enjoyed for months.
- The sauce is so rich and creamy and can easily be modified to be dairy-free!
- With the veggies in the sauce, this is a whole meal in and of itself. Although, a side salad is always a good idea!
- This healthy chicken bolognese is perfect with any pasta shape you choose.
Ingredients You Will Need
- Ground chicken: I love the lightness of ground chicken, but you can also use ground turkey as a lean protein option.
- Olive oil: Olive oil is a delicious option for all Italian dishes! Avocado oil will also work.
- Aromatics: Yellow onion and fresh garlic are an amazing pair, not to be separated. You can also use pre-minced garlic in a pinch.
- Vegetables: Bolognese isn’t complete without finely diced carrots and celery to have a piece in every last bite.
- Dried thyme: You can add basil or oregano, and you can also use fresh herbs.
- Tomato: I use canned crushed tomatoes and tomato paste for a thick, rich tomato flavor. You can also use chopped fresh tomatoes.
- Red wine: I recommend your favorite dry red wine for an incredible flavor. Although, you can use a dry white wine if you prefer.
- Chicken stock: You can also use chicken broth or vegetable broth for delicious results.
- Cream: Heavy cream makes this so rich and decadent. You can also use whole milk or coconut cream for a dairy-free option.
You can find the full list of ingredients in the recipe card below
Kitchen Tools You Will Need
- Large Pot or Dutch Oven (One for the sauce and one for the pasta)
- Cutting Board
- Sharp Knife
- Measuring Spoons and Cups
- Wooden Spoon
How To Make This Easy Chicken Bolognese
- In a large pot on medium-high heat, add oil and vegetables and sprinkle with salt. Saute until the vegetables begin to soften, and then add the ground chicken, breaking it into small bits as it cooks. Once the chicken is no longer pink, add the garlic, thyme, and tomato pasta and stir so that it’s coated in the tomato paste.
- Add the red wine and scrape off any browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Cook off most of the wine and add the canned tomatoes and chicken stock.
- Simmer on medium-low heat for 30 minutes.
- Add the cream, stir, and simmer for an additional 10 minutes. Serve over a big bowl of pasta and a sprinkle of parmesan cheese.
Modifications and Dietary Customizations
- I love how red wine, especially Merlot or Chianti, complements the acidity of the tomatoes in this recipe, but dry white wine is also delicious. I recommend Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc.
- Switch up the meat options and use ground turkey
- You can use any canned tomatoes, like diced tomatoes or San Marzano tomatoes.
- Add more veggies like bell peppers or mushrooms.
- Give this sauce a kick of heat by adding in a sprinkle of red pepper flakes
- Mix it up with the herbs. Try adding rosemary to the thyme or fresh basil on top as a finishing touch.
- Use gluten-free pasta, zucchini noodles, or spaghetti squash to skip the gluten.
- Want to go dairy-free? You can use almond milk, coconut milk, or coconut cream for extra creaminess.
Tips for Making This Chicken Bolognese
- Don’t have ground chicken? Place chicken breasts or chicken thighs in a food processor and pulse until the chicken breaks down into a “minced” consistency.
- Lean ground chicken is made with chicken breasts and has a very low fat content. I recommend using ground chicken thighs or a combination of thighs and breasts to add a bit more fat to the sauce.
What is Bolognese
Bolognese is a traditional meat-based sauce from Bologna in northern Italy. It’s known for its rich, hearty flavor and is commonly served with pasta. The sauce is typically made by slowly simmering ground meat with vegetables, wine, broth, tomatoes, and seasonings to create a thick, flavorful sauce. It’s one of my favorite foods!!
What to Serve With This Chicken Bolognese
- Of course, it goes without saying: serve this with your favorite pasta. Traditionally, it is served with tagliatelle, a flat, ribbon-like pasta, but spaghetti or rigatoni are also great options. You can alternatively serve it over gluten free or grain free pasta.
- For a lighter option you can serve the sauce over zucchini noodles or spaghetti squash.
- SA loves bolognese with polenta, I usually buy a tube of polenta, cut it into slices and cook them in the air fryer until crisp and then serve the sauce overtop.
- Don’t forget a delicious green side salad, a slice of crusty garlic bread, and a glass of your favorite wine.
Can I Make This In Advance
Yes! Making chicken bolognese in advance is a great idea! It allows the flavors to develop and is convenient for meal prepping or when you need a quick dinner. Once your sauce is cooked and the flavors have melded together, let it cool completely. Then, store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days or freeze it for up to 3 months. Reheat the chicken bolognese on the stove in a large pan over low to medium heat, stirring occasionally. Add a splash of water or broth to loosen it up to bring it back to your desired consistency.
What About Leftovers
Allow the chicken bolognese to cool to room temperature within 2 hours of cooking before storing it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. It will also freeze wonderfully. Store in a freezer-safe container or individual freezer-safe containers for quick and easy meals for up to 3 months. Be sure to label it—you know you’ll regret it if you don’t!
More Pasta Recipes You Will Love:
- Creamy Pesto Pasta With Chicken
- Beef Short Rib Ragu
- Miso Cacio e Pepe Pasta
- Ragu alla Bolognese
- Lemon Orzo with Shrimp, Feta and Spinach
If you make this Chicken Spaghetti Bolognese recipe let me know in the comment section below, I would love to hear what you think or take a photo and tag me (@everylastbite_) on Instagram, I love seeing your photos!
Chicken Bolognese
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 onion finely diced
- ½ cup finely diced carrot
- ½ cup finely diced celery
- ¾ tsp salt
- 1 lbs ground chicken
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- ½ tsp dried thyme
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- ⅔ cup red wine
- 14 oz canned crushed tomatoes
- 3/4 cup chicken stock
- ½ cup cream
Instructions
- In a large pot on medium high heat add the olive oil and once hot add in the onion, carrot and celery and sprinkle with salt. Saute for 4 minutes until the vegetables begin to soften and then add the ground chicken. Use a wooden spoon to break the ground chicken up into small bits as it cooks.
- Once the chicken is no longer pink add the garlic, thyme and tomato pasta and stir so that it’s all coated in the tomato paste.
- Add in the red wine and use a spoon to scrape off any brown bits from the bottom of the pot. Leave to cook until most of the wine has evaporated.
- Add in the canned tomatoes and chicken stock and leave to simmer on medium low heat for 30 minutes.
- After 30 minutes, add in the cream, stir and simmer for an additional 10 minutes.
- Serve the sauce over your favorite pasta of choice
Loved it! So much tastier than beef bolognese!