Penne Rustica

  3.5 – 2 reviews  • Chicken

An excellent pasta dish that is comparable to what you would find at Macaroni Grill®!

Prep Time: 15 mins
Cook Time: 55 mins
Additional Time: 5 mins
Total Time: 1 hr 15 mins
Servings: 8
Yield: 1 9×13-inch casserole

Ingredients

  1. 1 pound penne pasta
  2. ½ pound cooked small shrimp
  3. ½ cup chopped prosciutto
  4. 2 teaspoons olive oil, or to taste
  5. 2 (5 ounce) skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
  6. 1 pinch salt and ground black pepper to taste
  7. 3 tablespoons butter
  8. 2 tablespoons minced garlic
  9. 3 tablespoons Marsala wine
  10. 2 cups heavy cream
  11. 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  12. ½ cup milk
  13. ½ cup chicken broth
  14. 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  15. 1 tablespoon brown mustard
  16. 2 teaspoons minced fresh rosemary
  17. ½ teaspoon minced fresh thyme
  18. ½ teaspoon salt
  19. ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  20. 3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
  21. 1 ½ teaspoons paprika

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add penne and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 11 minutes. Drain and transfer to a large bowl; mix in shrimp and prosciutto.
  2. Preheat an outdoor grill for high heat and lightly oil the grate. Brush olive oil over chicken breasts and season with salt and pepper. Grill until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center reads at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C), about 5 minutes per side. Cool briefly before slicing into strips. Add to the penne mixture.
  3. Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F (260 degrees C).
  4. Prepare the sauce by melting butter over medium-low heat. Add garlic, cover, and cook until softened but not browned, about 5 minutes. Pour in Marsala wine and cook for 5 minutes. Stir in heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, milk, chicken broth, cornstarch, mustard, rosemary, thyme, salt, and cayenne pepper. Bring sauce to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until flavors combine, about 10 minutes.
  5. Pour sauce over the penne mixture and mix well. Transfer to a 9×13-inch baking dish. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese and paprika over the top.
  6. Bake in the preheated oven until the top slightly browns, 10 to 12 minutes.
  7. I make this recipe even easier by buying the packages of precooked chicken breast strips and frozen cooked shrimp that i just throw in the microwave for a bit to thaw. Then all you have to do is cook the sauce and pasta and throw everything together!
  8. Fresh herbs are best, but dried rosemary and thyme will work.
  9. You can use a shallow baking dish or 4 pie plates instead of a 9×13-inch pan. Shorten the baking time if using multiple dishes.

Nutrition Facts

Calories 636 kcal
Carbohydrate 47 g
Cholesterol 188 mg
Dietary Fiber 2 g
Protein 29 g
Saturated Fat 21 g
Sodium 753 mg
Sugars 3 g
Fat 37 g
Unsaturated Fat 0 g

Reviews

Mr. Steven Thomas IV
I liked the recipe very well. Didn’t have the proscuitto, but didn’t seem to need it. WAAAAy too much pasta for the amount of sauce, though. I think 1/2 lb would be enough.
Phillip Sanchez
I had never had the Penne Rustica at Macaroni Grill, so this copycat recipe might be exactly like it- but it didn’t end up being my favorite. The sauce was great and my kids loved it! But the use of ham, shrimp, and chicken was too much. It didn’t seem to let any specific ingredient shine.

 

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